NFL Free agency is still a little over two months away, but there’s no time like the present for the Eagles, who need to make absolutely perfect decisions this offseason. With a huge cap deficit to overcome, money is not something they’re inundated with, meaning that the margin for error is minimal. With 18 players set to enter free agency this upcoming offseason, here is an early projection of how things will pan out.
Jason Peters
The Eagles should retain Jason Peters under the following circumstances:
That’s the list. Peters is now 38-years-old and his play dropped off a cliff last year. He’s a future Hall of Famer and will forever be remembered as one of the greatest Eagles of all time, but after demanding a bigger paycheck just to move to LT, only to play terribly, the Eagles have to move on. They have two young studs in former first-round pick Andre Dillard and fan-favorite Jordan Mailata. It makes no sense to keep him around as a player.
As a coach, however…
Verdict: Go
Jalen Mills
Given the lack of long-term security at the position, bringing Mills back on another short-term deal makes sense. Not only has he emerged into a leader in the secondary after playing in his fifth season as an Eagle, but his first year at Safety was actually encouraging.
The LSU product ended the year with an expected career-high in tackles and TFL, along with recording 5 QB hits. He went a long way in helping to negate the loss of Malcolm Jenkins. Keeping him around to help nurture a very young secondary makes sense, especially with the uncertainty surrounding Rodney McLeod’s torn ACL.
Verdict: Stay
Nate Sudfeld
I don’t really understand why the Eagles placed a tender on Sudfeld this past offseason and it’s not like his week 17 performance inspired much. It’s great that his teammates vouched for him, but after the way that game transpired, I can’t see the team keeping him around.
Verdict: Go
Nickell Robey-Coleman
The self-proclaimed ‘Slot-God’ was more of a ‘Slot-car racer’ in 2020. NRC did not look anywhere close to his best with the Eagles and this was no Patrick Robinson move. He had some nice games towards the end of the season, but moving Maddox back inside and keeping LeBlanc, who wasn’t that far behind Robey-Coleman, makes far more sense.
Verdict: Go
Vinny Curry
The 33-year-old enjoyed a fairly successful return to Philadelphia and he could well be called upon again. He knows the scheme inside out and consistently produces as an EDGE3/4. The Eagles have no real long-term security at the position outside of Josh Sweat and a hope that Brandon Graham can continue to immortalize himself in the City of Brotherly Love. Keeping Curry on the roster as that stop-gap while a new young pass-rusher develops is a smart play.
Verdict: Stay
Hassan Ridgeway
With Malik Jackson’s future now up in the air after a contract restructure, Ridgeway’s old DT3 role could be back up for grabs. He missed most of the year with a biceps injury, but I think he still has some nice upside as a rotational pass-rusher who has proven he fits much better here than he did in Indy.
Verdict: Stay
Cre’Von LeBlanc
Captain Cre’Von might have seen his play dip in 2020 before suffering a high-ankle sprain against the Browns, but as aforementioned, is a great backup in the slot, plays the type of game that the Eagles demand, and will be available for a cheap price.
Verdict: Stay
Richard Rodgers
Rodgers was such a pleasant surprise filling in for Zach Ertz this year. In what was his third year with the Eagles, the former Packers TE showed his true value as a pass-catcher and with Ertz likely set for an emotional exit, it would behoove the Eagles to keep Rodgers as their TE2 behind Goedert and potentially groom some young talent behind the duo next year.
Verdict: Stay
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Photo by Kyle Ross/Icon Sportswire
