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NFL free agency officially begins on Wednesday, March 18 and the “legal tampering” window begins even sooner on Monday, March 16. The Philadelphia Eagles currently have 14 unrestricted free agents, two exclusive-rights free agents, and one restricted free agent heading into the new league year.
So, who stays and who goes? Here’s a look at our predictions.
RONALD DARBY
The Eagles re-signed Darby to a one-year, “prove it” contract last offseason. Darby was one of Pro Football Focus’s worst graded corners prior to suffering a season-ending injury. Darby has never played a full season and has missed 20 of his last 54 possible games. The Eagles need to move on.
Verdict: Go
Poll
Ronald Darby: Stay or go?
JALEN MILLS
I’d be surprised if the Eagles don’t re-sign Mills. Jim Schwartz really loves his toughness and confidence. I also don’t think the front office wants to have to add two new starting cornerbacks in free agency. Mills could get a deal similar to the one Isaac Seumalo signed last offseason. And by that I mean a contract that’s ultimately team-friendly.
Verdict: Stay
Poll
Jalen Mills: Stay or go?
JASON PETERS
The Eagles reportedly don’t think Andre Dillard is ready to start in 2020. The coaching staff also reportedly believes Peters is still playing at a Pro Bowl level. Couple these reports with Doug Pederson and Howie Roseman failing to close the door on a Peters return and it suddenly seems that it’s more likely Peters will be back than not. The Eagles paying significant cap space to a 38-year-old tackle that’s blocking their 2019 first-round pick they traded up for from seeing the field is ... sub-optimal. And yet I think it’s going to happen.
Verdict: Stay
Poll
Jason Peters: Stay or go?
RODNEY MCLEOD
Schwartz likes McLeod. But he also liked Nigel Bradham, whom the Eagles released a couple weeks ago. The similarity with those two players is they’re going to be on the wrong side of 30 at the start of the 2020 season. McLeod appeared to be culpable in a number of the big passing plays the Eagles gave up last year. The team needs to get younger and more effective on the back end.
Verdict: Go
Poll
Rodney McLeod: Stay or go?
NELSON AGHOLOR
Agholor led all Eagles wide receivers during Super Bowl LII with nine receptions for 84 yards. He was really great in 2017. Unfortunately, there were many more downs than ups for Agholor in Philly. It’s obviously time for both sides to move on.
Verdict: Go
Poll
Nelson Agholor: Stay or go?
VINNY CURRY
Curry only had one sack in his first 11 games last year before finishing with four in his final five games. He actually ranked fifth overall in PFF’s pressure rate statistic from the 2019 season, which, who could’ve guessed? The Eagles ideally need to get younger re-signing Curry, who turns 32 in June, doesn’t help in that regard. But the team might look to bring him back on a relatively affordable one-year deal anyway.
Verdict: Stay
Poll
Vinny Curry: Stay or go?
JORDAN HOWARD
Howard was leading the Eagles in rushing before suffering what essentially became a season-ending shoulder injury. Howard had previously never missed a game prior to this season and he has a strong track record of volume production. This leads me to believe he’ll garner some interest on the market. Then again, running backs are devalued in today’s NFL and maybe Howard won’t find the interest he expects. If that’s the case, he could return to Philly on a one-year contract. My guess is that some team offers him a bigger role than what he’ll have on the Eagles given the emergence of Miles Sanders.
Verdict: Go
Poll
Jordan Howard: Stay or go?
HALAPOULIVAATI VAITAI
There has to be a team out there that’s at least willing to sign Vaitai to compete for a starting job, if not outright hand him one. Peter King suggested Vaitai could be the second ranked tackle on the market behind Jack Conklin. Big V will find more money and playing time elsewhere than he will in Philly.
Verdict: Go
Poll
Big V: Stay or go?
KAMU GRUGIER-HILL
Kamu looked poised for a breakout year prior to getting hurt in training camp. He never showed the same juice during the season and he finished the campaign on injured reserve. I’d like to see the Eagles keep him but it seems like the bridge between his camp and the Eagles is burned after the whole hidden concussion incident. The team gave away his special teams captaincy to Duke Riley in the playoffs.
Verdict: Go
Poll
Kamu Grugier-Hill: Stay or go?
NATE SUDFELD
Sudfeld’s an interesting name in the context of a free agency period that could see a lot of quarterback movement. Is there at least one team that views him worthy of competing for a starting job? Is he a coveted backup for a team that isn’t feeling so great about their incumbent starter (see: the Chicago Bears)? Sudfeld’s market could fail to materialize with so many other passers on the move. His best bet could be to re-sign in Philly where he already knows the scheme and could have an opportunity to play if/when Carson Wentz misses time.
Verdict: Stay
Poll
Nate Sudfeld: Stay or go?
JOSH MCCOWN
The Eagles should find a way to keep McCown around given his value as a pseudo-coach. But can the 41-year-old really hold up if he’s forced into playing time should something happen to Wentz? I don’t know. I’d really like to see McCown back but I think he might be gone, unfortunately.
Verdict: Go
Poll
Josh McCown: Stay or go?
TIMMY JERNIGAN
Jernigan has missed 19 games over the past two years after nearly suffering a career-ending injury during the 2018 offseason. He’s merely logged 12 tackles and two sacks in the 13 games he has played. Jernigan’s a fun personality but he simply hasn’t been productive. Time to move on.
Verdict: Go
Poll
Timmy Jernigan: Stay or go?
DARREN SPROLES
Sproles finally retired from playing. The Eagles hired the 36-year-old as a “personnel consultant.”
Verdict: Stay ... in the front office
RICHARD RODGERS
I think the Eagles will re-sign Dick Rod to a minimum contract. But I don’t see much point to it. He turned 28 in January and he’s gotten hurt the past two offseasons. Not sure what more there is to see here.
Verdict: Go
Poll
Dick Rod: Stay or go?
HASSAN RIDGEWAY
Ridgeway had eight tackles and two sacks in seven games played (248 defensive snaps) last season. He’s coming off injury but he only turns 26 in November. Ridgeway seems like a perfectly cromulent fourth defensive tackle who can be re-signed for cheap.
Verdict: Stay
Poll
Hassan Ridgeway: Stay or go?
COREY CLEMENT (RFA)
As a restricted free agent, Clement is subject to being tendered. Here are the projected amounts for 2020, via Over The Cap:
First round - $4,667,000
Second round - $3,278,000
Original round - $2,144,000
The guess here is the Eagles will tender Clement at the original round level, if anything. Since Clement was an undrafted rookie free agent signing in 2017, the Eagles will receive no draft compensation if he signs an offer sheet with another team and Philly declines to match.
Alternatively, the Eagles could opt not to tender Clement at all and try to re-sign him to a number lower than $2.1 million once free agency begins. Clement’s market doesn’t figure to be hot considering he’s a running back who’s finished the past two seasons on injured reserve. The Eagles should be able to re-sign him on the cheap to a one-year deal.
Verdict: Stay
Poll
Corey Clement: Stay or go?
CRAIG JAMES (ERFA)
James finished second on the Eagles in special teams tackles in addition to making a game-winning pass deflection against the Packers last season. He deserves a chance to compete for a roster spot on the 2020 team.
Verdict: Stay
Poll
Craig James: Stay or go?
CAMERON JOHNSTON (ERFA)
The Eagles will sign their punter to a minimum contract.
Verdict: Stay