Free agency is right around the corner, and the Philadelphia Eagles should be active in the free agent market. Most of the roster is championship-caliber, but the Eagles have a few glaring needs at some important positions. If the front office can successfully address these needs by finding some diamonds in the rough, the Eagles should find themselves deep in Super Bowl contention in 2020.
7 Philadelphia Eagles Cost-Effective Free Agent Targets
Logan Ryan
The Philadelphia Eagles need to add a cornerback or two in the coming days, and most expect Howie Roseman to make a move for a guy like Byron Jones or Chris Harris. However, if those two aren’t available, the next best option is former Tennessee Titans cornerback Logan Ryan. Ryan isn’t a superstar, but he’s a reliable starter that can line up all along the formation and hold his own against just about anyone, although he’ll need safety help against some of the bigger targets.
While the Titans primarily used him in the slot, he lined up inside and outside when with the New England Patriots. Philadelphia should definitely do everything in their power to get a true CB1, but Ryan is a strong CB2. If the Eagles can somehow get Jones and Ryan, they could the weakest unit of the team into a major strength.
Johnathan Joseph
Johnathan Joseph may not be his old self, but he’s still a reliable starter in the short term. The longtime Houston Texan ended the year as PFF’s 58th-best cornerback, finishing in the same range as guys like Ryan, Eli Apple, and Brandon Carr. PFF grades aren’t the be-all, end-all when it comes to cornerback play, but they generally give a good idea of overall performance. NFL teams tend to shy away from paying aging veterans, so the Eagles could get some short-term production out of the 36-year old at a favorable cost.
Tre Boston
For some reason, nobody ever wants to keep Tre Boston on their team. The former fourth-round pick has played for a different team in each of the past four seasons, despite the fact that he’s been pretty effective when on the field. He’s nothing special against the run, but he’s a dependable “center field” type of safety that excels at taking away the deep ball. The Eagles could use someone like that and can probably sign him for a reasonable figure.
Breshad Perriman
Remember when the Philadelphia Eagles were set at wide receiver? Things change quickly in the NFL, as Alshon Jeffery and Nelson Agholor probably won’t be back in 2020, DeSean Jackson can’t stay healthy, and J.J. Arcega-Whiteside did nothing to inspire confidence as a rookie. With cornerback being a bigger need, the Eagles probably don’t have the money to get the best receivers in free agency. Keeping that in mind, Roseman and company could target someone like Breshad Perriman. The former first-round pick finally showed some life at the end of the 2019 season, and his downfield speed is a perfect match for Carson Wentz.
Demarcus Robinson
For the same reasons as mentioned above, the Eagles could also look into free agent Demarcus Robinson. Robinson spent the majority of the season behind Tyreek Hill and Sammy Watkins, but had a chance to shine early in the year when Hill suffered a collarbone injury. During his time on the field, Robinson recorded a solid 32 receptions for 449 yards and four touchdowns. Playing in Kansas City’s offense is going to artificially inflate anyone’s raw production, but the film showed a solid perimeter receiver who could be a decent WR2 in the right system. Perriman has more upside, but Robinson is the safer signing.
Nick Kwiatkoski
Philadelphia’s largest need is in the secondary, but they could also use some help at linebacker. Nick Kwiatkoski isn’t the biggest name on the market, but he represents one of the best values in the league. The former fourth-round pick spent most of his time in Chicago playing a supporting role, but he’s been great when on the field. A jack of all trades, Kwiatkoski is an above-average player against both the run and the pass. While he’s far from a superstar, he can be a steadying presence that helps hold the defense together. OverTheCap projects Kwiatkoski to receive a two-year, $6.5 million contract, which would be a great deal for the Eagles.
Christian Kirksey
Kwiatkoski is the safer signing, but Christian Kirksey has the higher ceiling. At his best, Kirksey is an athletic playmaker capable of defending the run and the pass at a high level. He can get to the quarterback at a high rate and has the speed and size to cover running backs and tight ends in coverage. However, Kirksey hasn’t been at his best in quite some time. The former third-round pick is hitting free agency at the wrong time, having only played nine games in the past two seasons. The Eagles could probably sign him to a one-year deal with minimal guarantees and a lot of incentives. If he stays healthy, he’d be one of the best signings of the 2020 free agency period.
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