2017 NFL Free Agency: Predicting Philadelphia Eagles 5 Biggest Moves
The Philadelphia Eagles figure to be heavy players in 2017 NFL free agency and the rest of the offseason. Predicting their five biggest moves.
The Philadelphia Eagles head into 2017 NFL free agency as one of the teams that need to improve their roster the most. They found their franchise quarterback, Carson Wentz, in the 2016 NFL Draft. That means the hardest aspect of a team is done, but they still have a ton of work to do on their roster.
First up is free agency, which starts on Thursday, March 9. Philadelphia needs to make sure that they make the right moves this offseason and can help surround their quarterback with weapons, as well as get him a formidable defense.
Wide receiver is their biggest need on offense and every other minute the Eagles are connected to a different free agent wide receiver. They will obviously go out and sign a pass-catcher and it would not be surprising if they added two receivers during free agency. Outside of wide receiver, the Eagles have a hole at running back. They have a chance to either draft a running back or attack free agency to find a band-aid at the position.
On the defensive side of the ball, cornerback is an obvious need. At times it was hard to watch the Eagles cornerbacks try to cover opposing wide receivers, so they need to find two new starters. They may not attack free agency to do that, though, as the NFL Draft has one of the deepest cornerback classes in some time. They also have failed miserably signing cornerbacks in free agency, so they may wait for the draft to address the need.
Predicting what moves the Eagles will make is tough, but as the legal tampering period begins, here is a prediction of Philly's five biggest moves in free agency.
Sep 11, 2016; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Chase Daniel (10) and quarterback Carson Wentz (11) and confer during the second quarter against the Cleveland Browns at Lincoln Financial Field. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports
5 and 4: Trade Chase Daniel, Then Trade Jordan Matthews
Why would the Eagles trade the backup quarterback they signed in the 2016 free agency period and their best wide receiver? It is an interesting question, but after Charles Robinson of Yahoo! reported that both players are available for the right price, it seems that they both could be gone.
If someone makes a solid offer to #Eagles for backup QB Chase Daniel, I believe they're open to dealing him. Same for WR Jordan Matthews.
— Charles Robinson (@CharlesRobinson) March 6, 2017
So, knowing this, I feel that both players will be dealt during the offseason. Starting with Daniel, the Eagles second string quarterback. He is currently the highest paid backup quarterback in the NFL. If the Eagles were to deal him, they would save $7 million on their cap. To me, that is a no-brainer move, especially because Wentz is your guy and Daniel doesn't need to be making all of that money on the bench.
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Then you move to Matthews. He is the Eagles best wide receiver, yes, but that is not saying much. The thought behind dealing him during free agency is that the Eagles are most likely not going to extend him after the season.
Matthews is a solid target, but he will never be a No. 1 target. He will never be a guy you can count on every game to make big plays or take over a game.
Trading him now means they will get something in return for him instead of him walking for nothing in the 2018 free agency. If the Eagles were able to get a third-round pick for Matthews, they would be crazy not to take the deal in my eyes. It may mean getting rid of their only weapon in the receiving core, but they will obviously have replacements ready to go if they deal him.
Oct 30, 2016; Cleveland, OH, USA; Cleveland Browns wide receiver Terrelle Pryor (11) during the second quarter against the New York Jets at FirstEnergy Stadium. The Jets won 31-28. Mandatory Credit: Scott R. Galvin-USA TODAY Sports
3. Sign Jamaal Charles
The Eagles need a running back and one that can come in right away and make an impact. That is why former Kansas City Chiefs running back Jamaal Charles makes almost too much sense. His knee will have to check out, but I am predicting that it will and predicting that he will be an Eagles in 2017.
He played for Doug Pederson in Kansas City and he could have a chance to become the Comeback Player of the Year in Philly. He would be exactly what the Eagles need at running back and would give Wentz a running back he could trust. Charles will be cheaper than other options out there and he will also have less to learn in the playbook.
2. Sign Terrelle Pryor
I talked about the needs at wide receiver, and I have the Eagles getting rid of their best target via trade (Matthews) so they obviously need to add a new guy to the mix. That guy is former Cleveland Browns wide receiver, Terrelle Pryor.
Ideally, the Eagles would sign free agency wide receiver and former Chicago Bears target Alshon Jeffery, but I feel he will be too expensive for the Birds. According to Mary Kay Cabot of the Cleveland Plain Dealer, five teams have already shown interest in Pryor's services. Oddly enough, the tampering period started on March 7, so it is weird that this report came out. However, in the report, one of the five teams is the Eagles and it makes a ton of sense. Pryor would be a great addition to the Birds and would instantly become their No. 1 wide receiver.
If you can catch 77 passes for 1,007 yards and four touchdowns on the Browns, what can you do on a good team, with a good quarterback? The Eagles need to find out and I think they will. Pryor is a PA kid, playing his high school football at Jeannette, PA. Pryor could come home to Pennsylvania and allow his legacy to grow in the state (won a State Championship in high school). Philadelphia is going to sign a wide receiver and my money is on Pryor.
Dec 18, 2016; Glendale, AZ, USA; New Orleans Saints wide receiver Brandin Cooks (10) carries the ball after a catch for a touchdown in the first half against the Arizona Cardinals at University of Phoenix Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Kartozian-USA TODAY Sports
1. Acquire Wide Receiver Brandin Cooks via Trade
The report from ESPN's Chris Mortensen surfaced that the Eagles were trying to acquire current New Orleans Saints wide receiver Brandin Cooks earlier in the week. It made sense that the Eagles were trying to find more weapons for Wentz and Cooks would be a great addition.
The big question is whether Philly should pull the trigger on a trade for the fourth-year wide receiver. And the answer is simple, yes, the Eagles should trade for Cooks. I predict that the Eagles will trade for Cooks.
Reports are all over for what the Saints want in return for Cooks, but it looks like a first-round pick will get the job done. Philadelphia holds the 14th pick in the 2017 NFL Draft and, if that is all the Saints are asking for, they will do it. The 14th pick is valuable, but there is no guarantee that the player you take with that pick will be as good as Cooks has shown he can be.
Cooks is a proven wide receiver in the NFL, catching 162 passes for 2,311 yards and 17 touchdowns over the last two seasons. It would be great if the Eagles could select a wide receiver with the 14th pick that can come in and do the same, but he could also come in and be Nelson Agholor.
At 23 years old, Cooks is young and proven. Howie Roseman and company know they need to get Wentz weapons and he would fit perfectly with the Eagles. If my predictions come true, the Eagles would add Pryor, Cooks, and Charles in one offseason for their second-year quarterback. That is a great base of players to add with Zach Ertz and the Eagles offensive line. And they would still have the 2017 NFL Draft to add even more.
