On the offensive side of the football, the Eagles always seem to be in need of a backup guard. Otherwise, the lineup seems pretty stacked on paper. There are a few intriguing names left on the free agency board, but the team can’t afford to spend big money with so many contracts to renew on the horizon. A capable return man is a position up-for-grabs that springs to mind — although Boston Scott is still the name to keep an eye on. Depending on how the Eagles view their backfield rotation with Miles Sanders out for the summer, they could look to add a rotational piece there as well. There seem to be a lot of young faces vying for backup receiver roles — Mack Hollins, J.J. Acega Whiteside, Shelton Gibson, Marken Michel, Braxton Miller, Greg Ward Jr. — and I don’t see the team adding to that list unless a player can provide special teams value.
G Arie Kouandjio
At only 27 years old, Kouandjio could be the Chase Warmack-esque project this season for OL Coach Jeff Stoutland. A man that has shown flashes with the Redskins, never truly realized his potential behind a rolling collection of starters. He missed the entire 2018 season with a quad injury, but in the year prior had a dominant stretch of pass blocking in which he allowed no sacks in 6 games. At the very least he can help put the pressure on Matt Pryor for the swing guard role. This would be a cheap and potentially underrated option for the Eagles.
G Jeff Allen
Allen’s time with the Texans didn’t exactly go as plan, but nothing did for the Houston O-Line. Early on in his career Allen proved he has what it takes to be a quality starter in the NFL. That original spark has fizzled a tad, but he would be a more-than-serviceable option coming off the bench. He’s played both guard and tackle positions, although he slots in best as a right guard. That position is somewhat of a hole right now with Brandon Brooks’ status up in the air to start the season. Is Allen a player you want starting 16 games for you? No, but he is a relatively reliable option and, at 29 years old, comes with an affordable price tag (under $1M/year). He was also with the Chiefs when Doug Pederson was on the staff and there’s some familiarity there — both interpersonal and scheme-wise.
RB Bilal Powell
The Eagles’ running back room is similar to the linebacker and cornerback group in that there are a ton of options behind the first team. Nevertheless, the offense is always in a better position to accommodate situational players than the defense, especially at the skill positions. Powell is a year removed from back-to-back 700 yard rushing seasons and would be an excellent compliment to Jordan Howard while Miles Sanders learns the offense. I have, and will always be a big Corey Clement supporter, but there is still a chance that he never regains his Super Bowl LII form.
Powell is a big-play threat, a nightmare in the screen game and a dependable receiver out of the backfield. He should also be a relatively affordable option for a prove it contract after a scary neck injury last season. He had a base salary of about $1M/year with the Jets.
RB Darren Sproles
I don’t think many Eagles fans will have any qualms if Sproles returns to Philly. We saw last year how much of a spark he can bring to the offense. The question will be the price tag and health. If Howie and Sproles’ people can reach a middle ground, I see no reason for Sproles not to retire in an Eagles jersey. Here’s hoping it happens.
WR De’Anthony Thomas
The assumption is that Boston Scott is being groomed for the PR/KR role and may even carve out a gadget role on the offense. If that’s not the case, the Eagles could choose to bring in a proven entity for that position. Although he’s been featured less and less by the Chiefs, Thomas is a man with almost 2,000 return yards in just five seasons in the league. Special teams did not provide the impact we are used to last season and adding Thomas would be a surefire way to add some pep to the return game. At approximately $800,000/year, he’s a bit pricey for simply a return man, but it’s not a foregone conclusion that he can’t be a factor on offense.
At the end of the day, the Eagles have one of the more complete rosters in football and could easily head into the season without any new names on the roster. Though, knowing Howie Roseman’s pension for making moves, the front office is undoubtedly doing their homework. Are there any free agents that aren’t featured on this list that you think should be in consideration for Philadelphia? Have a gripe with one of the names featured on the list? Let us know in the comments below.
