Philadelphia Eagles' Updated To-Do List Ahead of Free Agency
Tuesday marks the start of 2017 free agency, and the Philadelphia Eagles have as much pressure on them as any team to shape the weaknesses of their roster with severely limited finances.
The 7-9 record that the Eagles posted in 2016 put them about where many expected entering the season, but the way in which the season unfolded obviously magnified the team's holes and deficiencies. Philly's 3-0 start behind rookie sensation Carson Wentz had fans thinking about a playoff run before the Eagles lost seven of their next eight games by way of a shaky supporting cast on offense and a hapless secondary.
To add to their woes, not many teams have less cap flexibility than the Eagles, who have about $8.6 million in cap room according to Over The Cap. Some clever salary shedding and deals need to be worked out to increase that number to a level where they can actually go after impact free agents to improve the team.
Let's get to it and assess the major objectives for general manager Howie Roseman, head coach Doug Pederson and the Eagles as they enter free agency.
Get Rid of Connor Barwin
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Whether it's by trade or releases, the Eagles have work to do in getting rid of salaries that have helped to put them in their salary-cap bind.
The most obvious cap casualty may be Connor Barwin, a longtime Eagle who has been a huge contributor over the years. His salary number of $8.35 million no longer reflects his production; after 21.5 sacks in 2014 and 2015 combined, he only amassed five sacks in 2016 on a weak pass-rushing crew.
Barwin has his suitors, with the Green Bay Packers, Colts and Ravens recently reported as interested by Mark Eckel of NJ Advance Media. Navigating a trade of Barwin that didn't take on any resulting contracts would nearly double the Eagles' cap space immediately.
The Eagles need to get younger on defense, and the first step in that direction may be cutting ties with the 30-year-old. Given the cap situation, it may be an inevitability.
Formulate a Long-Term Plan at Cornerback
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The Eagles have some serious holes that need to be filled, but none are more gaping than at cornerback, where they have been among the worst in the league for multiple seasons.
Philadelphia has tried to patch up its cornerback issues with stopgap options like signing midtier corners such as Leodis McKelvin and Nolan Carroll, the former of whom got released last month and the latter of whom is now a free agent. Roseman admitted as much this offseason, telling USA Today's Turron Davenport, "What we've done at the cornerback position is put Band-Aids on things."
There are a couple of great options in free agency that the Eagles could look at to fix the position long term, but some of them are fading from the picture with Trumaine Johnson signing a franchise tender with the Rams and others likely to re-sign with their current teams. Getting a guy like AJ Bouye or Logan Ryan would require paying top dollar, which the Eagles may not have.
The likeliest solution would be to take a corner with a high draft pick in what looks to be a deep, talented secondary class. But if the Eagles plan on doing that, they need to proceed with caution and make sure other serious holes are filled via free agency beforehand.
Make a Cost-Effective Splash at WR
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Philadelphia is seemingly listed as a top landing spot for any free agent or trade-seeking receiver this offseason, and it's not hard to see why. The Eagles are as starved for wideout talent as any team in the league.
When it was reported by ESPN's Chris Mortensen that Saints wideout Brandin Cooks could be traded, the Eagles were one of the teams mentioned, and that sent fans into a frenzy. But Yahoo Sports' Charles Robinson reported Monday that the Tennessee Titans are the leaders now for Cooks.
It didn't make a ton of sense anyway for the Eagles to potentially fork over their No. 14 overall draft pick along with re-signing Cooks to a big-money deal when they could simply sign a top free agent without losing the pick. The biggest name is upcoming Bears free agent Alshon Jeffery, who the Eagles are in on, per ESPN's Josina Anderson.
If the Eagles are going to land Jeffery over the many wideout-needy teams with more cap space, it will take a sizable price point. Outside of Jeffery, there aren't many (if any) top-caliber wideouts available who would be worth putting another huge contract on the books.
One thing is certain, and that's the fact that Wentz needs help in a significant way. If the Eagles are going to set the crosshairs on drafting a cornerback in Round 1, then that only increases the need for a wideout in free agency.
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Sign a Proven Running Back
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Wentz needs help at more positions than just the receiver spot. The Eagles had a decent run game in 2016, but it was anything but consistent, and the team's 4.1 yards per carry ranked in the bottom half of the league.
Ryan Mathews has enjoyed some good moments in green, but his injury issues have continued in Philly, and the balance that Pederson's offense needs will evaporate if Mathews remains the No. 1 and goes down with an inevitable injury. The Eagles could save $4 million by cutting Mathews, and they should take that money and give it to a more explosive and dynamic back.
Jamaal Charles is now on the market after being released by Kansas City, and Pederson is familiar with him after their time together with the Chiefs. He directly addressed the potential of adding Charles last week, per David Murphy of Philadelphia Daily News.
“I’ve got history with him in Kansas City for three years, and I think he’s a tremendous running back,” Pederson said. “You know, it’s something that we’ll evaluate now. We’ll grade him just like we do every free agent and every person that’s released and see where he can fit into our offense.”
On paper, Charles looks like he'd fit well in Philly. He's been among the league's best rushers over the last decade, and while he's on the wrong side of 30, Charles would likely produce well behind the Eagles' veteran offensive line if he's not overworked.
A younger option is Raiders free agent Latavius Murray, who's 27 with only 543 career rushes. Either Charles or Murray could be a strong option to line up alongside the developing Wendell Smallwood and offer an upgrade to Mathews.
Trade Mychal Kendricks
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This may be the clearest objective on the Eagles' to-do list for the offseason, but nevertheless, it's one that needs to be addressed.
Mychal Kendricks is a talented and athletic linebacker who should have a long NFL career in a defensive scheme that he fits. That's undoubtedly not in Philadelphia. Kendricks makes his impact blitzing off the edge and harassing the quarterback, which a linebacker in defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz's defense practically never does.
It didn't really need to be said, but Eliot Shorr-Parks of NJ Advance Media reported that the Eagles have made it clear to NFL teams that Kendricks is on the trading block. Unfortunately for Philly, getting Kendricks off the books would free up less than $2 million of cap space.
However, every dollar counts right now given the situation the Eagles find themselves in. Getting the right fits in a defensive unit that the roster is still adapting itself to also counts, and that will inevitably have Kendricks playing in a new uniform in 2017.
Find Chase Daniel a New Home
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The deal given to perennial backup quarterback Chase Daniel by the Eagles didn't make sense when they made it, and it makes even less sense now. They moved up in the draft to get Wentz, it paid off, and it's now time to do whatever they can to move Daniel.
Daniel's $8 million salary is ridiculous enough, but even less believable is the clause in Daniel's contract that creates $7 million in dead money if he's cut. So there's essentially no use in cutting him, but those numbers change drastically if he were to be traded.
According to Over The Cap, if Daniel is traded, the Eagles would eat only $2 million in dead money and open up $6 million in cap room. Per Charles Robinson of Yahoo Sports, the Eagles are open to moving Daniel if they receive a "solid offer."
A solid offer may not be a pipe dream given the number of quarterback-needy teams, but it's unlikely. If Wentz happens to go down, Daniel isn't going to lead the Eagles to the promised land in his absence. The Eagles need to take what they can get for Daniel, even if it's just a late-round pick, and cut their losses.
Given the cap situation this team is in, moving Daniel in an unimpressive deal could be the difference between signing a big free agent or missing out.
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