The Eagles had loads of cap house and have been energetic in free company final week, taking some massive swings on the open market.
However with any free agent acquisition, there’s some threat concerned.
And a number of the Eagles’ strikes from this offseason supply large upside but in addition some actual threat. So let’s check out each main addition this offseason by laying out the best-case and the worst-case state of affairs for every. However we’ll exclude the potential for a season-ending kind of damage, which is a worst-case state of affairs for any participant:
RB Saquon Barkley
The Eagles added the 27-year-old Barkley on a three-year, $37.75 million contract with $26 million assured. It’s principally a two-year deal that the Eagles can get out of after the 2025 season if issues don’t go effectively. The Eagles haven’t spent a lot on operating backs lately below Howie Roseman however this one bucked the development and so they have been in a position to steal Barkley away from the rival New York Giants.
Greatest case: Barkley is elite and performs like among the finest operating backs within the NFL once more. He stays wholesome and all these touches from his years in New York haven’t taken a toll both. That YPC common that dipped below 4.0 in 2023 seems to be a results of a earlier lingering damage and a subpar surrounding solid. With the Eagles, in an offense with far more expertise, Barkley thrives. Not solely does he thrive, however new offensive coordinator Kellen Moore has a well-thought-out plan to make Barkley one of many focal factors of the offense. Barkley finally ends up having the sort of affect that Christian McCaffrey had in San Francisco when the 49ers acquired him in a commerce in the course of the 2022 season.
Worst case: Except for the potential of a season-ending damage, Barkley has a number of nagging accidents that don’t let him notice his potential. He performs by way of damage however appears removed from elite. The variety of touches matter and he’s not in a position to be the kind of Professional Bowl operating again the Eagles thought they have been signing. In an offense with different excellent ability gamers, Barkley will get a bit misplaced and the Eagles nonetheless don’t throw to their operating backs in a manner that may make the most of Barkley’s distinctive expertise. Even within the worst-case state of affairs, it’s arduous to think about Barkley being terrible. He’ll be ok to play however he’ll be a median operating again, not well worth the $12 million per-year contract the Eagles gave him.
OLB Bryce Huff
As quickly as free company opened, the Eagles shortly focused the previous undrafted free agent from Memphis who made a reputation for himself with the Jets. They signed Huff to a three-year deal value as much as $51.1 million. Huff had a career-high 10 sacks in 2023.
Greatest case: Huff is a star. That 10-sack season for him in 2023 was simply an indicator of what was coming. All these superior metrics have been proper and Huff is an ascending 26-year-old star within the NFL on a comparatively reasonably priced $17 million per season contract. After beginning simply seven video games in his profession earlier than becoming a member of the Eagles, Huff makes the transition to a full-time starter and his manufacturing on a per-snap foundation doesn’t drop off. The truth is, the extra snaps he performs, the extra he produces. He follows his 2023 season with career-highs in sacks, QB hits and snaps performed below Vic Fangio in Philly.
Worst case: After enjoying a career-high 480 defensive snaps in 2023, Huff is thrust right into a beginning position in Philly and is requested to play far more than that and might’t deal with it. As an alternative of his manufacturing growing, we discover out that Huff isn’t practically pretty much as good when he’s being requested to play extra on non-obvious passing downs. It appears extraordinarily unlikely that Huff might be a foul participant however he doesn’t produce as a go rusher and it seems he’s a legal responsibility in opposition to the run.
S C.J. Gardner-Johnson
After Gardner-Johnson left in free company a 12 months in the past to hitch the Lions, all that drama was left prior to now when he signed a three-year contract to return to the Eagles. Gardner-Johnson remains to be simply 26 and considers himself to be among the finest younger safeties within the NFL.
Greatest case: CJGJ returns and is similar play-making risk the Eagles noticed in the course of the 2022 season. He suits into Fangio’s protection and is precisely the kind of high-level security wanted to run this scheme. After six interceptions in 12 video games with the Eagles in 2022, Gardner-Johnson has that very same kind of affect for 17 video games in 2024. Gardner-Johnson stays wholesome and his mercurial character is a significant power enhance for the Eagles. He brings some swagger to a protection that lacked it in 2023.
Worst case: First, he can’t keep wholesome. As an undersized defensive again, Gardner-Johnson throws his physique round and even when he doesn’t undergo a season-ender, he offers with accidents that linger and power him out of the lineup periodically. The play-making dries up. Even in 2022, it’s not like all of these interceptions have been nice particular person performs and he’s not in a position to replicate that success as a participant who remains to be studying the protection place after enjoying principally nickel nook in his NFL profession. And as a substitute of being a optimistic power of power, CJGJ’s character seems to be grating to his coaches and teammates and the odd-couple paring of Gardner-Johnson and Fangio doesn’t work.
LB Devin White
The Eagles introduced within the former No. 5 general decide on a one-year contract value as much as $7.5 million. White struggled in 2023 and was accessible on the fourth day of free company.
Greatest case: White is a high-level starter who brings some respectability to the Eagles on the linebacker place. His massive performs outweigh his negatives and the Eagles have a difference-maker in the midst of their protection as Fangio understands deploy White. After a uncommon damage hindered him in 2023, White is wholesome and important and the Eagles like him sufficient to increase him earlier than he can money in throughout free company in 2025.
Worst case: There have been causes White needed to take a one-year deal and people causes present up. He finally ends up being a legal responsibility in protection and his expertise aren’t in a position to be utilized by this protection. White finally ends up freelancing an excessive amount of and giving up back-breaking performs with out making up for it with splash performs of his personal. He nonetheless has that athleticism nevertheless it’s not harnessed; White consistency turns into the quickest man to the mistaken spot as a result of his instincts in a brand new scheme are severely missing.
OLB Zack Baun
After 4 years with the Saints on his rookie contract, the previous third-round decide type Wisconsin joined the Eagles on a one-year deal.
Greatest case: Fangio has a really particular plan for Baun as a situational edge rusher. The Eagles notice that Baun isn’t an answer to the off-ball linebacker downside and as a substitute let him rush the passer, which was his energy late in his time with the Saints. Baun provides one thing to the Eagles as a sub-package participant, picks up a number of sacks and can be a core particular teamer for Michael Clay.
Worst case: The Eagles don’t know use Baun as a go rusher and he doesn’t find yourself with a task on protection. After displaying some capacity to hurry in 2023 with the Saints, there’s a disconnect between Fangio and the entrance workplace on Baun and the DC would slightly simply maintain him off the sector. However nonetheless, the ground remains to be most likely as a particular groups contributor, which is value a roster spot.
OL Matt Hennessy
The Eagles introduced the Temple product again to Philly on a one-year deal after 4 years in Atlanta as a third-round decide. Hennessy, 26, missed your complete 2023 season with a knee damage.
Greatest case: One of the best-case state of affairs for Hennessy and the best-case state of affairs for the Eagles are most likely completely different. Whereas Hennessy would clearly like to earn a beginning gig, the Eagles would most likely favor Hennessy to be a high-level backup in any respect three inside spots on the offensive line. He returns from damage to push each Cam Jurgens and Tyler Steen (and/or a rookie within the draft) however the younger guys win the roles so the Eagles can construct for the longer term. Hennessy, if requested to play, performs at a excessive stage and the road continues to roll.
Worst case: The knee damage that stored Hennessy out of the 2023 season has sapped a number of the athleticism that made him a third-round decide again in 2020. The worst-case for the Eagles is that one of many younger gamers actually struggles so Hennessy finally ends up taking a job and never enjoying effectively both. Then they find yourself in a state of affairs the place they must rotate in the course of the season to determine the most suitable choice. Hennessy leaves as a free agent and the Eagles haven’t found out if the younger man is the longer term.
WR DeVante Parker
After Parker was launched by the Patriots, the Eagles signed him to a one-year deal and are on the hook for simply the veteran minimal of $1.2 million in 2024.
Greatest case: At 31 years outdated, Parker nonetheless has good soccer left in him. After the Eagles rotated a bunch of WR3 choices in 2023, Parker provides them a greater and extra dependable choice in 2024. And his expertise as an out of doors receiver opens up some new alternatives for DeVonta Smith and A.J. Brown to work out of the slot in Moore’s dynamic offense.
Worst case: Parker is effectively previous his prime and simply merely can’t separate however they rely on him to be the third wideout anyway as a substitute of continuous so as to add on the place. The Eagles finally notice he simply doesn’t have it anymore and it was a wasted swing that leaves them trying to find a WR3 in the course of the season.
LB Oren Burks
After spending 4 years in Inexperienced Bay and two with the 49ers, the Eagles signed the now 29-year-old veteran to a one-year deal.
Greatest case: For Burks, it could be to win a beginning job. However for the Eagles, it could be that Burks is a reliable backup at linebacker for Devin White, Nakobe Dean and possibly even a rookie taken on Day 2 or Day 3 of the draft. Burks can play a rotational position on protection and infrequently rotate in as he did with the 49ers. And he’s a terrific particular teamer.
Worst case: The linebackers in entrance of Burks both get injured or are enjoying poorly so Burks fills in and struggles. He needed to fill in for the 49ers within the Tremendous Bowl and it didn’t go effectively. We bear in mind why he’s a seven-year veteran who hasn’t been a full-time starter. And with him beginning, the Eagles lose plenty of his snaps on particular groups too.
QB Kenny Pickett
This one wasn’t a free agent pickup however the Eagles pulled off a commerce to usher in the previous first-rounder from the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Greatest case: Pickett doesn’t play except for rubbish time in blowout wins as a result of Jalen Hurts stays wholesome. But when Pickett does must play, he turns into a sport supervisor and with significantly better expertise in Philly than he had in Pittsburgh, Pickett performs level guard and helps the Eagles win video games. He finally ends up being and low-cost choice as a backup for the 2 seasons left on his contract. Maybe, Tanner McKee even retains growing and the Eagles can commerce Pickett subsequent 12 months to maintain the QB Manufacturing unit in enterprise.
Worst case: Hurts misses time and the Eagles lose video games as a result of Pickett isn’t ok. It seems the problems in Pittsburgh weren’t all concerning the offensive coordinator and ability gamers; as a substitute, it was Pickett. And the Eagles waste all their ability and expertise as a result of Pickett struggles to maximise them.
WR Parris Campbell
The Eagles have been very fascinated about Campbell again within the second spherical of the 2019 draft however elected to take J.J. Arcega-Whiteside. Neither participant has had a lot of an NFL profession however Campbell did have one good season with the Colts in 2022.
Greatest case: Campbell makes the crew and contributes. He nonetheless has a few of that velocity he confirmed popping out of Ohio State and the Eagles are in a position to put it to use. He lastly realizes his second-round potential and offers the Eagles a dynamic third receiver on a budget.
Worst case: Campbell’s 2022 season is an outlier in an in any other case disappointing season. He both does not contribute or he does not make the roster.
CB Tyler Corridor
The Eagles introduced within the 25-year-old who went undrafted out of Wyoming in 2020. Corridor has performed in 31 NFL video games with 6 begins and has principally performed slot nook.
Greatest case: Corridor makes the crew after a formidable coaching camp and challenges for taking part in time as a starter or backup as a slot nook. He finally ends up as an ample backup nickel and particular groups contributor in 2024.
Worst case: He doesn’t make the crew or the follow squad.
DT PJ Mustipher
The Eagles introduced within the Penn State product after he spent one season with the Saints as an undrafted rookie, enjoying in 4 video games.
Greatest case: Mustipher makes the crew and offers the Eagles some strong back-of-the-rotation play and continues to develop.
Worst case: He doesn’t make the crew or the follow squad.
Subscribe to Eagle Eye anyplace you get your podcasts:
Apple Podcasts | YouTube Music | Spotify | Stitcher | Art19 | RSS | Watch on YouTube