Eagles look toward future filled with roster moves
The Eagles deserve a pat on the back. Reaching the playoffs in the first year of a rebuild is something to feel good about. And when you look at the wild card results, they’re not the only team that got blown out.
Much more exciting than the Eagles’ 9-9 season, including their second straight losing campaign at home, is the direction they take in the offseason. With three firstround draft picks (Nos. 15, 16 and 19 overall), they can upgrade their pass rush, secondary and linebacker corps and probably add a dependable running back to the mix.
Packaging those first-round selections for an elite quarterback? Let’s just say it’s never really worked for the Eagles, their last modest attempt being the trade for Sam Bradford. Even the first-round selection they subsequently garnered for sending Bradford to the Vikings was disappointing, as it wrought Derek Barnett, who almost certainly will see his tour with the Eagles soon end. Barnett’s legacy? More career penalties than sacks.
The Eagles likely will deal one of the first rounders, either to move up on the draft board or to get more capital. A team that wants a No. 1 in this draft could swap a first in 2023 and a second day pick or two. The Birds have more than enough resources to maneuver all over the draft board.
Making a splash in free agency won’t be as easy, although the Eagles easily could add to their cap space — now over $12 million — to add that veteran wide receiver they so desperately need. Davante Adams isn’t coming to Philly unless Aaron Rodgers does. If Jalen Hurts remains the quarterback, you’re looking at guys with upside like Michael Gallup, 25, if he comes back from a torn ACL, as expected.
Those decisions obviously depend on how the Eagles view Hurts. Some of the same NFL experts who applauded Hurts with their hot takes are ripping him for failing to find open receivers, something Eagles fans noticed throughout the season.
As for their own players with free agency tickets booked, the Eagles don’t need to re-sign any of those players at anything more than a bargain price. Rodney McLeod would be the preferred veteran to keep on hand, his professionalism and leadership huge pluses.
Eagles center Jason Kelce, unless he restructures and signs another contract with the Birds, is all but a free agent, the 34-year-old veteran having $12 million this past season, including incentives. Kelce has a poison pill in his contract giving him a massive bonus if he hasn’t retired or been released by the start of the new league year in March. He will have to decide whether he wants to have as much fun next year as he did this season, receiving several accolades, among them making his fourth first-team All-Pro team and being nominated for Walter Payton Man of the Year.
If Kelce moves on, look for Isaac Seumalo or Landon Dickerson to take over the pivot, the other fellow playing left guard and the offensive line to remain the strength of the team going forward. The line would be enticing for an established quarterback if the Eagles went that way.
As for the NFL Draft, at this point the Eagles wouldn’t need to add another offensive lineman. But a pivot like Tyler Linderbaum (6-3, 290) of Iowa would be interesting if Kelce retires.
The defensive line needs upgrades even if tackle Fletcher Cox sticks around, which he claims to want to do. Though the Eagles cannot afford to trade him without taking a massive hit in dead money, don’t be surprised if they move on from him by letting him choose a destination he likes (which would include a contract restructure).
If the Eagles move on from Cox, Georgia defensive tackle Jordan Davis would be a solid choice to replace him. The 6-6, 340-pound Davis is unusually athletic and blows up the A gaps. Teaming him with Milton Williams and Javon Hargrave, with Josh
Sweat coming off the edge would give the Eagles one of the top defensive lines in football.
The pass rush typically makes the back end of the defense better. Davis could be there when the Eagles pick.
That brings us to edge rusher, a position with depth in the draft. The Eagles can’t afford to move up for Aidan Hutchinson (Michigan) or Kayvon Thibodeaux (Oregon), two of the top players in the draft. George Karlaftis (Purdue) will be gone. But David Ojabo (Michigan) and Kingsley Enagbare (South Carolina) should be around for the Eagles.
The Eagles need another cornerback because Steven Nelson isn’t going to play for another discount. Derek Stingley Jr. (LSU) will be long gone. Ahmad Gardner (Cincinnati) could slip if teams reach for cornerbacks. Andrew Booth Jr. (Clemson), Kair Elam (Florida), Derion Kendrick (Georgia) and Roger McCreary (Auburn) could be in play.
Unlikely as the Eagles are to take a linebacker early, they need playmakers on the defensive side. Nakobe Dean (Georgia) might be off the
board when they pick but it wouldn’t hurt them to consider players like Christian Harris (Alabama) and Devin Lloyd (Utah) at some point.
Speaking of playmakers, the pick we’d love to see the Eagles make is safety Kyle Hamilton (6-4, 219) of Notre Dame. He literally can do it all, from covering tight ends to playing in the box to blitzing. Hamilton, Hutchinson, and Thibodeaux seem to the only players worthy of spending resources on to move up in the draft.
Fallbacks at safety, and talented at that are Jaquan Brisker (PSU) and Daxton Hill (Michigan).
Like every year, there will be salary cap casualties. Guard Brandon Brooks may have played his last game for the Birds. Brandon Graham might be asked to restructure his deal to remain. Cox may be moving on.
And whatever plan the Eagles have will be contingent on who the quarterback is. For now, head coach Nick Sirianni is OK with Hurts and Gardner Minshew. But that should be read like a SEPTA timetable — subject to change.