Eagles neglected linebacker, safety for years. How Howie Roseman can change it in free agency

There is a fine line of demarcation between what appears like a genius move and what quickly can turn into a disaster.

We saw that play out last season when Eagles general manager Howie Roseman turned the linebacker position over to Nakobe Dean after drafting him in the third round of 2022. To supplement the position, Roseman signed veteran free agent Nicholas Morrow. When Dean got hurt in the preseason, Roseman added veteran Zach Cunningham.

Who could argue with the strategy?

That is, until Dean went on injured reserve twice, playing in five games. Morrow was inconsistent, as was Cunningham, who missed four games late in the season. Out of desperation, the Eagles signed former Pro Bowl linebacker Shaq Leonard, and that backfired too.

The Eagles have always prioritized building on the defensive line, to the extent of patching linebacker and safety with young players and low-cost free agents.

SWIFT DEPARTURE? Is D'Andre Swift gone after Eagles hired pass-crazy OC Kellen Moore? How RB can thrive

BUST OR BOOM: 'On our shoulders.' Why Eagles Jalen Carter, Nakobe Dean, other young players can't be busts

That strategy has worked well for the Eagles in the past, like in 2022 when the Eagles had 70 sacks. But it backfired this season, in large part because the defensive line struggled, with only 43 sacks. And that exposed the rest of the defense in the 1-6 finish to the season.

The Eagles finished 26th in yards allowed per game, 31st in passing yards allowed and 30th in points allowed.

It's why defensive coordinator Sean Desai was technically fired in December and officially fired in January, and why Desai's replacement over the final five games in Matt Patricia wasn't retained either.

"When I think about the contributions I can make to help this team, I know that when I'm doing my best and I have my best seasons, this team has a chance to have its best seasons," Roseman said two weeks ago.

Here's how Roseman can fix it for 2024:

Is it time for Howie Roseman to change roster-building philosophy?

As the Eagles turn their sights toward the 2024 roster, it begs the question of whether it's time to change philosophy and prioritize linebackers and safeties in free agency.

At linebacker, some top players like Baltimore's Patrick Queen or Carolina's Frankie Luvu could become available. At safety, Tampa Bay's Antoine Winfield, New England's Kyle Duggar or the Giants' Xavier McKinney could become available.

None would come cheaply.

But the Eagles have a new defensive coordinator in Vic Fangio, and he certainly knows the value of linebackers who can cover, and safeties versatile enough to excel in dime packages.

Or should Roseman continue refortifying a defensive line that will likely lose two veteran franchise icons in Brandon Graham and Fletcher Cox? After all, Jacksonville's Josh Allen or Carolina's Brian Burns could be available. As could Kansas City's Chris Jones at defensive tackle.

Of course, it will be much more expensive to add a free agent on the defensive line than at the other positions.

Granted, the Eagles have more money to work with than they have in years past. Overthecap.com projects that the Eagles will have $20.3 million in salary cap space when the new league year begins next month. That ranks 18th among NFL teams.

If the Eagles release safety Kevin Byard, they'll have an extra $13 million. They can also restructure players like edge rushers Haason Reddick and Josh Sweat, both going into the final year of their contracts and possibly save another $10 million-$15 million on the cap.

Of course, they might cut into that amount by releasing some underperforming or oft-injured veterans like cornerback James Bradberry and Avonte Maddox.

Still, the Eagles should have enough cap space to add a few impact players on defense.

How to retool the offense without spending money …

Let's not forget the offense.

The Eagles already fired offensive coordinator Brian Johnson after Eagles head coach Nick Sirianni admitted the offense "got a little stale." They replaced him with Kellen Moore, who spent four seasons with Dallas (2019-22) and last season with the Chargers.

Moore represents a departure from Sirianni's offense from the past three seasons.

The Eagles have one running back under contract in 2024 in Kenny Gainwell. Much like at linebacker, the Eagles don't spend at running back. In 2022, they didn't re-sign Miles Sanders after a career-best 1,269 yards.

Instead, the Eagles traded for D'Andre Swift, in the final year of his rookie contract, and he responded with a career-high 1,049 yards. Swift can become a free agent, and the Philly native indicated he's not interested in a hometown discount.

At wide receiver, there was little production behind A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith, and the three receivers behind them − Quez Watkins, Julio Jones and Olamide Zaccheaus are all eligible for free agency.

But the Eagles can address both running back and wide receiver in the draft.

They have the No. 22 pick in the first round, and two picks in the second round (No. 50 and 53). They should also have a compensatory pick at the end of the third round for losing Javon Hargrave in free agency after the 2022 season.

It's well known that the Eagles haven't drafted a running back in the first round since Keith Byars in 1986. But they have drafted them in the second round, most recently with Sanders in 2019.

The Eagles have taken wide receivers in the first round three times beginning in 2015 with Nelson Agholor, Jalen Reagor (2020) and DeVonta Smith (2021). They also took J.J. Arcega-Whiteside in the second round in 2019.

On the offensive line, the Eagles should have a plan in place with the likely retirement of center Jason Kelce. They drafted Cam Jurgens in the second round in 2022 to replace him. They still have top tackles in Lane Johnson (right) and Jordan Mailata (left), and a Pro Bowl guard in Landon Dickerson.

... and why they have to spend money on the defense

The Eagles have a long history of using first-round picks on the defensive line. They have done it seven times since 2010 with Graham (2010), Cox (2012), Marcus Smith (2014), Derek Barnett (2017), Jordan Davis (2022), and Jalen Carter and Nolan Smith (both 2023).

At defensive tackle, Milton Williams, drafted in the third round in 2021, is the longest-tenured player under contract for 2024. Carter showed that he's a force as a rookie, and Davis improved from his rookie season.

But that group needs an impact veteran. And a case can be made at edge, too, even though Reddick and Sweat are under contract. Smith did not impress as a rookie, especially as his playing time increased late in the season with Barnett's release.

The Eagles also need a veteran to pair with Dean at linebacker, another veteran at cornerback opposite Darius Slay assuming that Bradberry isn't back, and another at safety next to Reed Blankenship especially with Sydney Brown tearing his ACL in the regular-season finale.

"I think we've always kind of had our own spin on roster building," Roseman said. "I think at the same time, I've talked a lot about if you keep following things, as opposed to being at the head of the curve, then you're kind of getting the leftovers.

"You have to be ahead of it."

We'll find out what that looks like soon enough.

Contact Martin Frank at mfrank@delawareonline.com. Follow on X @Mfranknfl.

This article originally appeared on Delaware News Journal: Should Eagles Howie Roseman rebuild at linebacker, safety in free agency?