Defensive free agents with connections to Eagles coaches
Defensive line/LB
Leonard Floyd – After a dud of a career with the Bears, Floyd had a hell of a contract year for the Rams. He played under new Eagles defensive line coach Tracy Rocker at Georgia.
Everson Griffen – While not his position coach, Jonathan Gannon was the assistant DBs coach for the Vikings from 2014-2017.
Jeremiah Attaochu – Attaochu was drafted by the Chargers in 2014 and spent four seasons with the team. Sirianni and Steichen were both on the coaching staff during that period, albeit on the other side of the ball.
Denico Autry – Whereas Attaochu spent his years with Sirianni as a Charger, Autry spent his years with Sirianni as a Colt. After four seasons in Oakland, Autry signed with the Colts in 2018. Rotating between DT and EDGE, he had 20 sacks in three seasons with the Colts. Gannon is surely going to advocate for this signing.
Justin Houston – Howie loves his veteran signings, Houston would be a good target. Houston spent two seasons with the Colts (2019 and 2020) and had 19 sacks in two seasons with the team. In 2014, he had 22 sacks. Houston is also familiar with new Eagles coach Jay Valai (exact role is unclear). Valai spent one year (2018) in Kansas City as assistant defensive backs coach and defensive quality control coach.
Melvin Ingram – Another member of the Sirianni/Steichen Chargers, Ingram has all the talent in the world but has trouble staying healthy. At 32, he may only command a short term deal to prove himself.
Jordan Jenkins – Jenkins has spent all five years of his career with the Jets, where new Eagles defensive backs coach Dennard Wilson was defensive backs coach and defensive passing game coordinator from 2017-2020.
Manti Te’o – Sirianni, Steichen, and Michael all spent time with Te’o when he was on the Chargers. In four years with the Chargers, he had 221 tackles and two INT. His New Orleans career was unspectacular and played one game with the Bears in 2020: a 21-9 loss against the Saints in Week 17 in which he recorded zero stats in 54 defensive snaps.
Anthony Walker – Very expensive, yet very good and young linebacker that spent his entire four-year career with the Colts. He has 343 tackles in his four seasons and three INTs. He could provide the kind of MIKE production the Eagles have been lacking since DeMeco Ryans.
Denzel Perryman – Spent his entire six-year career with the Chargers. Sirianni and Steichen are very familiar with him. Merely a rotational piece, he could provide solid depth (if he can stay healthy).
Raekwon McMillan – If Matt Burke is moved to LBs coach, he may suggest adding his star LB from the Dolphins in 2018. He missed his rookie 2017 season with a torn ACL. In his sophomore season, McMillan had 105 tackles. In the two years after, one with Miami and one with Las Vegas, he had 99 total. Reuniting with Burke could bring him back to that 2018 form, and allow for a cheap addition in a much-needed position.
Neville Hewitt – A breakout season for Hewitt in 2020 may make him too expensive for the Eagles, but he could get a deal with incentives to prove his 2020 wasn’t a fluke. He spent the last three seasons with the Jets, where Dennard Wilson was on staff, and spent his first three with the Dophins, two of which with Matt Burke.
Reggie Ragland – Ragland spent 2018 with Kansas City where Jay Valai was defensive quality control coach.
Margus Hunt – Hunt spent 2017-2019 with the Colts before playing for two different teams in 2020.
Davon Godchaux – Godchaux spent two seasons with Burke in Miami. The year after Burke left, he had 75 tackles from NT.
Solomon Thomas – This has been a pipe dream of mine. Thomas spent all but two games on IR due to injury, so it’s possible he wants to re-sign to build his value again. The former number three pick in the 2017 draft has yet to live up to his selection, but he’d be a great addition to the defensive line. His time with the 49ers also included 1,764 snaps on special teams in three years. New Eagles ST coach Michael Clay was the 49ers assistant ST coach/assistant strength and conditioning coach from 2016-2019.
Damien Wilson – Wilson has played five years in the NFL , three with Dallas and the last two with Kansas City. His connection to Philly is new LBs coach Nick Rallis. Rallis, 27, played linebacker at the University of Minnesota from 2013-2016, which overlapped with Wilson in 2013 and 2014.
De’Vondre Campbell – Whereas Wilson played with Rallis for two seasons, Campbell played with Rallis for three. Campbell was strong at MIKE for the Cardinals this past season, registering 99 tackles.
Eric Wilson – Wilson (27 in September) is coming off a 122 tackle season. Quite possibly the ultimate “clean up” tackler as he had 60 assisted tackles, but he’d still provide an upgrade.
Todd Davis – Once a prolific tackler, Davis fell off in Minnesota in 2020. He had a lower role in Minnesota, but he was still a very good run stopper. His pedigree suggests a bounce back season, he could have it with his Minnesota assistant LB coach in Rallis.
Kamu Grugier-Hill – Because we look alike.
Secondary
Mackensie Alexander – Alexander spent two seasons with Gannon in Minnesota (2016-2017). He’s been unspectacular but he’d offer a veteran presence in the DB room.
Charvarius Ward – Ward, 25, is a restricted free agent and the Chiefs surely will place an early-round tender on him. Ward spent his rookie year with Jay Valai.
Xavier Rhodes – Probably the most likely of all free agents, Rhodes is extremely familiar with Johnathan Gannon. Rhodes was a Pro Bowler and All-Pro with Gannon in Minnesota and sort of fell off a cliff (despite one more PB nod) when Gannon left after 2017. He then signed with the Colts in 2020 largely because of his relationship with Gannon and had an extremely productive year: 16 games, two INT (one pick 6), and allowed 51.9% completion when targeted. At 31 he’s definitely not the long-term solution at CB, but he can provide immediate help at CB2 across from Darius Slay.
Akhello Witherspoon – Witherspoon spent his only four seasons with the 49ers, where Michael Clay was a coach.
Dontae Johnson – A key member of the SF special teams from 2014-2017 and then again in 2020, Johnson could be a key special keys contribution. Johnson is also from Pennington, NJ, which is about an hour outside Philly.
Emmanuel Moseley – Another young CB from the 49ers.
Jason Verrett – Verrett spent his first four seasons of his career with the Chargers, where.. well, you know by now. He was a first-round pick in the 2014 draft and completely failed to live up to expectations. After tearing his Achilles and spending all of 2018 on IR, he signed with the 49ers for the 2019 season. He missed all but one game that year with an ankle injury but came back with a vengeance in 2020. A resurgent Verrett reuniting with the coaching staff that drafted him could be a good situation for the Eagles.
Desmond King – Eagles offensive coordinator had to face off against the former All-Pro in practices, so I’m sure he could provide some intel on King. He was traded to the Titans in 2020. King is a slot corner mostly, but can also play some safety.
Malik Hooker – Hooker, 25 in April, is an especially intriguing option at safety. He has yet to play a full 16 game season in his four years, but he’s been extremely productive when healthy. He’s familiar with Johnathan Gannon and could revitalize his career with Philly.
Jayron Kearse – Kearse spent 2016 & 2017 with Gannon in Minnesota. He’s mostly a special teams addition.
Anthony Harris – Another player who may command too much money, Harris spent some time with Gannon in Minnesota. Harris would provide a lot of production at the safety spot and be a great mentor for the younger players.
Marcus Maye – A safety developed by new Eagles secondary coach Dennard Wilson, Maye (28 in March) could opt for familiarity and hop on I-95 to head to Philly. Maye would be a nice long term piece at safety.
Photo by MSA/Icon Sportswire
