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As the Eagles set their sights on offseason, the front office must decide who they should re-sign of their own free agents and who they should let go. Philadelphia has eight regular free agents, one restricted free agent and one exclusive rights free agent. Of those ten players, eight have spent more than one season with the Eagles.
Let's look at the Eagles free agents and see who the Eagles should keep or let walk:
DE Cedric Thornton (ERFA): The former small school prospect has become one of the Eagles better defensive players. He started all 16 games this season and shown a prowess for stopping the run. Along with Fletcher Cox and Bennie Logan, Thornton has established the young defensive front as a force for the future. It is unclear if Thornton will get a long-term deal this summer, but he should surely stick around. He may be the defensive find of the Howie Roseman Era. Verdict: Stay
OLB Phillip Hunt (RFA): While Hunt showed flashes in his first two seasons with the Eagles, the decision to move the team to a 3-4 front likely makes him unnecessary. He is pretty much a rotational defensive end in the NFL and signed with the Eagles because he wanted to play in a 4-3 defense. It is likely that he will avoid being tender. He is coming off an ACL tear and has little tape, but will still probably draw interest later in the offseason. Verdict: Go
QB Michael Vick: The Eagles would likely love to have the former Pro Bowl passer behind Nick Foles, but that is not likely to happen. Vick wants to test his market and get a starting job at the age of 34. A running quarterback in his mid-30's is not likely to have a large market, but someone will take a chance on him. He was terrific in his role this season and has been a model teammate since arriving in Philadelphia. Verdict: Go
S Kurt Coleman: While he is not the biggest fan favorite, Coleman is a valued special teams player. He is not likely to give you a ton as a starter, but does have the experience and savvy to play if called upon. A lot of people were not expecting him to make the roster this season, but he did and lasted the entire year. That may speak volumes about how the team feels about Coleman or it could speak to the team's depth. He may be good to bring back as a cheap backup with special teams ability. Verdict: Stay
WR Jeremy Maclin: While he is coming off an ACL injury, Maclin is clearly an appealing re-signing option. He has to prove he can stay healthy and produce, so what better option than the Chip Kelly offense? It is really a win-win for both parties as Maclin can be had a short-term deal and is a high-upside player. He could be dangerous as a slot receiver if the team decides to upgrade over Jason Avant and sign veteran for the outside or draft a pass-catcher early. Verdict: Stay
WR Riley Cooper: Cooper has a solid connection with Foles and is a stellar blocker, while experiencing career-highs in several categories. He is probably the most polarizing of the team's free agents this season as he is very appealing as a player to keep but is also upgradable. He is perfect for Kelly's offense and likely will avoid a heavy market because of his lack of speed and last year's controversy. Verdict: Stay
S Colt Anderson: The Montana alum is a stellar special teams player, but can't be counted on in a role on defense. With so many players on the roster that can play special teams and needs for upgraded depth, it makes sense to move on from Anderson. Verdict: Go
S Nate Allen: The former second-round pick had his best season since his rookie year in Billy Davis' defense. The guy isn't going to be a world-beater at the position but has proven he can at least start. With Earl Wolff still unproven and the chances of drafting a starting safety being unclear, it may make sense to play it safe and re-sign Allen. That said, Allen may make money on the market with safety play being horrible across the league. Verdict: Go
P Donnie "Football" Jones: This is very simple: RE-SIGN HIM HOWIE! Verdict: Stay
DE Clifton Geathers: Big Cliffy is not likely to draw any interest on the market and could easily be replaced by a low-end draft pick or Joe Kruger. He could be brought back for competition but is already relatively old for a project rotational lineman. Verdict: Go
