Around the league: Calm before the NFL free agency storm

Free agency officially starts this afternoon, after it officially unofficially started on Tuesday with the “legal tampering” period that saw a distinct lack of action. Leave it to the NFL to create a window where teams can freely talk to players and then clamp down on teams freely talking to players. You do you NFL. But there were some moves made and rumors of others, and they have direct and indirect impacts on the Eagles. Let’s recap where things stand this morning before free agency starts at 4pm.

Eagles rumors—and non-rumors

The Eagles did make a signing, in case you missed it: they brought back Najee Goode!

There hasn’t been much chatter about the Eagles free agency targets. But that doesn’t necessarily mean it will be a quiet week. Last year the signings of Brandon Brooks and Rodney McLeod came in relatively under the radar, and it could be more of the same this year. And there should be a number of cost-cutting moves.

With currently just over $6 million in cap space, the Eagles will have to make some roster moves to free up space. Jeff McLane anticipates Connor Barwin will be traded or released sooner rather than later. Expect the same with Mychal Kendricks, $4.35 million of his 2017 salary will become guaranteed on Saturday. If anything is going to happen with him, it should happen soon.

No, Kenny Britt hasn’t signed with the Eagles. Yet. Maybe he’ll swing by after visiting friends in Atlantic City.

It’s been all quiet on the Bennie Logan front. But on the DT front, the Eagles are among teams supposedly interested in 32 year old defensive tackle Domata Peko of the Bengals. Yeah, we don’t get it either.

Keep track of all the Eagles-specific rumors here.

Wide Receiver

We expect the Eagles to be busy on this front, as Carson Wentz needs already developed pass catchers to aid in his development.

Yesterday afternoon the first WR went off the board when the Giants signed Brandon Marshall. Marshall, who will be 33 when the season starts, received a two year, $12 million contract. That makes him the 26th highest paid WR by yearly average, which is a flawed ranking but with no breakdown it’s all we have to go off of. Given his age and his desire to stay in New York, it may not have any effect on the market, we’ll see.

Then last night, Kenny Stills was re-signed by the Dolphins. The good news here, aside from if you didn’t want him, is that his 4 year, $32 million with $20 million guaranteed was less than was being pushed in the media. On the other hand, that takes a starting caliber speedster off the table, leaving just DeSean Jackson and Brandin Cooks as available deep threats.

Speaking of Cooks, the Saints are reportedly asking for a 1st round pick and a pass rusher, along with maybe a safety, a corner, a linebacker, a defensive tackle, a defensive coordinator and a red paper clip for him. So expect him to be traded for a 2nd rounder.

Meanwhile, DeSean Jackson is expected to sign with the Buccaneers.

Torrey Smith, who the Eagles had some interest in trading for during the season, is expected to sign with the Ravens, where he began his career.

Pierre Garcon is expected to reunite with former Redskins offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan in San Francisco. A note of caution here, Chris Mortensen tweeted that Garcon is expected to “make $16 million in his first year.” Mortensen should know better than to tweet that with that wording: all it means is that he’ll make $16 million in salary and signing bonus. It doesn’t mean he’ll make $16 million a year.

No real news on Alshon Jeffery. Multiple teams are interested, but the market on him has been quiet, if not slow.

Two second tier options are also off the table after the 49ers signed Bills speedster Marquise Goodwin, and the Bengals re-signed Brandon Lafell.

Cornerback

With Leodis McKelvin released and Nolan Carroll a free agent, the Eagles will be in the market for a corner. They’ve been linked to Kayvon Webster, and are either linked to or not really linked to AJ Bouye.

The Bengals are pushing hard to re-sign Dre Kirkpatrick.

The Rams are reportedly shopping Trumaine Johnson, who they franchise tagged. Don’t expect this to be an option for the Eagles, they would have to clear out enough cap space to take on his $16.7 million cap hit if they were to trade for him. Any team that trades for him would be able to work out a long term deal after acquiring him, but until then his cap hit is the franchise tag.

Fullback

Doug Pederson said last year he would like a fullback. If they sign one this year, it won’t be Kyle Juszczyk of the Ravens, who will be signing with the 49ers for 4 years, $21 million (uh, what?), or Patrick DiMarco from the Falcons, as the Bills signed him.

Linebacker

The Eagles reportedly had interest in Falcons linebacker Paul Worrilow, but the Lions signed him.

Other NFC East news

The Cowboys are expected to release Tony Romo today, which means that unsurprisingly no team wanted to trade for his contract, he is/was slated to make $14 million in salary. The Broncos and Texans seem the most likely landing spots for him. Safety Barry Church will sign with the Jaguars, the first of what should be more than a few starters and key contributors leaving the Cowboys due to cap issues. They did bring back WR Brice Butler.

Meanwhile, San Francisco added a QB by signing Brian Hoyer to a two year deal. That likely takes them out of the running for trading for the Redskins’ Kirk Cousins, which they were reportedly never really interested in, or they might still be in the market for him. It’s the silly season.