Eagles free agency is here. While moves won’t be official until Wednesday when Free Agency begins, teams can now agree in principle to a deal with pending free agents. And while occasionally those deals fall through, looking at you Frank Gore, usually those deals wind up being finalized. And if the Eagles are going to get back to contention, they will need to make some notable moves in free agency.

In 2022 they were the best team in Football for most of the season. They came a few plays away from hoisting their second Lombardi Trophy. Most people assumed it was the start of something special. It all came tumbling down in 2023 though. They might have started 10-1, but you could see cracks forming. Eventually, those cracks led to disaster. The Eagles’ dam blew wide open. They won only 1 game after December and got blown out in the playoffs.

Eagles Free Agency Needs

The defense is already a mess. But that could get even worse depending on what happens with Haason Reddick. He and the Eagles are in a salary dispute, which could lead to him being traded. Then they would need another pass rusher on top of fully recreating their secondary and linebacker rooms.

The good news is they have tons of cap space. Cutting Kevin Byard and Avonte Maddox opened up some space, and then the NFL Cap grew $30 million on top of that. They have about $42 million in projected cap space. The 11th most in the league. They do have players they need to pay soon, like Landon Dickerson and Devonta Smith. But they have the space to make a few moves to try to get this team back on the right track.

Where will they spend that money? Can Howie have one of his magical offseasons?

Here is every move the Eagles have made so far in free agency:

• Extending Devonta Smith

  After extending Dickerson, the next biggest goal was doing the same for Devonta Smith. It took a few more weeks, but they got it done. They picked up his 5th year option, and then signed him to a 3-year extension worth $75 million.

  it is a great move. They got ahead of several other extension eligible WRs like Justin Jefferson and Cee Dee Lamb. it may seem like a lot of money now, but it will look better and better as every subsequent WR gets paid. One of the best things about Howie is how he is willing to work ahead like this and save cap space in the long run.

  Grade- A+

   

• Extending Jordan Mailata

  The Eagles can now say they have the left side of their line squared away through 2028. They locked down both Mailata, and Dickerson, keeping the NFL best run blocking duo together for the next 5 seasons. It is a smart way to invest cap space, and both guys should only keep getting better.

  Grade- A

• Trading Haason Reddick

  The first bad move of the offseason. You traded one of the league’s elite edge rushers and got nothing back that will help you this year or next. No cap space wiggle room, and no tradeable pick.

  They lost a very good player. They are hoping Sweat, Huff, and Smith can replace him. But none of those 3 guys are proven in this league. Huff was a rotational player with the Jets. Nolan Smith barely saw the field. And Sweat fell off big time in the 2nd half of the year.

  They are a worse team because of this move. And only getting a 2026 pick back for losing their best player, is laughable.

  Grade- F

• Bringing Back Avonte Maddox

   

  The Eagles had to cut Maddox. His cap hit was too large for a guy so unreliable health wise. But bringing him back was also smart. When healthy, he is as trustworthy as it gets in the slot. They have enough need tow worry about, having a solid option at nickel corner is a smart idea.

• Signed Will Grier

  Will Grier won’t be the eagles backup. He might not even be their 3rd stringer. They apparently are still high on Tanner Mckee. But Grier has worked with Kellen Moore in the past. Just having a guy who can help others come up to speed with any new concepts can be useful. He might not actually make the roster though.

  Grade- C

• Eagles Trade for Kenny Pickett

  The Eagles found their backup QB. They are bringing in former-round pick Kenny Pickett in a pick swap with the Steelers. Pickett has been disappointing for the Steelers since they spent the 2oth overall pick on him two years ago. But he might be one of the best backups in the league. It is a low price, and it gives the Eagles security there for the next two years.

  Grade- A

• Josh Sweat Is Back

  There were rumors Sweat might be traded. instead, he is back on a restructured deal. Per Tom Pelissero, Sweat restructured his deal with the Eagles. Jeremy Fowler then reported that the new deal gives Sweat $10 million in guaranteed money, with the chance to get $13 million.

  It is a good move, just ensuring they have some stability there. Some things along the D-line might be in flux still. but they can at least know they have two capable Edge rushers in Bryce Huff and Josh Sweat.

  Grade- A 

• CJ Gardner Johnson Returns To Philly

  The Eagles got their Safety. CJ Gardner Johnson is coming back to Philly. He took a 1-year detour with the Lions, but CJ Gardner-Johnson is making his return to the Eagles. They signed him to a 3-year $33 million deal.

  He only played in 3 games last season due to an injury but played well in all 3 of those games. The year before in Philly, he finished tied with the league lead in interceptions. The Eagles fell to 27th in takeaways last year without him, so at the very least, he will bring playmaking back to the defense. Safety was arguably their weakest position last year after it was a strength in 2022.

  It is exactly the type of move they needed to make. They even get him cheaper for what a few other safeties went for. Great move by Howie. Zero complaints.

  Grade- A

• Eagles Sign WR DeVante Parker

  3rd WR was an underrated need for the Eagles Quez Watkins was a huge disappointment in that role the last two years. His speed is elite, but that speed never led to on-field results. Nick Sirianni can say all he wants about how that speed takes attention away from other WRs, but you need to be productive too.

  Well, the Eagles have found their new 3rd WR. They bring in ex-Patriot and Dolphin WR Davante Parker. Parker had one 1000-yard season in Miami but has mostly hovered around 500. Which is exactly what they need. He is a solid WR. With Brown, Smith, Goedert, and now Barkley, solid is all they really need from their 3rd WR. They also get him for cheap, only costing them a little over $1 million.

  If he was the #1 or #2, it would be bad. But he is your 5th option, and they could still add a wr in the draft. No reason to be upset with the move.

  Grade- B

• Eagles Sign Zack Baum

  The Eagles signed a LB. But it is not the big name LB fans are hoping for, yet. Zack Baum is an adequate LB, who is more of a special teamer, and a backup on defense. If he is the starter, this would be a terrible signing. But if he is a depth piece and a special teamer, it is fine. They need to do much more at LB than just this though.

  Grade- C

• Eagles Steal Saquon Barkley From The Giants

  The rumor that was swirling all week came true. They have taken Saquon Barkley from the Giants, landing one of the most talented RBs in the league. He gets a 3-year $37.5 million deal. It is not a very Howie Roseman move, eagles have rarely paid RBs like this. But maybe last season taught Howie he needs to change his ways.

  Its a lot for a RB. And RBs contracts often end up looking bad. But it is for only 3 years and he is 27. So it is not like they are paying a guy already outside of his prime. he is coming off a down year. But in fairness to him, he was part of a terrible Giants offense. Now he will have a much better Qb to play with, and two elite WRs to take the heat off of him. Put him in Kellen Moore’s scheme, he can be dynamic.

  Grade- B

• Eagles Sign Bryce Huff

  The Eagles have made their first splash of free agency. They came out of nowhere to land one of the top pass rushers on the market. Per Adam Schefter, the Eagles have signed former Jets Edge Rusher Bryce Huff to a 3-year, $51.1 million deal. It makes him the highest-paid, non-QB, undrafted free agent in NFL history. Huff had a breakout season last year with 10 sacks and 67 pressures. He led the entire NFL with a pressure rate of 21.8%.

  The deal is actually pretty team-friendly. At about $17 million per year, he is the 17th highest-paid edge rusher. And he could be outside the top 20 by the time the season starts. He doesn’t offer much against the run. But getting an elite young pass rusher, at a good number, is a great move.

  Grade- A

• Landon Dickerson Signed to 4-Year Extension

  The Eagles first move was not for a free agent, but to hold onto one of their own. Landon Dickerson was going into the last year fo his deal. But now he will be here through 2028. It did not come cheap though. They have him 4-Years $84 million, $50 million of which is guaranteed. It is worth it though. Landon Dickerson has ben fantastic at LG, and keeping their O-Line together is worth a bit of an overpay. The money makes it hard to give the move an A though.

  Grade- B

• Eagles Get O-Line Depth in Matt Hennessy

  Jason Kelce retired. Sua Opeta and Jack Driscoll are free agents. The eagles badly needed depth at interior O-Line, and they get it in Hennessy. With the Falcons he started games at both center and guard. Considering Dickerson missed time in each of the last two seasons, and Jurgens missed time last year, having depth there is a must. Is it a needle mover? maybe not. But this is the type of move the Eagles needed to make. Hennessy being a Temple product doesn’t hurt either.

  Grade- B

• Eagles Re-Sign P Braden Mann

  Braden Mann is staying in Midnight Green. He replaced Arryn Sipposs a few games into the season. Mann finished 7th in Net Average Punting Yards. Siposs was always near the bottom of the league in that. He doesn’t have the biggest leg. But he is reliable to get off a decent punt every time. Nothing to complain about with this move. They had a good punter, they held onto him.

  Grade- A

• Finally Get an Athletic LB In Devin White

  Well, the Eagles got a LB, finally. But the name may be better than the player. Devin White struggled the past few seasons. He is not a great tackler, is bad against the run, and is merely decent in pass coverage. It’s better than nothing. But that is not saying much. They still need to do much more at LB. If Devin White is a piece, it’s fine. If they are banking on him to be good, it is a risky move.

  Grade- C

• Signed Parris Campbell

  Howie Roseman apparently liked Campbell a lot back in the 2019 draft. But Jeff Lurie like JJ Arcega-Whiteside, and they took him instead. Neither WR has done much since then, but Campbell at least is still in the NFL, and playing WR. Campbell is a depth guy. Maybe he can beat out Devante Parker for the 3rd WR role. But he has not done much to this point in his career.

  Grade- C

• PJ Mustipher

  Mustipher only has 4 tackles in 4 seasons. He has not seen much of the field. That won’t likely change in Philly. But it never hurts to have depth and camp bodies. But this move likely won’t mean much.

  Grade- C

• Tyler Hall

  Hall is a nickel corner and a Special Teamer. The Eagles have no issue with corner depth. They need to add top-end talent. But guys like Zech McPhearson, Isaiah Rodgers, Eli Ricks, and Kelee Ringo will fill out the back of the CB depth chart. Hall will have a hard time making the team.

  Grade- C

• Oren Burks

  Oren Burks may seem like a depth move. But off all these smaller moves, he may have the best chance of making the roster. For one, they are light at LB. But he also did play some for the 49ers last season when Dre Greenlaw was hurt and didn’t do a bad job. If they plan to start him, that is foolish. But he may make for a good backup LB/ Special Teamer.

  Grade- B

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