The Linc - Eagles Will Spend on Defense in Free Agency

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Free agency 'best bets,' defense edition - JimmyK, Philly.com
The Eagles aren't starving for starters at CB, as Cary Williams and Bradley Fletcher are good enough in the short term, with Brandon Boykin emerging as a stellar slot corner. However, they are desperate for depth. One player who can play a number of roles and be a valuable jack of all trades is Corey Graham of the Ravens. Graham has the versatility to play both on the outside and in the slot, and he made the Pro Bowl after the 2011 season with the Bears as a standout special teamer.

Expect Eagles to spend on defense during free agency - Zach Berman, Inquirer
General manager Howie Roseman insists that the Eagles will not approach the offseason thinking they're a player or two away from title contention. Even after winning the NFC East in coach Chip Kelly's first season, Roseman continues to emphasize a long-term approach and talks about the perils of high-priced acquisitions. Roseman, however, also admitted "unique situations call for unique action." The Eagles have about $24 million in cap space, and there could be available players who would qualify as "unique situations."

More Free Agency Talk - Tommy Lawlor, Iggles Blitz
Mitchell spent 4 years in Oakland and didn’t do anything. Well, he wasn’t a starter. Mitchell only started 9 games in that period, and never more than 4 in one season. That was a dysfunctional defense. Mitchell then signed with the Panthers, got on the field (14 starts) and posted some really impressive numbers. He is a one-year wonder. The question is why he didn’t play in Oakland. If the Eagles are showing heavy interest, they must feel comfortable that sitting in Oakland was a weird situation and not as much a reflection of Mitchell, his talent and his work ethic.

Mosher's Mailbag: Do Eagles like WRs in draft? - Geoff Mosher, CSN Philly
Roseman has insisted that he and his staff will take the best player available in each round, and with so many talented receivers out there, I’d actually be surprised if the Eagles didn’t use a high pick on a wide receiver. They just released Jason Avant, so they have only three legit wideouts on the roster in DeSean Jackson, Riley Cooper and Jeremy Maclin. (Sorry, Damaris Johnson and Jeff Maehl). With Maclin only signed for one year (at the moment), it makes plenty of sense for the Eagles to come away with another receiver in the draft.

Anatomy Of A Great UFA Signing - Dave Spadaro, PE.com
Long before Connor Barwin thought for even a second about joining the Philadelphia Eagles, the team had a file on him. A full report, listing all of his characteristics, one that came in handy many months later when it was time to make a decision …

2014 NFL free agent rankings: Top 15 free agents at each position - Mark Sandritter, SB Nation NFL
The safety market received a boost in recent weeks. Delmas was released and should land a starting job. Neither Byrd nor Ward were tagged, making for a loaded safety crop.

Why I Retired At 26 - Rashard Mendenhall, Huffington Post
I decided not to hold a press conference because I didn't want to have to say things that were cliché. I've done enough of that since I've been playing football. I actually didn't really plan on saying anything about my retirement at all. I just kind of wanted to disappear. The fact that I was done playing would've been clear once some time had passed, and I hadn't signed back with the Cardinals or any other team. Maybe people would've thought I couldn't get another job. Either way, I was okay with the idea of fading to black, and my legacy becoming "What ever happened to that dude Rashard Mendenhall? He was pretty good for a few years, then he just vanished."