Eagles general manager Howie RosemanMitchell Leff/Getty Images
Updated Salary-Cap Space: $40.7 million
Top Pending Free Agents: DT Fletcher Cox, DE Brandon Graham, CB Bradley Roby, RB D’Andre Swift, WR Olamide Zaccheaus
Potential Trade Assets: EDGE Haason Reddick, EDGE Josh Sweat, First-Round Pick
Potential Trade Targets: CB L’Jarius Sneed, S Budda Baker, First-Round Pick
Biggest Positions of Need: Cornerback, Safety, Linebacker
Potential Signing 1: S C.J. Gardner-Johnson
The Philadelphia Eagles struggled down the stretch in 2023, seeing a 10-1 record crumble into an 11-6 mark, a wild-card berth and then an early playoff exit.
Most of the Eagles’ issues reside on defense, where the back seven was particularly problematic. Philly finished the year ranked 31st in passing yards allowed, 26th in total yards allowed and 30th in points allowed.
Bringing back versatile defensive back C.J. Gardner-Johnson after he spent the 2023 season in Detroit would be a great way to start the reloading process. Gardner-Johnson was a standout during Philly’s 2022 Super Bowl run, and he’s already familiar with the team and personnel.
Potential Signing 2: CB Stephon Gilmore
The Eagles also need help at cornerback, where James Bradberry saw a big regression in 2023. He allowed an opposing passer rating of 114.3 in coverage after allowing a rating of just 51.6 the previous year.
Stephon Gilmore may be 33 years old, but he’s still a very capable perimeter corner. He started all 17 games for Dallas in 2023 and allowed an opposing passer rating of only 82.7 in coverage.
Gilmore would only command a short-term deal, but he would be a great veteran addition who could allow the Eagles to draft and develop an eventual long-term replacement.
Plucking Gilmore away from the rival Cowboys would be a bonus.
Potential Dream Signing: LB Patrick Queen
While the Eagles had plenty of issues in coverage last season, poor tackling was also a problem. Despite having a stout defensive front, Philly ranked just 20th in yards allowed per carry.
Adding a premier second-level defender would be wise, and Baltimore’s Patrick Queen is the perfect free-agency target. He had a breakout campaign in 2023 while playing alongside Roquan Smith, finishing with 133 tackles, 3.5 sacks, eight passes defended and a Pro Bowl nod.
Some of Queen’s 2023 production can be attributed to playing in a terrific Baltimore defense and alongside a premier linebacker like Smith. However, his sound instincts and elite closing speed showed up on film long before Smith’s arrival in Baltimore.
Adding Queen would give the Eagles at least one top-tier defender at the second level.
There will be changes in Philadelphia this offseason. The Eagles already have new offensive and defensive coordinators in Kellen Moore and Vic Fangio, respectively. Longtime center Jason Kelce also recently announced his retirement.
At least on defense, though, there shouldn’t be a huge schematic shift. Fangio’s system shares a lot of similarities with that of former coordinator Jonathan Gannon, so improving the defensive roster will be more important than restructuring it.
The Eagles do need to improve their defense, though, and in a big way. Adding Fangio should help, but there isn’t enough talent or depth on the back end for Philly to be considered a legitimate title contender.
Offensively, the Eagles have a solid foundation. They’ll need to re-sign or replace running back D’Andre Swift and figure out a plan for replacing Kelce. Adding a reliable third receiver should also be on the to-do list.
When it comes to spending big in free agency, however, most of the attention should be on the defense. Philadelphia isn’t loaded with cap space, but it should be active when the market opens (unofficially) on Monday.
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