The NFL’s first wave of free agency has come and gone with the Eagles making some big moves and trading for a shutdown cornerback.
The NFL draft is scheduled to proceed as a scheduled and the Eagles have a little less than a month to add more talent via free agency.
With a ton of talent still on the open market, here are 10 players that the Eagles could look to add via free agency.
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1. Devonta Freeman, RB,
The Falcons released Freeman to free up cap space and after a season in which he had 1,066 yards from scrimmage but averaged just 3.6 yards per carry, Freeman could be the perfect complimentary piece to Miles Sanders in a backup role.
2. Jadeveon Clowney, DE,
The longer the former No. 1 overall pick goes without a team, the more likely that he’s asking price could be reduced for a season. Clowney appears unlikely to get a long-term deal at $18M-$20M per season but could take the mercenary approach and cash out on one-year deals that fit his strengths.
In Philadelphia, Clowney’s lack of sacks wouldn’t be an issue and as one of the most double-teamed players in the NFL, he’d add more value to Javon Hargrave, Brandon Graham, Derek Barnett, and Fletcher Cox.
3. Logan Ryan, CB,
A smart, instinctive hybrid defensive back, Ryan would fit in with an Eagles secondary that his embracing versatile defenders. Ryan lined up a slot corner, safety, and Blitzer for the Tennessee Titans and could make the Eagles that much tougher to gameplan for.
His 18 passes defended were third-most in the league, while he also added 4.5 sacks, eight quarterback hits, 113 tackles, and four interceptions.
4. Nigel Bradham, LB
Bradham can still play and could still find a role with the Eagles at a cheaper price. Bradham started all 58 regular-season games he played and six postseason games. He still could find himself being the Eagles’ most consistent linebacker if he returns.
5. Lamar Miller, RB
The free-agent running back is coming off a torn ACL and could add value to the Eagles running game if he’s totally healed.
Miller suffered a torn ACL last August and spent the 2019 campaign on injured reserve. Miller averaged 4.1 yards per carry and 7.4 yards per catch in three seasons with Houston, racking up 3,612 total yards and 18 touchdowns in 44 regular-season games.
6. Jason Peters, LT
A future Hall of Famer, the business has been slow for Peters in free agency and he’s not inclined to retire, he could look to return to the Eagles in a backup or swing offensive line role.
7. Clay Matthews, Pass Rusher
Every team can use a situational pass rusher and Matthews could be a person of interest for Jim Schwartz has he continues to diversify his defense.
Last season Matthews posted his lowest per-game tackle rate and quarterback hits but also had 8 sacks, the most since the 2015 season.
8. Chris Thompson, RB
The Eagles are familiar with Thompson from his days in Washington and any needed proof about his ability to play can be found on the tape.
Thompson has been solid against the Eagles during his career amassing three receiving touchdowns on 35 catches out of the backfield. He’s relatively fresh from a playing standpoint, only having carried the ball 250 times in his young career. Thompson and Sanders would be interchangeable in the Eagles offense.
9.Markus Golden, Edge,
Golden had 12.5 sacks in 2016 but battled through injuries for the next two years. Last year Golden signed a one-year, $3.75 million deal with the Giants and produced 10 sacks and 17 QB hits.
Golden registered a sack or QB hit on 8.3% of his pass-rush opportunities, which ranked 18th out of 172 qualifying players.
Last season in Houston, Hyde rushed for 1,000 yards and had his first season above 4.0 yards per carry since 2016, along with six touchdowns.
Entering his eighth NFL season, Hyde has mostly been a reserve and does not have the wear and tear of a typical 30-year-old NFL running bac — starting 58 of 80 games played in.
