You asked (not really) and I'm about to answer every single question about free agency and the draft. After reading this, you will be very confident that my plan will be the savior of the Eagles.
Ok, sorry. I'm just going to follow suit and provide my own predictions on who the Eagles will sign and who they will draft. My predictions will be based on what I've heard on podcasts, writers, and people I've spoken with directly.
It's a trying time right now in the sports world (and our own worlds), so I'm going to do my best to continue to bring you decent content.
Some conclusions
After getting all the intel and info that I can gather, I've come up with a few conclusions:
The Eagles will go WR heavy in the draft (at least 2, ok that's not heavy. But maybe 3!)
They will not invest heavily in linebacker, again. Sad face.
Emphasis will be on getting younger and will be a mix of long-term and "prove it" deals.
Defense, defense, defense in free agency.
I don't expect the Eagles to pay big bucks to wide receivers in free agency. Outside of Robby Anderson, who is that guy? Even with him, is RA worth $10-11 million a year? I have been on his train for a long time, wanting to pair him with DJax, but the price may be too high for a guy who doesn't do much outside a go route.
Despite not going expensive at linebacker, I think they'll bring in quality guys.
I do expect them to open the checkbook for corners, however. You know who I'm talking about.
The draft is going to be fun. You'll see what I mean in a bit.
Re-signings
The following players will be resigned:
Ronal... just kidding
Vinny Curry - 1 year deal
Jalen Mills - 1 year deal with team option
Hassan Ridgeway - 3 year deal
Cameron Johnston (restricted free agent) - 3 year deal
Names you don't see: Peters, Jernigan, Bradham (obviously), McLeod, Clement, Sudfeld, Agholor (lol), Howard, and Vaitai.
I think Peters finds a starting job elsewhere (Browns?), Jernigan may want too much money to be injured all the time, Bradham is done here, McLeod may price himself out, Clement is always hurt, Sudfeld could land a back up role with a chance to start elsewhere (Indy?), Agholor... , Howard could be back on a one year prove it deal but he may not like being the back up yet again like he was in Chicago, and Vaitai may get upwards of $10 million a year. Not happening in Philly.
Oh, and bye bye Alshon.
Check out page two for who will sign with the Eagles!
Mandatory Photo Credit: AP Photo/Vasha Hunt
Free agent additions
Adam Caplan noted on Inside the Birds that the Eagles will go wide receiver heavy in the draft, with a reliance on free agency to answer defensive questions.
He mentions Breshad Perriman as a possible target, but says he may get $8-10 million. Geoff Mosher thinks hes more in the $6-7 million range.
The latter will be the range I expect the Eagles to spend on a wide receiver or two.
Defensively, checkbook is open. Time to see who will wear midnight green:
Byron Jones - 5 years $95 million, $50 million guaranteed
Beau Allen - 2 year $10 million
Nick Kwiatkoski - 4 years $20 million
De'Vondre Campbell - 3 years $15 million
Carl Nassib - 3 years $9 million
Breshad Perriman - 1 year $7.5 million
Dennis Kelly - 1 year $3 million
Logan Ryan - 3 years $33 million $20 million guaranteed
Whole lot of money being handed out on defense, with $48 million of total annual value handed out. What? Eagles don't have that much cap? I know, Howie will work his magic. With the cap increasing next year to upwards of $40 million more, he can defer payments to lessen the cap hit in 2020.
I fully expect the draft to be offense heavy, that leaves free agency to be the defensive focus.
My reasoning for each signing:
Jones is the best corner on the market. I know, I know, that hasn't been the best for the Eagles in years past. But you cannot keep neglecting something because you had bad prior experiences. Are you done dating because that guy/girl ghosted you last week? Ok, maybe you are. But you can still get out there again! The Eagles need to brush off toxic ex's like Liam does (sorry) and finally get the one.
Allen was a great fit on the defensive line as a run clogger. He'd be welcome back with open arms. Only 29 in November, he'd provide nice depth behind Cox and Jackson.
If you don't know about my affinity for Kwiatkoski, you haven't been reading my articles. That hurts. Although relatively unproven, he showed flashes of dominance towards the end of last season for the Bears. The Eagles met with him prior to the 2016 draft, so the connection was made a long time ago.
Campbell has the Marquand Manuel connection now in Philly, although Manuel is DB's coach. Campbell provides production at a position that the Eagles need it. He had a career high in tackles in 2019 (129) and would immediately start.
Nassib is a local kid. Born in West Chester, high school in Malvern, college at Penn St. Philly boy through and through. He had 12.5 sacks in two years with the Bucs after 5.5 in two years with the Browns. He has experience in the wide nine from when he was at Penn State (15.5 sacks his junior year)
Perriman had a really nice end of the year, having the third most receiving yards in the league from week 13-17 with 506 and 20 yards per reception. But prior to that, he had 226 yards total and only 14 yards per reception. He'll get a one year prove it deal to show his production wasn't a fluke. If he performs, then he gets extended.
Kelly, aka the guy who got away to catch a touchdown in the playoffs, provides veteran depth behind Dillard.
Wait, a slot corner? Yep. Remember me saying McLeod is gone? Well, Avonte Maddox takes his spot. Marquand Manuel has experience converting corners to safety, and Maddox will reap the benefits of his teachings. Ryan provides veteran leadership in the DB room with Jones, and also provides a very good slot coverage.
Finally, check out my mock draft on the next page that puts all of free agency into account.
Mandatory Photo Credit: AP Photo/Vasha Hunt
Chris Infante's mock draft 1.0
I had to title it, that's what all the cool people are doing.
Here's what I think will happen:
Splash #1 - Trade up with Dolphins
Jerry Jeudy's short shuttle may have turned some people off. Combine that with Henry Ruggs' meteoric rise up draft boards, it can cause the star wide receiver to drop on draft day.
In this mock, Lamb goes 8 to the Cards, the Raiders pass on Ruggs and grab linebacker Patrick Queen, and the Colts and Broncos pass on Jeudy to address other needs. The Raiders are sitting there at 19 ready to take Jeudy, so Howie gets on the phone and calls up the Dolphins. He trades the 21st pick and the final third round pick to move up three spots to 18. Not that the Dolphins need more picks, but they accept it to continue their massive overhaul.
Jeudy instantly becomes the Eagles' #1 wide receiver. Wentz and Jeudy for a long, long time will be beautiful.
Splash #2 - Trade up with Bears
Trading up again? In front of the Cowboys again? The Eagles traded up to 49 in 2018 to get in front of the Cowboys to select a tight end that they wanted. It happens again in 2020. The Cowboys will be looking to complement Michael Gallup in their offense and add a dynamic wide receiver. Enter Howie, again. He calls up the Bears and offers the 53rd pick and the first fourth round pick to move up to 50. The Bears accept and the Eagles double dip at wide receiver with with K.J. Hamler.
Hamler didn't run the 40 at the combine and the coronavirus postponed his Pro Day so if he doesn't get a chance to run the 40 before the draft, he may slip down some picks.
He met with the Eagles at the Combine, he's a Penn St alum, he's best friends with Miles Sanders, he hopes Sanders "put in a good word." Time to go get him.
Jeudy, Hamler, DJax. On your marks, get set, go.
Spla...just kidding. Third round pick 85
A swiss army knife player perfect for Jim Schwartz's defense slipping to the third? Far-fetched, but the computer dropped him so I'll take him. Welcome to the Birds, Kyle Dugger.
Dude is an animal. He flies all over the field and can come up in the box and support the run. Sound familiar? The perfect Malcolm Jenkins heir. He would not disappoint in midnight green.
We're going back to back in the fourth
With the departure of the first fourth round pick, the Eagles will have to wait from pic 85 all the way to picks 145 and 146.
That doesn't mean quality players can't be had.
Harrison Hand is a local guy (Grew up in Cherry Hill, NJ and went to Temple) and is a feisty corner. He excels in zone coverage and is disciplined enough to stay with a deep receiver and not get too handsy, something that plagued Eagles corners for years.
McTelvin Agim is a big dude (6'3" 307 lbs) but he ran a sub 5 second 40 and has really good agility for his size. Let him back up and learn from Fletcher Cox and Malik Jackson and Agim could turn into a late round gem.
We're going back to (kind of) back in the fifth
Picks 166 and 168 are up next for the Eagles and they have yet to address linebacker. They grabbed two in free agency, but depth is needed.
Justin Strnad is an athlete of a linebacker. Playing safety in high school, he has the quickness to stay with tight ends and the speed to get into the backfield. Some great podcast called Flippin' The Birds interviewed him on March 11th, you can find the article and episode here, and he also possesses the character traits the Eagles look for in a player. He had a day versus Lamar Jackson in 2017 when Wake Forest beat Louisville: 9 tackles, 2.5 for loss, 2.5 sacks, one forced fumble. The speed to stay with Lamar Jackson, that could help.
Shaquille Quarterman goes boom on running backs with ease. His coverage skills are laaaaacking but that's coachable and can be masked by the athletes next to him. Backing up Kwiatkoski can prove to pay dividends for a position that sorely lacked competent depth.
Last but definitely not least
As you see in my mock, no running back. As you see in my free agents, no running back.
Until now
The Eagles need a bruising running back to spell Sanders and Scott. Enter Sewo Olonilua.
25 reps of 225 lbs on the bench press. 6'6" wing span. 6'3" 232 lbs. 4.66 40 yard dash. He is a wrecking ball.
If you google his name, you'll find countless videos of him running over defenders. He does need to work on pass protection and fumbles, but he projects as a much better Josh Adams. Remember how excited you were for him? Worth a late round flier.
Complete draft:
There you go, Eagles fans. My perfect free agency and draft plans. You can go to bed easy now that I've fixed them.
Be sure to follow us at @PhiladelphiaSN, myself at @Infante54, my co-host @BCameronPSN, and the best podcast in the world @FlippinTheBirds
Mandatory Photo Credit: AP Photo/Vasha Hunt
