Top 7 free agents the Eagles should target
by JasonB on Jan 26, 2009 3:00 PM EST
in Philadelphia Eagles News
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PrintThe NFL free agency period officially starts February 27th and right now the market is looking pretty rich. Certainly franchise tags and long term deals will thin it out before the 27th, but chances are that a good portion of the names on this list should still be available.
This list is limited only to unrestricted free agents and is in no particular order.
Brian Dawkins - FS - Philadelphia Eagles - This should be a no brainer. Dawkins wants to come back, he's the heart and soul of this team, he won't cost much money, and despite the fact that he's not the same player he was in his prime he still had a solid pro bowl year. Without a successor that we're 100% confident in ready to replace Dawk, he should be brought back for one more year.
Owen Daniels - TE - Houston Texans - Whether or not you think Brent Celek belongs as a starting TE, the Eagles are going to need another player or two at this position next year. LJ Smith, who played under the franchise tag this year, is a free agent and after a disappointing 2008 will not likely be offered a new deal. Matt Schoebel has done nothing. Coming off his 3rd year in the NFL, Daniels is probably the best free agent TE on the market. Over the past two years in Houston he's posted 63 and 70 catches respectively. He's also caught 10 TDs over the past 3 years. At 6'3 he's got good size and seems to be a guy on the cusp on really breaking out as a receiver. [Note by JasonB, 01/26/09 6:38 PM EST ] As it turns out, Owen Daniels is a restricted free agent. A few NFL sites out there have him listed as unrestricted after the final year of his rookie contract was voided.
Darren Sproles - RB - San Diego Chargers - I don't necessarily think Sproles is the kind of back we need, but I do think he's the kind of back the Eagles like... and I think he could be very successful in this offense. I know the Eagles are looking for a back like Sproles because they traded for one last year in the form of Lorenzo Booker. Sproles is an elite return man, who is deadly on screens and has become increasingly dangerous as a runner. At just 5'6, 181 lbs Sproles is hardly the pile mover fans have been clamoring for, but he already is everything the Eagles hoped Lorenzo Booker would be. If Brian Westbrook spends another year in and out of the lineup(which he likely will) Sproles could be the home run hitter we lack in his absence. Sproles had 7 TDs this year rushing, receiving, and returning.
T.J. Houshmanzadeh - WR - Cincinnati Bengals - Last year, when Randy Moss hit the open market as a free agent the Eagles outbid the Patriots for his services. Moss chose to give the Pats a discount, but the move signaled that the Eagles would have interest in adding a top notch offensive threat if one is available for just money(not players or picks in trade). Houshmenzadeh is just that. Over the past 3 seasons TJ has averaged 98 receptions, 1,043 yards, and 8 TDs per year. He's emerged from Chad Johnson's shadow to become one of the premier WRs in the game. I'm not dissatisfied with the Eagles' WR corps as is, but if the opportunity comes to upgrade it the Eagles would be smart to do so. Adding Houshmenzadeh as the #1 WR with Curtis & Jackson as compliments would make a decent WR corps into potentially a very good one.
Jordan Gross - OT - Carolina Panthers - Last week I listed offensive tackle as the Eagles' #1 offseason need. With both Tra Thomas and Jon Runyan as free agents and both guys on the wrong side of 30... The Eagles will need at least one new OT ready to step in and start right away this offseason. Gross is coming off an All pro season and has played well at both right and left OT in his career. He could step in and start on either side for this team right away. It's very rare for elite OTs in their prime to enter unrestricted free agency. There's a good chance that Gross could be franchised, but if not he should be the Eagles #1 target. It'll take a boatload of cash to get him... but a guy who can protect your QB's back and blow open holes in the run game is pretty much priceless in this league. This is one of the rare instances where the top FA on the market would also happen to fill our greatest need.
Leonard Weaver - FB - Seattle Seahawks - In his first full season as a starter, Weaver has developed into a solid all around full back in Seattle. He's a good lead blocker, he can carry the ball in short yardage, and he's a decent pass catcher. Also, having played under Mike Holmgren Weaver is already familiar with the Eagles' west coast offense and should have little to no learning curve when it comes to the offense. After drafting FB Owen Schmidt last year, the Seahawks probably won't be interested in getting into a bidding war over Weaver. A solid player who knows our system at a position of need? Sign me up! Actually, sign him up!
Tra Thomas or Jon Runyan - OT - Philadelphia Eagles - Finding one franchise OT in an offseason is tough, finding two is nearly impossible. Whether the Eagles go after a free agent or spend a high pick on an OT chances are they would probably like to bring back one of these two guys for another year. Both guys have spent a decade or more in Philadelphia and neither are likely to fetch real big money on the free agent market, so as long as the Eagles make a competitive offer it shouldn't be that difficult to keep one. Which one should be the guy they keep? Whichever guy plays opposite the bigtime free or first round pick they bring in to play the other offensive tackle spot...
Are there any other unrestricted free agents that you think deserve to be on this list? Who are your top free agent targets?
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Good Analysis
As usual Jason, you’ve thought this through well. I suspect the Chargers will try to keep Sproles since it looks like they have a situation building with LT. Thus, I think we’ll probably have to look to the draft for a running back.
Sproles certainly made himself some serious money over the last two months.
He’ll likely get paid like a feature back, which I think it would be a mistake to consider him capable of over a full season. This may be the biggest reason the Eagles wouldn’t reel him in — he’ll get paid more than what they are willing to spend on him.
i LOVE our DE's
but NOT pursuing julius peppers would be madness. if we were able to add a talent like that to our defense, it’d be awesome.
4th and 26!!!!
Get off the Peppers bandwagon…seriously
by Clyde Simmons on Jan 26, 2009 3:35 PM EST up reply actions
no bandwagon
he’s a serious addition to any defense.
4th and 26!!!!
not worth the $$
We could fix a lot of the problem spots on our offense with the money we would need to shell out for Peppers…I don’t think he’s all that great anyway.
i could see the bengals franchising tj and trading chad this year too. chad isn’t the huge cap hit in trade he was last year
Chad has salary cap issues, he isn't going anywhere.
City of Champions!
by yophillybro on Jan 27, 2009 10:51 AM EST up reply actions
Of the two
I’d rather keep Runyan than Thomas. Runyan looked this year like he’s lost less of his game than Thomas has.
Weaver would be a great fit.
Whether or not you think Brent Celek belongs as a starting TE
You talking to me? haha … I agree we need at least 1 more TE either in FA or via the draft because LJ is gone and Schobel is a waste of space. Celek has a lot to work on to become a premier TE but he has the ability.
They better sign Dawkins and soon this is bullshit.
I think Daniels and Gross get franchised, if they don’t have a long term deal in place before. There is no way in hell Carolina let’s Gross hit the open market.
Housh has to be the Bengals top target, I hope he hits the market but I doubt they let that happen too. But time makes fools of us all.
Sproles doesn’t interest me, but Weaver does. Although I like Eckel.
My List of Free Agents would be about the same assuming all these guys hit the market.
Dawk is a must, 1/2 of Thomas/Runyan, Jordan Gross, Brandon Jacobs def gets a look if he hits FA. And maybe Jason Brown of the Ravens but I think he’ll be franchised or signed too.
"I need to do a better job of putting players in the right position to perennially come up short of expectations"
Mostly agreed
Hey, if we could get Gross and Daniels, I’d be ecstatic. That would allow for a much more judicious draft instead of trying to fill needs. Isn’t Daniels a restricted FA? I am not interested in Sproles or Whosyomomma, not for the money they would command. ITJ will be the next Randle El, the best in FA but not really all that good. While Sproles is a good fit, he cannot carry the load over a full season. I think we need a guy who can spell Westbrook now and carry the full load in 2-3 years. I think there are plenty of options in the draft.
Owen Daniels
Daniels is restricted. I assume they would tender him at the level of a 1st and 3rd if a deal is not reached, or at least at the level of a 2nd and match most offers.
I saw him on a UFA list too and I did a double take. Obviously if he were available, he would be a nice addition. Three years NFL service on his rookie contract automatically equals restricted free agency.
Id love Jordan Gross but if I had to choose one big name free agent on the market it would be Housh. This draft is very deep at OT and I think wed be better suited to draft a stud OT and groom him for years to come. Its much easier to score with an OT in the draft then it is with a skill position player. Housh is an established pro who will be able to step right in and contribute.
OTs
It would be very sad to see Thomas and Runyan go. But when nobody is sure should they stay or not, or which one should stay – I think that’s the time they both should go.
Just nobody want’s to admit that, because they were so great before.
No Housh
A better Kevin Curtis and that is mainly because he has Ocho Cinco taking away some coverage. His ypc has been going down for the past couple years. Since I don’t think a trade will happen I believe this is another draft issue. Unless, we could package Lito and some picks to the Cards for Boldin. I don’t want the Eagles to waste money and sign Sproles as I would much rather spend a middle-late round pick on the position and lock up a young guy. I’m thinking P.J. Hill. Spend the money on the o-line this year.
yeah but ...
he’s a problem in the locker room I hear. But he is definitely talented.
"I need to do a better job of putting players in the right position to perennially come up short of expectations"
He's had a couple good years
Some of them were on shit teams too, and a lot of the times his production was seriously limited by his off the field antics.
E-A-G-L-E-S EAGLES!!!
I don't like him either, he isn't a true one, nor is Housh. I like our WR more than those guys.
(They are OK IMO, they aren’t really sexy pick ups) I would be my dream pick up, but if we had to, I guess I would be OK with either. But its not my ideal WR, I want someone young and big.
City of Champions!
by yophillybro on Jan 27, 2009 10:54 AM EST up reply actions
Housh
Bryant’s on the upswing.TJ will be 32,his best years are behind him.Plus Bryant’s got great hands and is the tough physical receiver this offense needs so badly.
I would rather draft a dude for that.
City of Champions!
by yophillybro on Jan 27, 2009 10:55 AM EST up reply actions
Bryant
Bryant had a good year in freaking Cleveland with nothing around him.CLEVELAND!! Sounds like he’s cleaned up his act,grown up a little bit and decided to play ball.Can’t be anything but a plus here.I’ll take Curtis as my #3 any day of the week Just sayin.
There is no doubt he is talented I mean really talented and worth a look ...
but he was allegedly run out of Dallas for getting into with Parcells, became a free agent and left Cleveland, run out of San Fran for getting into it with Mike Nolan, got arrested and suspended for 2007, and then had a good year with Tampa. Risky but man he is good.
"I need to do a better job of putting players in the right position to perennially come up short of expectations"
Fuck Antonio Bryant. Asshole knocked me out of my fantasy football playoffs.
I am the people's troll :3™
Daniels
According to KFFL Daniels isn’t a free agent
Carolina really put themselves in a bad spot.
Their going to have to choose between Gross and Peppers as to who to put the franchise tag on.
yeah they will tag Peppers and sign Gross not that big of a deal I don't think.
"I need to do a better job of putting players in the right position to perennially come up short of expectations"
Well they run the risk of letting Gross hit the open market
and having a team like the Eagles throw a bunch of money at him.
by houseofprime on Jan 26, 2009 8:21 PM EST up reply actions
true ... I think they get Gross under contract very soon though.
I’m hoping they don’t.
"I need to do a better job of putting players in the right position to perennially come up short of expectations"
What do you think of Peppers, is he worth a Look. Or is he Javon Kearse 2.0
I really don’t like small DEs, I don’t like him because I want a big DE. I am afraid he has a bad year or two left in him. He reminds me soo much of Kearse, but he did rebound a bit last year from that stinker in 07.
City of Champions!
by yophillybro on Jan 27, 2009 10:57 AM EST up reply actions
Everybody hates on the Eagles WR's
but they did get to the NFC championship with that group. The problem I think is while Curtis and Jackson are pretty good they are probably better off being a number 2 WR.
Dude
I F-ing hate how people say jackson is a #2. He put up more yards in his rookie season than Larry Fitzgerald, Steve Smith, and T.O. in their rookie years…
Oh yeah,. #2 written all the F*** over him!
E-A-G-L-E-S EAGLES!!!
I don't think he is a two, but he isn't a game changer either.
He is a nice player to have. He does draw respect from the defense, but he hasn’t proven he can change a game. So if that makes you a number 1 or not is left to be debated.
I like him, I would like a guy that just flat out scares people though. Some one who five can just throw the ball up and hell bring it down 95% of the time. Imagine DJax getting off man coverage. He’ll be a beast. I would line him up in the slot and run those mid field picks like AZ did to us w/ Fitzy.
City of Champions!
by yophillybro on Jan 27, 2009 11:00 AM EST up reply actions
Its only one season...
And rookie season is not a good barometer since all three of those guys had less than 800 yds receiving in their rookie year…the list of rookies with 700+ yds receiving is not a list of all #1 receivers (Michael Clayton and Kerry Colbert to name a couple)…
By the way Reggie Brown had more yards than TO and Steve Smith in his rookie year…
Not saying that Jackson can’t ever be a #1 but I wouldn’t use yards in his rookie year to make the determination…
He may be a # 1 soon enough
and he would develop into one even faster with a more experienced receiver playing in the number 1 spot. I think adding a guy like Housh would actually allow for MORE Jackson yards.
Lets face it, our receiving corps let us down on quite a few occasions during the NFC championship…I would like to have some more talent to take the pressure off the rest.
Please resign Dawkins.
I’d love to see us make a run at Gross if he isn’t franchised. I wouldn’t doubt that Andy is looking hard at the guy. I agree we need to sign Runyan or Thomas.
Not sure about Sproles. I think I’d rather see us take a back in the draft. Although Weaver would be interesting at FB.
As for TJ, I’m not sure. I really don’t mind the receivers we have. One thing I will say. If we go after anyone at WR / TE, we need to make sure that the guy is a proven red zone threat. The last couple of years we’ve shown that we can move the ball up and down the field. Our red zone offense needs help.
Peppers..
I rather have Peppers here more than a LOT of those potential FAs. Remember, according to McNabb supporters and anyone with half a football IQ saw our defense lose this game. He would be such a boost.
E-A-G-L-E-S EAGLES!!!
DE is not a big, big need ....
but Peppers could be a big time disruptor in our defense. Imagine him and Cole as our ends. I’m not holding my breath but yeah, I would take him in a heartbeat.
To be honest
We don’t have any HUGE holes as it is. You could say tackle but we have Herremanes and Andrews who are natural tackles that we could move there. FB and TE are the only position that we undoubtedly need to get better at.
E-A-G-L-E-S EAGLES!!!
Agreed
At a minimum we will need depth at OL. I’m not worried about it though. I highly doubt that this is something Andy will ignore. If we do not address the OL in free agency I would be very surprised if we don’t take OL with one of our first day picks. Very surprised.
If we sign Peppers, Thomas gets cut. Very little roster space there.
City of Champions!
by yophillybro on Jan 27, 2009 11:01 AM EST up reply actions
I mean Parker gets cut
City of Champions!
by yophillybro on Jan 27, 2009 11:01 AM EST up reply actions
I really think this whole offseason is a luxury for us. Andy Reid is going to be looking to fill holes for next year’s team, because we’re not a team with any glaring needs (except for we need at least one offensive lineman, regardless if we have the future tackle on our team right now or not).
I am the people's troll :3™
Wow, really amazing info
If ya’ll really think you know anything about the draft and free agency you are sadly mistakin. How many Pro Day’s so far? Combine? Did the teams use thier franchise tags yet? NOOOOO!!!! Ya’ll don’t know shit. I’m really tired of reading people state the obvious and get all kinds of credit for it. Its not like ya’ll are being creative or anything like that.
Wow, Jason you looked at the free agent list!!! How hard was that one. Can you tell me how you do it? I mean I would like to know how you really do it sometimes…
And for the people that sweat him for that shit. LMAO! I am really torn right now. I used to think that studying all the stats and spending all kinds of time looking up info was the new way. Its not. Sometimes, I think the crazy bums at the corner bar know stuff that I don’t. Like when a coach is missing it. Or when our best offensive player doesn’t have a great back up(I have always liked Buck, I hearted him when he was at Nebraska. But he hasn’t been used enough. There has to be a reason for that).
-We need help. We have 2 1st rounders. Both our OT’s could leave.
-We pass a lot. We can’t run when we need to. We have trouble in the redzone.
-For some reason we treated FItz like he was Joe Smo, allowing are 57 million dollar corner stay on the left… WTF? Mmm, can Sheldon Brown cover Fitz one on one? I didn’t think so. Sheldon can play. Just not one on one with a top 3 WR!
-Our best offensive player isn’t a workhorse. His backup missed 3 seasons because of the same shit. Why not get a new RB?
-LJ was a F***in clown all year just like he has always been. Everyone last year didn’t say shit.
So this year we need to not run the ball in crucial situations. Just like we did in the first Giants game and the Bears game. If we are going to throw and throw some more. Why not go shotgun most of the time? Really, WTF not?
This team is young and talented. We just need a few game changers!!!!!!! Why not pay for them?
Fore all the shit talking and disrespecting you’re doing, I find it hilarious the only points you made were just regurgitated shit Jason already said.
I am the people's troll :3™
Plus the other points were bad too
Run more… We did start running the ball more.
Pay for some play makers – We tried to last year and there really wasn’t anyone out there besides Moss who didn’t want to leave.
E-A-G-L-E-S EAGLES!!!
LOL
that was the most hypocritical post I have ever read. You would think he might break it up into two separate posts so it wasn’t so noticeable. haha.
"I need to do a better job of putting players in the right position to perennially come up short of expectations"
Sounds like you listen to talk radio or sports center
Your not saying anything new here that hasn’t been discussed a million times…Besides the fact that Sheldon didn’t do a bad job on Fitz…he let up a TD from the 1 yd line which Asante would have too but he interfered to prevent the TD…
I think Asante and Sheldon are a great pair of corners…anytime we had big trouble in the passing game it was the TE for the first half of the year while the LBs were growing up or leaving a safety 1 on 1 with a top WR (Dawkins on Owens, Demps on Fitz, Dawkins on Fitz)…when Sheldon and Asante are locked up on the WRs our passing defense is pretty damn good…
Asante always playing on the left side is no more than a defensive philosophy…its like Marvin Harrison always lining up on the right…you can learn to read the QB and make your breaks better when you always line up in the same position…it has nothing to do with how much money he makes…
Get a DEFENSIVE END
I dont think anyone would argue that we need to reload at OT. (I would imagine that we draft one and get another through free agency, part ways with Tra Thomas who looked like Justice during the NFC Championship and give Runyan a two year contract).
After that, I think our biggest target has to be a gamebreaking defensive end. Our Dline is good, Patterson and Bunkley have finally plugged up the middle, Cole is above average, but we are missing that defensive end that can demand attention and change the entire game. If we had more pressure up front our secondary would have more receptions than Reggie Brown.
trade?
d end would be nice but i would rather see the eagles keep both of the 1st rounders and the only way to get a good d end would be a trade witch there is no poin when the are other needs to be filled
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