The Philadelphia Eagles are in the midst of preparing for the 2020 NFL season but with looming salary cap decisions that’ll have to be made, it’s necessary to take a look ahead to the team’s 2021 free-agent class.
Unless Howie Roseman chooses to hand out an extension or two between now and the next offseason, the Eagles will enter the 2021 free agency period with 31 players available to hit the open market per Spotrac.
The list is exempt of huge names but several key players on the Eagles roster are competing on one-year deals and it’s not certain that they’ll all return.
Players like Jalen Mills, Sidney Jones, Will Parks, Nickell Robey-Coleman, Nate Sudfeld, Cre’Von LeBlanc, Jatavis Brown, Rasul Douglas, and Nate Gerry are among the Eagles bigger named players up for new deals.
With the Eagles possibly facing some serious cap issues going forward, we highlight some of the players who could be top priorities during the 2021 free agency period.
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1. Jalen Mills S/Slot
Mills returned to the Eagles on a one year deal and got switched to the role of a hybrid-safety, replacing Malcolm Jenkins.
With Will Parks coming over from the Broncos and K’Von Wallace being the future at the position, Mills is either playing to impress another team or hopeful for a modest long-term extension with the Eagles.
2. Nate Gerry LB
Gerry has transformed himself from safety at Nebraska to a competent hybrid linebacker in the NFL. He’ll likely be a starter when the 2020 NFL season but could get competition from both rookies Davion Taylor and Shaun Bradley.
If Gerry can start off quick and show the Eagles that he’s taken the next step, he could be a candidate for an extension.
3. Will Parks S
The versatile safety is a Philadelphia native and would love to entrench his roots here permanently by earning a contract extension that again brings value and flexibility to the Birds.
4. Sidney Jones CB (RFA)
Jones will be a restricted free agent and after a disappointing start to his career, he’ll look to cement his status with the Eagles and earn the second-round tender, which will be around $3,259,000 in 2020.
Jones needs to have a breakout season to even earn the tender and solidifying his future with the Eagles could earn the former Washington Huskies star a contract extension.
5. Rasul Douglas
Douglas had his deal restructured during the offseason and will likely need a breakout season to another deal with the Birds.
6. Crevon LeBlanc
LeBlanc has a strong presence on the Eagles roster and is one of the better and more efficient slot corners in the NFL. He could be in line for a cheaper value contract next offseason.
7. Nate Sudfeld
The Eagles backup quarterback has the weird conundrum of wanting to be a starter in the NFL but likely will be reduced to the yearly discussions of returning to be Wentz’s backup.
8. Duke Riley LB
After dancing his way to some controversy before being traded to Philadelphia, Riley earned the respect of his new teammates and was made a special teams captain. He’ll likely quietly return early on in free agency and could score a value-based extension during the 2020 season.
