Eagles Free Agency: Fits & Misses at Seven Key Positions

The Philadelphia Eagles have plenty of needs with the new league year looming.

If the draft starts in Mobile, the tempering begins in Indianapolis during the NFL’s annual scouting combine.

“Legal tampering” is the oxymoron that has become a sports radio trope used to describe the permitted 48-hour negotiating period in advance of the new league year on March 13.

The actual tampering ramps up this week in Indy when the foundation from trades to free-agent deals is put into place in a wink-wink fashion.

Philadelphia Eagles general manager Howie Roseman will use all means at his disposal to replenish a roster that started leaking oil down the stretch of the 2023-24 season and there are a host of needs that must be filled.

Roseman won’t patch up all the needs via free agency of course but, with two weeks to go until that legal negotiating period, this seems like the time to list the Eagles’ biggest needs, along with a potential answer for them in free agency, as well as an option Philadelphia and Roseman should steer clear of:

RUNNING BACK:

FIT: AJ Dillon - A bigger, chain-moving back with some ability as a receiver, Dillon completed his rookie deal in Green Bay without a ton of touches so there is tread on the tire. 

Dillon was also effective as a runner more often than not. You’re losing the explosiveness D’Andre Swift provided but you’re gaining a north-south option who could take advantage of Jalen Hurts’ ability to manipulate the defensive spacing in the running game at a reduced cost who will also better match with the skills of Kenny Gainwell.

Pro Football Focus projects Dillion, who turns 26 on May 2, as getting a $4 million, two-yer deal vs. a Miles Sanders-like haul Swift is projected to get on the open market.

MISS: Austin Ekeler - Too many immediately try to connect the dots with coaches who have a prior history with players, assuming that it’s always a positive. Oftentimes, it’s the exact opposite. New Eagles offensive coordinator Kellen Moore got a front-row seat to a declining Ekeler, who will turn 29 in May, last season with the Chargers.

Assuming that downtick is an outlier with 30 looming is probably a specious evaluation.

WIDE RECEIVER 3:

FIT: Darnell Mooney - At 26, Mooney is explosive and he has a 1,000-yard season on his resume with a struggling Chicago team in 2021, the classic 20-point scorer on a bad NBA team theory coming to life. 

Mooney is best suited in a WR3 role and his size is tailor-made for the slot. He is coming off a poor season which means he might be willing to accept a one-year, prove-it deal. 

If Roseman can convince Mooney the traffic will be there while playing with A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith on a potential contender, Mooney might even take a little less money.

Bears free agent WR Darnell Mooney / USA Today

MISS: Tyler Boyd - Boyd, 29, has been in the conversation of being the best WR3 in the NFL with Cincinnati while complementing Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins. You might even get a discount due to his age but Boyd started trending downward last season. 

Much like Ekeler, with 30 fast approaching, a 180 is unlikely.

OFFENSIVE GUARD:

FIT: Jon Runyan - It worked once with a Jon Runyan so why not try it again? Unlike his dad, Runyan, 26, is an interior player. He's proven to be a plus-pass protector with right/left versatility. The assumption here is that Cam Jurgens is moving inside to replace a retiring Jason Kelce.

MISS: Jonah Jackson - Jackson, 27, figures to be expensive and is a better run blocker than pass protector. You should always be paying the latter in the modern NFL.

EDGE DEFENDER:

FIT: Chase Young - Young, 25, has never lived up to his pedigree as a No. 2 overall pick but he’s still got time for everything to click and will likely accept a one-year, $15-or so million contract to get right back on the market.

MISS - Bryce Huff - Huff, 25, will cost in the same range as Young after a solid season with the Jets but it will take multiple years and he’s not working from the same foundation when it comes to both skills and physical traits as Young.

OFF-BALL LINEBACKER

FIT: Tyrel Dodson - The Eagles like to go cheap at off-ball LB and Dodson, 25, should fit that bill even after he performed admirably in Buffalo after the Bills lost Matt Milano to injury.

MISS: Devin White - Too many fans believe White, 26, has played like the top-10 pick he once was but talk to those in Tampa who got to see him weekly and they talk about an undisciplined, inconsistent player who makes the occasional splash play due to his athleticism.

CORNERBACK:

FIT: Running it back with James Bradberry. The veteran not only tends to follow up an underwhelming season with a solid one, but remember how much Bradberry was playing out of position last season. The Eagles should just put him on the right side and use his zone skills.

MISS: L’Jarius Sneed - If the Eagles want to make a splash in free agency and the Chiefs allow Sneed, 27, to get to the market, this is the move everyone wants. And it will be costly. Think at least three years at $18 million. 

Ask Jalen Ramsey and Xavien Howard about being a press cornerback in a Vic Fangio scheme. Why waste so much when a zone corner is wanted?

Bradberry Among 5 Eagles In Line For Improvement Under Fangio

SAFETY:

FIT: Jordan Fuller - Fuller, 25, is a ball-hawking free safety who comes from a system similar to the one the Eagles run. He spent the majority of his time patrolling his deep  side or quarter for the Rams, who have been at the top of the league when it comes to two-high looks.

MISS: Kyle Dugger - Dugger, 27, is a very good player but he will be expensive and is more of a hybrid, positionless player type. That’s not a fit for how the Eagles will be playing defense.