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NFL Free Agency Recap: Eagles signings, trades, cuts, and players left unsigned

Recapping what happened since free agency began.

Philadelphia Eagles v Tampa Bay Buccaneers Photo by Al Messerschmidt/Getty Images

NFL free agency has recently hit a lull but it hasn’t been an inactive offseason for the Philadelphia Eagles. Here’s a full recap of what’s taken place so far.

SIGNED WITH EAGLES

FREE AGENTS FROM OTHER TEAMS

DT Malik Jackson - 3 years, $30 million

LB L.J. Fort - 3 years, $5.5 million

S Andrew Sendejo - 1 year, $1.3 million

RE-SIGNINGS

DE Brandon Graham - 3 years, $40 million

OT Jason Peters - 1 year, $10 million

CB Ronald Darby - 1 year, $8.5 million

LS Rick Lovato - 1 year, $720,000 (exclusive rights free agent)

LB Paul Worrilow - 1 year, $645,000

K Jake Elliott - 1 year, $645,000 (exclusive rights free agent)

EXTENSIONS

WR DeSean Jackson - 3 years, $27 million (received extension after being acquired in trade)

C Jason Kelce - 3 years, $24.5 million

OL Isaac Seumalo - 3 years, $15.9 million

TENDERED

QB Nate Sudfeld - 1 year, $3.01 million (restricted free agent: second-round level)

RESTRUCTURES

S Rodney McLeod

OT Lane Johnson

LB Nigel Bradham

DE Chris Long

TRADES

RECEIVED

WR DeSean Jackson, Patriots fifth-round pick in 2020, Buccaneers seventh-round pick in 2020

SENT

DE Michael Bennett, Eagles sixth-round pick in 2019, Eagles seventh-round pick in 2020

EAGLES FREE AGENTS

QB Nick Foles — Signed with Jaguars for $88 million over 4 years

WR Golden Tate — Signed with Giants for $37.5 million over 4 years

LB Jordan Hicks — Signed with Cardinals for $36 million over 4 years

WR Jordan Matthews — Signed with 49ers for $1.8 million over 1 year

RB Jay Ajayi

OL Stefen Wisniewski (2019 option declined)

DT Timmy Jernigan (2019 option declined)

OG Chance Warmack

WR Mike Wallace

S Corey Graham

RB Darren Sproles

TE Richard Rodgers

LB LaRoy Reynolds

LB D.J. Alexander

CUT BY EAGLES

S Chris Maragos

RETIRED

DT Haloti Ngata

CAP SPACE UPDATE

The NFLPA’s latest salary cap report has the Eagles with $28,718,141 in cap space. Over The Cap has the Eagles with a little less at $25,746,474. Whatever the exact number is, the point is that the Eagles have room to work with for more signings, trades, extensions, etc. If Philly doesn’t use their money, they can always just roll it over into 2020.

DRAFT PICKS UPDATE

2019 NFL DRAFT

1 - Eagles’ own pick (No. 25)
2 - Acquired from the Baltimore Ravens (No. 53)
2 - Eagles’ own pick (No. 57)
4 - Eagles’ own pick (No. 127)
4 - Compensatory pick (No. 138)
5 - Eagles’ own pick (No. 163)
6 - Eagles’ own pick (No. 198)

2020 NFL DRAFT

1 - Eagles’ own pick
2 - Eagles’ own pick
3 - Eagles’ own pick
3 - (Projected compensatory pick)
4 - Eagles’ own pick
4 - (Projected compensatory pick)
5 - Acquired from the New England Patriots
5 - Eagles’ own pick
6 - Eagles’ own pick
7 - Acquired from the Tampa Bay Buccaneers


OVERALL THOUGHTS

  • It’s nice to be adding Malik Jackson to the defensive line. Aside from Fletcher Cox’s heroics, the Eagles just didn’t get much out of the defensive tackle position last year. We’ll have to see how Jackson holds up as a run defender but there’s no question he brings pass rushing juice to this team.
  • Acquiring DeSean Jackson was the Eagles’ best offseason move so far. Philly barely had to give up anything in the trade to acquire the 2018 league leader in yards per reception. The thing I like about the Jackson acquisition is the Eagles decided to stop messing around with theoretical deep threat options and instead get a guy who’s proven. I’m already excited thinking about Carson Wentz airing it out deep to DeSean. There will be touchdowns.
  • If you needed further proof that Howie Roseman reads Bleeding Green Nation and listens to BGN Radio, just look at the L.J. Fort signing. BGN’s Michael Kist had been pining for him all offseason long and the Eagles delivered. Fort isn’t going to get people excited but I think he’s going to be solid for this team. He could be ready for a bigger role.
  • The safety market presented too many options for the Eagles to not bring in a veteran defensive back. Sendejo has plenty of starting experience and he can fill the old Corey Graham role. Makes sense.
  • It would’ve been such a bummer to see Brandon Graham playing for another team. The Eagles’ Super Bowl hero is staying on a contract that’s pretty reasonable; Graham is the 18th highest paid edge rusher in terms of annual value. Now healthy, look for Graham to bounce back after a relatively quiet 2018.
  • Keeping Jason Peters was important. People understandably get frustrated that he’s in and out of the lineup but the bottom line is he’s the best, more realistic option to protect Wentz’s blindside in 2019.
  • The Eagles’ re-signing of Ronald Darby was divisive. I get why some people don’t like it. They feel Darby isn’t as good as he’s billed to be and they point to the defense succeeding without him late in the 2018 season. I’m ultimately cool with Darby being back because cornerback is a position where the Eagles have struggled to find stability. Why not throw a lot of options at that spot and see what sticks? As opposed to just handpicking a few guys and banking on things working out. [Related reading: Why the Eagles brought Ronald Darby back]
  • It’ll be interesting to see how the Eagles handle the backup quarterback position after tendering Nate Sudfeld at just over $3 million. Are they really going to sign a vet that pushes Sudfeld to No. 3 with the salary he’s making? Sudfeld needs to have a legit shot to win No. 2 if he’s earning that much.
  • Losing Michael Bennett isn’t ideal because it ultimately makes the team worse. I think there were some non-football considerations there, though, and shipping Bennett out potentially opens up a spot for Chris Long to return. Trading Bennett also freed up a good chunk of cap space while netting a future draft pick.
  • Pretty obvious decision to not retain the Eagles players that left in free agency. Nick Foles wanted a starting role, Jordan Hicks was too expensive/risky to keep at that number, Golden Tate wasn’t staying with Nelson Agholor being kept at $9.4 million, and Jordan Matthews doesn’t make sense to keep as a depth guy who doesn’t play special teams.
  • The Eagles are currently projected to receive two compensatory picks (see list of draft picks above) but they’ll probably end up with the max limit of four. Jay Ajayi, Stefen Wisniewski, and/or Timmy Jernigan could still get contracts that qualify for the Eagles’ comp pick formula. (Maybe even one of Mike Wallace or Chance Warmack, too?)
  • I’ve seen some concern about the Eagles acquiring a bunch of old guys. It’s a fair thing to point out. At the same time, Philly won the Super Bowl in 2018 after adding some key “old guys” to the team such as the aforementioned Long, Patrick Robinson, LeGarrette Blount, Corey Graham, etc. It’s not like the Eagles are bringing in old guys to be their core players. Rather, they’re supplemental pieces. Philly sees a window to win right now so they’re acquiring vets who can help them do just that. I just don’t see what younger players the Eagles should’ve been signing instead. Not to mention youth is going to cost much more money. The Eagles still have plenty of draft picks to restock their foundation with young players; they don’t need to build a roster with young talent acquired in free agency.

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