NFL free agency: Top Eagles targets begin with star-hunting − and a big surprise in June?
The Eagles don't do free agency like everyone else.
And this year, especially, it can pay off in a big way. That's not only true beginning Monday, when teams are allowed to negotiate with agents of players not under contract, with signings beginning next Wednesday at 4 p.m.
The Eagles are going into free agency with about $44 million of salary cap space once they release cornerback Avonte Maddox, as reported Wednesday by ESPN. That trails only 9 teams in cap space, according to overthecap.com.
So they can splurge on an edge rusher, the most likely target, when free agency starts, or possibly a cornerback.
But the Eagles can also address other needs in the so-called second wave of free agency, like at linebacker and safety, or if they don't get that star CB early. The second wave typically begins a week or two into the new league year, after some of the big stars are gone.
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In addition, the Eagles could also set themselves up to grab a star player after June 1 (Saquon Barkley, anyone?) because they should get additional cap space then. That's typically when most teams have already spent most of their money.
Jason Kelce's retirement takes effect June 1, meaning the Eagles will save $1.5 million on the cap at that point. The same savings would be true if Fletcher Cox were to retire, although Cox has not indicated any intention of doing so.
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Plus, if the Eagles trade or release edge rusher Haason Reddick after June 1, they'll save another $16 million. Reddick was reportedly told that he can seek a trade.
So if there's a big name player still on the market after June 1, the Eagles should be in position to pounce. That's how the Eagles signed cornerbacks James Bradberry in 2022 and Steven Nelson in 2021.
This year, it could pay off with a top running back. There should be at least one available among Barkley, Josh Jacobs, Derrick Henry, Austin Ekeler and Tony Pollard in a market where teams are reluctant to pay those players top dollar.
The Eagles might even be able to re-sign their own free agent in D'Andre Swift, who rushed for a career-high 1,049 yards last season.
A trade is also possible leading up to the NFL draft in late April. But if it's not likely. Someone who was franchise-tagged, like Panthers edge rusher Brian Burns or Chiefs cornerback L'Jarius Sneed, would cost the Eagles a huge contract plus at least a few early-round draft picks in a trade.
Here, then, is who the Eagles could go after in the three stages of free agency − star hunting to start, adding a starter in the second wave, and possibly a key player who's still available in June. Keep in mind that the Eagles will probably only be able to sign one or two players in each category:
Who they should splurge for
Chris Jones, DL, Chiefs: Just imagine Jones, a game-wrecker who had 10.5 sacks last season, lined up next to Jalen Carter on the Eagles' defensive line. It'll take some contract creativity from Eagles GM Howie Roseman to sign the most coveted free agent available. Expect Jones to get offers exceeding $30 million per year in average annual value.
Chase Young, edge, 49ers: Young has been a disappointment so far. But he was the No. 2 pick in 2020 and he's still just 25 years old, coming off a career-high 7.5 sacks. It wouldn't cost the Eagles much more than the $15 million in AAV that they signed Reddick for in 2022. If Young can stay healthy and live up to his promise, that will be a steal.
Christian Wilkins, DT, Dolphins: Wilkins is coming off a career-high 9.0 sacks. Why would the Eagles go after a defensive tackle when that's their deepest position? Well, new Eagles defensive coordinator Vic Fangio was the DC in Miami last season. The Eagles can address edge early in the draft.
Xavien Howard, CB, Dolphins: Teams don't have to wait until free agency to sign Howard, who was released two weeks ago. But they will have to pay for the 30-year-old, who had an NFL-high 10 interceptions in 2020. He, too, played for Fangio last season. The Eagles can use the draft for an eventual successor.
Targets for the second wave
Jon Runyan, G, Packers: The Eagles would pursue Runyan, son of Eagles legendary tackle by the same name, if they're not convinced Tyler Steen or Sua Opeta (a pending free agent) can do the job at right guard. Now that Kelce retired, it's expected that Cam Jurgens would move from right guard to his natural position at center. Steen, the Eagles' third-round pick last spring, struggled somewhat learning right guard after playing tackle in college.
Chidobe Awuzie, CB, Bengals: Awuzie struggled last season after having ACL surgery in 2022. But Awuzie was a big part of the Bengals' secondary in 2021-22, when they went to the Super Bowl. Plus, at 28, he's younger than Bradberry.
Jordyn Brooks, LB, Seahawks: The Eagles won't break the bank for a starting linebacker, but they should spend more than they did last year. Brooks, 26, has had more than 100 tackles in each of the last three seasons. Brooks is familiar to new Eagles defensive line coach Clint Hurtt, who spent the last two seasons as the Seahawks' defensive coordinator.
Tyler Boyd, WR, Bengals: At 6-foot-2, 205 pounds, he'd slide into a familiar role as a big slot receiver behind two star receivers. In Cincinnati, Boyd had 667 yards receiving last season behind Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins. The Eagles would love that kind of production from a No. 3 wide receiver.
Jeremy Chinn, S, Panthers: Chinn was rumored to be one of the Eagles' targets in the second round in 2020 (they went with some guy named Jalen Hurts instead), and was playing at least 90% of the snaps in each of his first three seasons. But Chinn, still just 26, struggled and missed 5 games due to injury last season.
Players they can wait out
Austin Ekeler, RB, Chargers: Ekeler made the Chargers as an undrafted free agent in 2017, which was Nick Sirianni's final season as a Chargers assistant coach. Sirianni often cites Ekeler as an example of someone who came from nowhere to become a star. Ekeler, 29, had 1,064 yards from scrimmage last season (628 rushing, 436 receiving) in 14 games with new Eagles offensive coordinator Kellen Moore as the Chargers OC.
Quandre Diggs, S, Seahawks: Diggs is 31 years old, so it seems unlikely that a team would spend big money or go more than 2 years on a contract. Diggs, thus, could wait for the right situation. And that could be with the Eagles because of close friend Darius Slay. He, too, played for Hurtt as DC in Seattle.
Contact Martin Frank at mfrank@delawareonline.com. Follow on X @Mfranknfl.
This article originally appeared on Delaware News Journal: NFL free agency: When does it start? Top players Eagles should target
