Can you tell Free agency is almost upon us? Maybe it’s the excitement from fans on social media, or the fact that Howie Roseman has cleared $19M worth of cap space in under seven days. Either way, anticipation is building rapidly. What can we expect from the Eagles when the beacons are lit?
Safety help?
Out of nowhere, a crowded Safety market has gone into overflow. It’s really difficult to explain why so many of the league’s top players at a such an important position are being allowed to walk into free agency, but it bodes well for the Eagles, who need a third Safety at the very least.
With so many attractive names, both young and old, the value is only set to decrease…which for a team who have spent the last week freeing up close to $20M in cap space, is the best news possible. One name to look at here would be Tre Boston, who when the position dried up last year, signed with the Arizona Cardinals on a one-year deal, despite coming off of two very impressive seasons. There’s no reason why a name like Boston won’t present itself to Roseman and the Eagles.
Out of the names mentioned above, it would behoove the Eagles to look at LaMarcus Joyner and Adrian Amos as more expensive options if they really wanted to add some reliable production to the position. Corey Graham was hardly the most sturdy set of hands in 2018 and adding a third Safety who can hold the fort would be of tremendous benefit to Jim Schwartz.
Whether or not the Eagles go heavy where other teams are clearly evading all comes down to how confident they feel in someone like Avonte Maddox transitioning up full-time, or in a potential draftee to develop. If they want a day-one starter to groom, then you’re looking at a lower-tier free agent and a high draft pick…or you can flip that if you’d rather have instant production while you develop the future.
Make no mistake, when the green flag drops, the Eagles will be sniffing around the position and very wisely so. Will anything come of it? Only time will tell…
A ‘Star’?
Will it be Le’Veon Bell? Well, it’s hard to really say at this point. The Eagles have freed up plenty of immediate cap-space to facilitate either a flurry of moves or that one blockbuster signing that fans salivate over. We don’t need to pound the table for Bell’s fit in Philadelphia. The man is a generational talent, but he will demand a paycheck that treats him as such…and that’s what it will all come down to.
The Eagles don’t typically hit big in free agency outside of the trenches. The risk-reward debate is something that is surgically discussed with every move and it’s how at the end of the day, they were able to sign Alshon Jeffery on that original one-year deal in 2017.
However, there are some interesting names not rhyming with ‘Cleve’on Smell’ who will be available. From former Eagles DE Vinny Curry, to the recently released veteran S Darian Stewart, there are a flurry of names with ties to the Eagles staff or who fit their free agency mold.
The Birds will undoubtedly be aggressive in free agency…but will they be shopping for stars or just getting enough groceries to grow their own family into stars of the future?
A big contract extension?
One theory behind the sudden surge of moves to free up cap space is that there’s a big-time contract extension looming…and there is. Carson Wentz is entering the final year of his rookie deal and if you’re Howie Roseman, the value of extending Wentz may never be greater than it is right now…as detailed in an article I published last week.
The Eagles would have far more leverage in a contract negotiation right now because making a case for Wentz to become the $200M man is very difficult. His play, while exhilarating, has been erratic and careless at times, while the two season-ending injuries don’t exactly paint much of a reliable picture. The deal would have to be incentivized with snap count bonuses, maybe some accomplishment bonuses and perhaps even an option clause. The Eagles would be in control and in theory, the dream scenario would be to sign Wentz to a cheaper, back-loaded, incentivized deal now, knowing full well that the bounce-back season could be nothing short of spectacular, now he’s fully healthy and has a full offseason to work with his offensive coordinator and teammates.
The inverse of this would be letting it all hang in the balance. Letting Wentz play out his contract year is a huge risk because at the end of it all, he’s either going to have sky-rocketed in terms of valuation, or (and I hate to say this) witness his stock decline if there were to be another setback. But is that a risk the Eagles can afford to take?
A surprise return…
Don’t write off the return of Timmy Jernigan. The Eagles opted not to pick up his option after a season plagued by injury, deeming his $13M cap hit to be a little too heavy. However, that’s not to say Roseman isn’t planning to start a clean slate.
It was clear how much the Eagles missed Jernigan in 2018, with Fletcher Cox being asked to carry the entire pass-rush on his shoulders, with the exception of a Michael Bennett breakout. Depth at DT was absolutely minimal and Jernigan’s play was pined for all season long.
If Jernigan is confident in his recovery and the Eagles are confident in him, there’s no reason a reunion wouldn’t be on the cards. The Birds’ signed him to that extensive contract for a reason, just as Jernigan did. The cap hit may not make sense given the circumstance, but the fit absolutely does. Don’t write off the idea of a Jernigan return!
The Unexpected
If there’s one thing we’ve come to expect from Howie Roseman, it’s the unexpected. Whether it’s long-term extensions in the midst of salary cap purgatory, shocking trades that have reshaped the franchise, or a big free agency acquisition when the world laughed in his face at the possibility of it becoming a reality. All we can do is buckle up, sit comfortably and wait for the rollercoaster to start once more. Are you ready?
AP Photo/Michael Perez, File
