Bargain Bin Free Agents Philadelphia Eagles Should Target to Fill Biggest Needs
With a plethora of roster holes and severely limited cap space, the Philadelphia Eagles need to be equal parts crafty and effective with free-agency signings.
It goes without saying that, for the most part, teams are going to get what they pay for when courting available talent across the league. But that doesn't mean the Eagles can't scrape the bottom of the barrel and take a flier on certain free agents who may not be as courted, but could prove to make a decent impact nonetheless.
This offseason, it hasn't been uncommon to see the Eagles linked to top-dollar free agents despite having one of the lowest cap numbers in the league. ESPN's Ed Werder reported Philly is seen as a big threat to land top-tier cornerback AJ Bouye, and ESPN's Josina Anderson said the Eagles are one of many teams in the running for Bears wideout Alshon Jeffery.
But either move would cripple their cap completely, and it's a lot more likely that the Eagles will try to spread their cash out as much as possible.
As we take a closer look into some bargain bin free agents for the Eagles to target, let's focus on the biggest needs, such as wide receivers, cornerbacks and edge rushers, among a few more.
CB Sam Shields
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Former Green Bay Packers cornerback Sam Shields used to be one of the better defensive backs in the league until a bevy of concussions put his NFL future into doubt.
The Packers chose not to gamble on his future and saved $9 million in cap space by cutting him this offseason, but he sounds committed to continuing his NFL career despite the concussion issues, per Jason Wilde of the Wisconsin State Journal.
"I'm thinking it's not over. I've still got more (football) in me," Shields said. When asked why he'd keep playing after four NFL concussions, and two in a nine-month span, Shields replied: "I understand why you ask that. I don't know. I just love the game, man, and I feel that I can get back out there and play."
Of course, Shields' health would put the Eagles in a position where it doesn't make sense to bring him on as an assumed starter. But given the caution teams will surely have with Shields, Philly could float him a one-year deal at a low price point to give him the chance to prove he's still got some good years left in him.
Shields got a $12.5 million signing bonus back in 2014 for a reason. He's a very solid corner when he's at 100 percent. Considering how cornerback-needy the Eagles are at the moment, it's a small gamble worth taking.
WR Justin Hunter
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Bills wide receiver Justin Hunter wouldn't be quite as cheap as a lot of the names on this list, but the amount of opportunity in Philadelphia could convince Hunter to take a lower salary number and prove he's better than the crop of young wideouts currently on the roster.
There's likely concern for Eagles fans since Hunter's early career trajectory looked a lot like their own underperforming wideouts. The Titans drafted Hunter in the second round of the 2013 draft, and his bright moments were largely watered down by a level of inconsistency that forced Tennessee to cut Hunter during the 2016 preseason.
He joined the Bills early in the season in a prove-it role, and he did just that. Hunter only caught 10 passes, but four of those were touchdowns, and he showed some good improvement as a deep-ball threat, averaging nearly 19 yards per catch and burning defensive backs on the regular.
Signing Hunter wouldn't make much of a splash in Philly off the bat, but the Eagles are obviously in a position where they not only need a deep threat, but some young talent to compete with Jordan Matthews, Nelson Agholor and Dorial Green-Beckham. Hunter would be a relatively cheap way to secure somebody like that.
DE Alex Okafor
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Let's face it, the Eagles' pass rush didn't produce much last season, and outside of Brandon Graham, it was downright atrocious. Serious improvements need to be made on the edge of the 4-3 defense, but that improvement needs to be in a clever fashion so they can address their other needs.
Alex Okafor fits the bill. The 26-year-old broke out in 2014 with eight sacks for a dynamic Arizona Cardinals defense, but he saw his production and playing time drop this season with the addition of Chandler Jones, who took away his starting spot.
Okafor is a versatile edge rusher who can line up in a number of spots, but he would be best served right where the Eagles need help, and that's on the edge of their 4-3. There simply isn't enough athleticism at the position, and Okafor could be a vast improvement from Connor Barwin while costing significantly less.
The Miami Dolphins have already reached out to Okafor, per the Miami Herald's Barry Jackson, so the Eagles need to get moving on him if he's a true target.
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LB Spencer Paysinger
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Spencer Paysinger doesn't bring quite enough talent and production to the table to peg him as a Week 1 starter at linebacker, but he's a proven depth linebacker and special teams standout whose experience would be welcomed.
Paysinger got most of his run at linebacker with the Giants in 2013, when he amassed 10 starts. With the Dolphins, he was thrust into more responsibility in 2016 due to an injury-plagued linebacking corps and did well with the opportunity. Paysinger started three games, racked up 53 tackles and recovered two fumbles.
The Eagles aren't going to spend much if anything at the linebacker position, but with Mychal Kendricks likely on the way out, there's no sure answer to who lines up on the weak side opposite Nigel Bradham and Jordan Hicks. It would be smart to target a couple of guys around the $1 million range to see if they can land a diamond in the rough, and that could be Paysinger.
DT Lawrence Guy
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Now, we find ourselves at the sobering-truth chapter. Standout defensive tackle Bennie Logan is a free agent, and given the amount of money the Eagles threw at Fletcher Cox last offseason, investing the money required for keeping his defensive line companion is a mere impossibility.
Philly will be looking at some value run-stuffers to fill the void, and Lawrence Guy may be the guy (sorry). A seven-year veteran, his last two seasons in Baltimore have been his most productive, as he's started a combined 16 games with 74 tackles and 5.5 sacks.
In fact, NFL.com's Matt Harmon ranked Guy as the eighth-best interior pass rusher in 2016. But he makes more of an impact stuffing the run and plugging up holes, which will be key alongside the consistent double teams that Cox will face with Logan gone.
After playing some of the best football of his career in a contract year, Guy may not be quite as cheap as the Eagles would like. But the defensive line is arguably the most important unit on the Eagles, and throwing a few extra million at a player who could help retain their biggest strength may be a wise decision.
WR Anquan Boldin
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Anquan Boldin is a shell of the receiver he was with the Ravens and Cardinals earlier in his career, but he's proved in recent stops with the 49ers and Lions that he's still a valuable veteran piece who has a couple of good years left.
Boldin did well to help the Lions fill Calvin Johnson's massive shoes, catching 67 balls for 584 yards and eight touchdowns in 2016. He's averaged more than 70 receptions a season in his last four campaigns, with his production not tapering off much despite being 36 years old.
Dependable talent isn't the only thing the Eagles' wide receiver room is in dire need of. It also needs an accountable veteran voice, and Boldin can provide both of those. Not only could Boldin come in and immediately be a consistent chain-moving target, but his influence just may elevate the young receivers who need an old head in the locker room.
With the significant need at receiver, signing Boldin wouldn't make a splash and may cause Eagles fans to roll their eyes. But if Boldin lands in Philadelphia, it could sneakily be one of the Eagles' best free-agent signings.
CB Johnthan Banks
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The Eagles have tried multiple times over the last few seasons to fill their cornerback holes with mid-rate or worse options in free agency and failed each time. That will likely have Philly drafting high and only considering top-tier free agents, but it shouldn't deter them from taking a cheap flier or two.
Philadelphia needs impact corners, but it also needs fresh bodies at a position that will look vastly different from 2016 in terms of personnel. Targeting a talented cornerback who's struggled to find his place, like Johnthan Banks, isn't a bad move.
Banks won the Jim Thorpe Award in 2012 as college football's top defensive back, but he never lived up to expectations after the Buccaneers made him a second-round pick. However, he did nab seven interceptions and made 105 tackles in a two-year span before things went south.
The 27-year-old bounced around with a few teams in 2016 and never found his place, but his talent goes without saying, and perhaps a fresh start could provide him the opportunity to discover some of the untapped potential that made him such a highly touted draft pick.
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