Eagles

Eagles

Eagles

PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - DECEMBER 26: Executive Vice President and General Manger Howie Roseman of the Philadelphia Eagles looks on during a game against the New York Giants at Lincoln Financial Field on December 26, 2021 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

It is only April and Howie Roseman has already had a memorable off-season. Signing Saquon Barkley led to many debates, but I think we can all agree we are excited to see him in an Eagles uniform. The city welcomed back Chauncey Gardner-Johnson with open arms even after calling fans obnoxious on his way out in 2023. With the excitement, there was also some confusion and even disappointment.

Trading away Haason Reddick to New York after signing former Jets edge rusher Bryce Huff created plenty of discourse. No one thinks Huff stinks, but we all realize what Reddick was able to do for the Eagles the last two seasons. We don’t know what Huff will bring to the table yet. Fans who were begging for a top-tier linebacker saw the Eagles sign Devin White who has had a stretch of 4 seasons with poor play.

Ultimately, I think people believe that Howie Roseman has already had a good off-season with still plenty of time. There will be trades during the draft, we will see who they select during the draft itself, and then free agency continues after the team knows where they still need to acquire talent.

Since Roseman took over for Chip Kelly following the 2015 season, I think we all believe that he will have something else up his sleeve. Howie is always working, and he is always willing to make a splash.

Here are the top 11 impactful free agent signings Howie Roseman has made since having full power in 2016. Notice the keyword is impactful…

Also, these are players that were not with the Eagles the previous season. So players who were extended or resigned do not count. However, a player who once played with the Eagles and then eventually returned does… I’m sure you can already predict who I am talking about

The Top 11 Most Impactful Signings Howie Roseman Has Made

  • 11 – Stefen Wisniewski

    Wisniewski signed a 1-year deal in 2016 and played his way to a 3-year extension. When we talk offensive line in Philadelphia, we talk about it at such an educated level. But I feel like people forget that Wisniewski was the starting left guard in Super Bowl 52. An offensive line that had a backup left tackle that probably relied on the left guard that made 11 starts that season. Show Wiz the love!

    PHILADELPHIA, PA - NOVEMBER 13: Stefen Wisniewski #61 of the Philadelphia Eagles reacts after a field goal by Caleb Sturgis #6 during the fourth quarter against the Atlanta Falcons during a game at Lincoln Financial Field on November 13, 2016 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Eagles defeated the Falcons 24-15.

    Stefen Wisniewski #61 of the Philadelphia Eagles reacts after a field goal by Caleb Sturgis #6 during the fourth quarter against the Atlanta Falcons during a game at Lincoln Financial Field

  • 10 – Nigel Bradham

    Howie Roseman has called the Eagles a “Quarterback Factory”. No one is calling the Eagles a “Linebacker Factory”. To win a Super Bowl, you can’t have guys like Nate Gerry manning the middle. In 2017/18 the Eagles won a Super Bowl and Nigel Bradham made an impact. No one is calling him Ray Lewis or even TJ Edwards, but he was a free agent who stepped in and was hand-picked by Jim Schwartz.

    CBS Sports HQ on Twitter: "NIGEL BRADHAM. INTERCEPTION.Eagles win in Lambeau(via @NFL)pic.twitter.com/DuuXAf30CR / Twitter"

    NIGEL BRADHAM. INTERCEPTION.Eagles win in Lambeau(via @NFL)pic.twitter.com/DuuXAf30CR

  • 9 – Torrey Smith

    Smith’s tenure was a quick one. He only played one season in Philadelphia, but I think we will always remember him fondly. Before the playoffs started, Smith did nothing. He probably shouldn’t even make this list.

    But the playoffs is when legends are made and he quickly became one against the Falcons making the game-changing catch after the ball bounced off the knee of Keanu Neal. Then he scored a touchdown off a flea flicker in the NFC Championship Game. It was only a couple of moments, but they were big.

  • 8 – Patrick Robinson

    Another one-year wonder in Philadelphia, but man was it a great one. I remember being concerned about Robinson because he talked about how he wasn’t as close to game shape as he wanted to be before week 1. Well, no one really remembers that because we remember one of the biggest plays in Eagles history. Down a touchdown with the Vikings driving, Robinson picks off Case Keenum and returns it for a touchdown. People at the Linc that night said it was the loudest it ever was. Not only did he make that play, but he had a career high 4 interceptions during the regular season.

  • 7 – Chris Long

    If I am going to throw flowers to Patrick Robinson, I must throw flowers to Chris Long. On that play where Robinson scored a game tying touchdown in the NFC Championship Game, Long was able to get to Keenum and created contact. The hit on the arm of Keenum forced the errant throw that Robinson intercepted. Throughout the season, Long finished with 5 sacks and was a major part of the defensive end rotation that got most of the credit for the Eagles’ success in 2017.

    NFL on Twitter: "Join us in wishing 2x Super Bowl champ and 2018 #WPMOY Chris Long a HAPPY BIRTHDAY! @JOEL9ONE (via @NFLFilms) pic.twitter.com/jU3lF4aM5j / Twitter"

    Join us in wishing 2x Super Bowl champ and 2018 #WPMOY Chris Long a HAPPY BIRTHDAY! @JOEL9ONE (via @NFLFilms) pic.twitter.com/jU3lF4aM5j

  • 6 – LeGarrette Blount

    Blount was that bruising back in a running back room that consisted of Darren Sproles, Jay Ajayi, and undrafted rookie free agent Corey Clement. During the regular season, Blount finished with just 2 rushing touchdowns and 766 rushing yards, but that rotation allowed him to stay fresh for the playoffs. Blount scored a touchdown in all 3 games of the postseason including one where he drove Andrew Sendejo into the turf. He also had the game-high in rushing yards in the Super Bowl when he ran for 90 yards on just 14 carries.

    NFL Canada on Twitter: "We don't mean to sound Blount during the #SuperBowl, but...@EAGLES TOUCHDOWN! #FlyEaglesFlycc:@LG_Blount pic.twitter.com/uaytmVCmbC / Twitter"

    We don't mean to sound Blount during the #SuperBowl, but...@EAGLES TOUCHDOWN! #FlyEaglesFlycc:@LG_Blount pic.twitter.com/uaytmVCmbC

  • 5 – Javon Hargrave

    Hargrave was a BEAST in 2022 when the Eagles made it to another Super Bowl. The reason why he is only 5th on this list is because his first 2 seasons aren’t as memorable. But alas, in year 3 he was one of the reasons why the Eagles’ defense finished with 70 sacks. He got paid big time by San Francisco and stabbed his former teammates in the back when he said the 49ers would have won if Purdy didn’t get hurt, but I won’t harp on that much longer… he made a major impact in 2022.

    NFL Network on Twitter: "JAVON HARGRAVE + FLETCHER COX = @Eagles TD!📺: #PHIvsDAL on ESPNpic.twitter.com/lZnvty37Ss / Twitter"

    JAVON HARGRAVE + FLETCHER COX = @Eagles TD!📺: #PHIvsDAL on ESPNpic.twitter.com/lZnvty37Ss

  • 4 – Brandon Brooks

    There seems to be a bit of a theme in this list. Most players mentioned was on the team that won the Super Bowl. There have been nice free agent signings made by Howie Roseman since they won on February 4th, 2018, but some haven’t played to their expectations or in the case of Saquon Barkley, haven’t played yet. Brandon Brooks is 4th on this list because he did more than just win a Super Bowl. Brooks was arguably the best Right Guard in the entire league in 4 of his 5 seasons with the Eagles.

    Thomas R. Petersen on Twitter: "Brandon Brooks since joining the Eagles in 2016:- 2.805 pass blocking snaps- 4 sacks allowedThat is freaking absurd. Simply unbelievable.#Eagles pic.twitter.com/Y4GLv8Nz6R / Twitter"

    Brandon Brooks since joining the Eagles in 2016:- 2.805 pass blocking snaps- 4 sacks allowedThat is freaking absurd. Simply unbelievable.#Eagles pic.twitter.com/Y4GLv8Nz6R

  • 3 – Haason Reddick

    I am still angry that he is no longer on the Eagles. 27 sacks in 2 seasons with the Eagles. 27 sacks once a team finally realized how to use him on defense. I think he will go to New York and continue to be dominant. When he was in Philadelphia, he was that.

    What happened in the second half of last season? I think he was overplayed, and I think the entire defense was a mess. He was the best player on the defense in back-to-back seasons. That will be missed. 

    Dylan MacKinnon on Twitter: "Josh Sweat, Bryce Huff, and Nolan Smith have 47.5 combined sacks over the last 4 seasons.Haason Reddick alone has 50.5 in that same time. 9 combined seasons, vs 4. Sweat and Huff each only have 1 double digit sack season. Reddick has 4. Nolan Smith has 1 career sack. / Twitter"

    Josh Sweat, Bryce Huff, and Nolan Smith have 47.5 combined sacks over the last 4 seasons.Haason Reddick alone has 50.5 in that same time. 9 combined seasons, vs 4. Sweat and Huff each only have 1 double digit sack season. Reddick has 4. Nolan Smith has 1 career sack.

  • 2 – Alshon Jeffery

    I think real football guys would put Brooks ahead of Jeffery, but wide receiver is the “sexier” position.

    When Alshon was first signed by the Eagles, there were many questions about whether he could be a true number 1 receiver. He missed 4 games in his final year with the Bears and only played in 9 the game prior. In 2017 he didn’t put up the numbers a Justin Jefferson would, but he was the team’s number 1 receiver and he was an impactful one.

    Like Blount, Jeffery scored 3 touchdowns in the 2017-18 postseason, 2 of which were scored in the NFC Championship Game. There was also a play against the Falcons that is criminally under-talked about. His toe-touch reception along the sideline at the end of the first half, with no timeouts left, set up a 53-yard Field Goal that made it a 10-9 Atlanta lead.

    If that play doesn’t happen, the Eagles trail 10-6 at halftime, and the Falcons start the second half with the ball. The momentum swung to the Eagles at that moment. If he only held on to that pass the next season against the Saints… he could have gone down as a legend.

    Brenden Deeg on Twitter: "Alshon Jeffery catching this ball in the Super Bowl with a torn rotator cuff is still unbelievable. pic.twitter.com/dKbQOmMMA8 / Twitter"

    Alshon Jeffery catching this ball in the Super Bowl with a torn rotator cuff is still unbelievable. pic.twitter.com/dKbQOmMMA8

  • 1 – Nick Foles

    Do I really have to type some long reason why? He won us our first-ever Super Bowl. He even caught a TD as a QB. MVP!!

    NBC Sports on Twitter: "Nick Foles turns 34 today!In Super Bowl LII, he gave us one of the greatest plays in #NFL history: the Philly Special.🎥: @Eagles | #FlyEaglesFly pic.twitter.com/QVlro0Owtj / Twitter"

    Nick Foles turns 34 today!In Super Bowl LII, he gave us one of the greatest plays in #NFL history: the Philly Special.🎥: @Eagles | #FlyEaglesFly pic.twitter.com/QVlro0Owtj

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