It’s becoming clear that the 2023 Eagles will look very different than the team that went to the Super Bowl last month.
The Eagles have nearly 20 free agents as the league’s new year officially begins March 15 at 4 p.m., about a third of their 53-player roster, and hardly enough money to sign them all. Negotiations can begin on Monday at 12:01 p.m
That would also potentially include a huge new quarterback contract Jalen Hurtswho is expected to become one of the best-paid players in the NFL on an annual average value basis.
This will lead to some tough decisions for some of the Eagles’ longest-reigning linebackers Fletcher Cox And Brandon Graham. It can also lead to some tough decisions for key players like the defensive backs James Bradbury and Chauncey Gardner Johnson.
Some of those moves began in the days leading up to Monday’s legal gouging period.
Here, then, is a look at all the moves, rumors, and fallout as the 2023 season officially gets underway.
Eagles add RB, keep another (not Sanders)
After the first day with four players left, the Eagles have already added one as they have reportedly signed Seahawks running back Rashaad Penny to a one-year contract.
A 2018 first-round draft pick from San Diego State, Penny has struggled with injury problems throughout his career. Penny has not played in more than 10 games since his rookie season. He only played five games last season, but had 346 passing yards, for an average of 6.1 yards per carry.
For his career, Penny averaged 5.7 yards per carry.
Penny’s signing means Miles Sanders, who racked up a career-high 1,269 yards last season, will not return. That was reinforced later on Tuesday when the Eagles re-signed the Boston Scots to a one-year deal worth up to $2 million.
Sanders acknowledged he would not be returning by tweeting “To the city of Philadelphia, thanks from the bottom of my heart” with a heart emoji at the end.
This does not necessarily mean that Penny will be the main linebacker like Sanders. In addition to Scott, the Eagles have Kenny Ginnuel, who has played an increasing role as the season has gone on, along with Trey Sermon, who was the 49ers’ third-round pick in 2021.
In addition, the Eagles can also coordinate running back with one of their early picks. But if he is healthy this season, Benny could have an important role in attack.
The Eagles lose their first offensive lineman, while Kelsey stays
Longtime quarterback Jason Kelsey may have started a chain reaction on the offensive line when he posted on social media that he was returning for a 13th season. That severely reduced the chances of right guard Isaac Somalo returning since Cam Jurgens was drafted in 2022 to replace Kelsey O’Somalo.
And after guard Chris Lindstrom signed a five-year, $105 million deal with the Falcons, it certainly seemed like Somalo decided not to come back.
But the Eagles also lost another offensive lineman when Andre Dillard was reported to be signing with the Tennessee Titans for three years and up to $29 million. Dillard was the Eagles’ first-round pick in 2019, but was beaten to a starting position at left tackle by Jordan Mailata to start the 2021 season.
Dillard has proven to be a serviceable backup, both at left tackle and left guard, but he’ll get a chance to start with the Titans, likely at an entry-level salary. The Eagles wouldn’t pay that for a backup that was blocked by Mailata and Landon Dickerson at left guard.
Safety start (not that) departure too
Marcus Epps is joining the defensive rookie drain as he will reportedly sign a two-year deal worth up to $12 million with the Raiders.
Epps became a full-time starter for the first time in his career last season, and played 99% of his shots defensively. That could be a sign that the Eagles will try hard to keep Chauncey Gardner-Johnson. The Eagles currently own Red Blankenship, Kvon Wallace under contract for 2023.
Gardner Johnson tied the NFL lead in interceptions last season with six despite missing five games. But it will cost the Eagles a lot to keep him. A good measure would be Jesse Bates’ four-year, $64 million deal with the Falcons.
The Eagles sign their 49ers D line
The Eagles’ major free agency losses started quickly as defensive tackle Javon Hargrave would sign a four-year deal worth up to $84 million.
Hargrave had 11 sacks last season and became one of the best free agent defensive tackles. Hargrave clearly outperformed his previous contract, the 3-year for $39 million contract the Eagles signed him in 2020. Fletcher Cox is also a free agent, and may leave as well.
Hargrave’s departure means the only defensive tackles under contract for 2023 are youth players Jordan Davis, Milton Williams and Marlon Tuipoloto.
The Eagles lose both of their starting LBs
It didn’t take long for the Chicago Bears to finalize a deal for quarterback TJ Edwards, who reportedly agreed to a three-year, $19.5 million deal on Monday. He’s not the only one left, as Keizer White is reported to be signing a two-year deal worth up to $11 million with the Arizona Cardinals, whose head coach is former Eagles defensive coordinator Jonathan Gannon.
Edwards scored 159 runs last season, the second most in team history. White added 110 tackles after signing a one-year, $5 million deal last spring.
The Eagles have Nakobe Dean, a third-round pick in 2022, ready to replace one of them. Another starter could come from Davion Taylor and Sean Bradley, although neither of them has much experience. The Eagles can also find a rookie in free agency or through the draft.
Bradbury: The Eagles want a chance to match an offer
One of the Eagles’ best agents, linebacker James Bradbury, told NFL reporter Josina Anderson that the Eagles want a chance to match whatever offer Bradbury gets in free agency.
“I’d like to play for the Eagles,” Bradbury told Anderson. “I definitely see how bright the future is… I also expect interest from other teams as well. So they told me whoever is calling me, just make sure you give them a chance to match.”
Don’t mistake that for vultures will Match any offer. They likely have a price in mind that they just won’t go. After all, if the Eagles really wanted to keep Bradbury, they wouldn’t have allowed him access to free agency in the first place. Same goes for Chauncey Gardner-Johnson, who they didn’t put the franchise tag on, or defensive tackle Javon Hargrave.
Brandon Graham decides to stay
Graham could easily have become a highly sought-after free agent, even as he approaches his 35th birthday next month. After all, the player with the Eagles’ longest tenure as a first-round pick in 2010 knocks out 11 sacks despite only playing 43% of their snaps.
But Graham will Sign an agreement for one year Back to as much as $6 million, which was first reported by ESPN. The Eagles later confirmed Graham’s return.
Graham could have gotten at least a two-year deal, likely for more money, had he decided to test free agency.
It was reported that the Cleveland Browns, with former Eagle defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz in the same role in Cleveland, were interested. And the Arizona Cardinals, with another former Eagles defensive coordinator at the helm in Jonathan Gannon, might also be interested.
But Graham told ESPN that he directed his agent to strike a deal with the Eagles even before free agency started “so I wouldn’t have to go through that part. I’m very happy everything paid off.”
Graham then added, “It wasn’t even about the money. It was more about wanting to be an Eagle as long as I could still play at a high level.”
Graham ranks fourth in Eagles history with 70 sacks, six behind Clyde Simmons.
Slaughter of Darius proceed?
ESPN reported Friday that the Eagles have given Pro Bowl cornerback Darius Slay and agent Drew Rosenhouse permission to seek trades.
Makes sense financially. Sly is 32, entering the final year of his contract, and counting $26 million toward the 2023 salary cap.
Eagles can restructure Slay nodes. But that would add a guaranteed extra years, and the Eagles likely wouldn’t be willing to do that at his age. Slay is coming off his fifth Pro Bowl season, so there’s no question he can still play at the elite level after this season.
Slay, who had three interceptions last season, posted on a Montgomery & Co podcast recently that he would welcome an extension with the Eagles.
“I want an extension with the Eagles. I love the Eagles,” Sly said on the podcast. “I love this money, so, of course, I’ll talk about it in the off-season. That’s every person. That’s what we’re all going to do when we have one year left on our deal.”
An ESPN report indicated that the Eagles are hoping to come up with a solution to keep Slay.
But other than a huge pay cut, it seems hard to imagine. By trading Slay, the Eagles could save $16.8 million on the cap if they set the trade after June 1 (still, they would receive a salary cap of $12 million in 2024).
The Eagles traded for Slay in 2020, giving the Detroit Lions a third and fifth round pick. It’s hard to imagine the Eagles getting that much in return now.
The Eagles restructure the kicker
The first restructuring began Friday with kicker Jake Elliott, who restructured his deal to save $2.5 million in salary cap. The Eagles did so by converting his 2023 salary into a signing bonus.
The Eagles could save more money by doing the same with right tackle Lynn Johnson, who counts $24 million against the salary cap. By restructuring Johnson, the Eagles could save another $10-12 million on the cap.
Contact Martin Frank at mfrank@delawareonline.com. Follow us on Twitter @Mfranknfl.
This article originally appeared in the Delaware News Journal: Eagles free agent: Rashad Bini signed and departed Miles Sanders
