NFL Free Agency does not start until March 13th at 4 P.M., but the “Legal Tampering” period begins March 11th at noon and Safety is likely the first position the Eagles will look to strike.
Eagles GM Howie Roseman has proven that he will go out and sign or trade for a veteran safety. Malcolm Jenkins, Rodney McLeod, and Chauncey Gardner-Johnson are a few examples. This free agent class is stacked with players who fit the mold of the type of free agent safety the Eagles usually invest in. They did not have a backup plan when Gardner-Johnson left last season and they pivoted to signing CB James Bradberry.
I would not expect Howie to leave the Fangio defense vulnerable to the same result. It would be surprising if the Eagles did not make a big move to secure a game-changer at this position. Luckily for the Eagles, this year’s free-agent safety position is arguably the most talented and deep of all positions.
Which Safety could interest the Eagles the most?
Xavier McKinney might be the best of the free agent safety class who will not be franchised. He is very similar to another safety the Eagles went after in 2022, Marcus Williams, who signed a 5-year $70M contract with the Baltimore Ravens. McKinney is 24, ascending, and arguably just had the best season of his career. Xavier played in all 17 games last season, recording 116 tackles, 11 passes defended, and three interceptions. He would be the most desirable of the class but also could price himself out of the Eagle’s plans as Marcus did two years ago. I do expect Howie to be very aggressive in signing Xavier.
Kamren Curl is a former 7th-RD pick and due to that, has been highly underrated. Curl has turned into a desirable starting safety by showcasing versatility, good instincts, and his ability to be a 3-down safety. If the Eagles miss out on McKinney, Curl would be a very good consolation.
Jordan Fuller is a good cover safety and also is strong against the run. His ball-hawking skills are something that has been sorely missed from the Eagles’ defense and that trait alone would make Fuller a desirable addition.
Julian Blackmon is safety in the NFL but he played 2 years as a corner in college and has already logged over 300 snaps in the slot. He is very good in the box and rarely misses a tackle. He is also coming off his best season and will look to be getting paid well as a result.
DeShon Elliott is a stud versus the run, but he did struggle some in coverage last year. He played with Fangio in Miami last season and he could be someone Vic would want with him in Philadelphia to help with the transition of his system. A one-year deal could make sense.
Things may not have ended well between Chauncey Gardner-Johnson and the Eagles, but I do not think bridges were burned due to their separation and a return would make some sense. CJGJ already proved how valuable he is in the right scheme, and he would be a very good fit in Vic Fangio’s defense, as he was in Gannon’s during their Super Bowl run in 2022.
The Denver Broncos also released All-Pro safety Justin Simmons due to cap relief. At 30 years old, he will be an interesting addition to the Free-Agent class. He is coming off another All-Pro season and will have a very strong market. Whether the Eagles will be willing to invest heavily into Simmons or stick with someone younger will be an interesting decision. This release adds to the intrigue of an already captivating off-season for the Birds.
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