Every player that becomes available on the waiver wire is seemingly always connected to the Eagles. Whether that be from legitimate reports or from an eccentric Eagles Twitter member, whichever player is available is an Eagles target.
It's easy to get caught up in the "brand name" players that become available and imagine them on the Eagles. From Le'Veon Bell a few years ago to Yannick Ngakoue this year, Eagles fans had jerseys photoshopped on them within the minute they were available.
But at some point, the Eagles will make a splash for a player that will get fans excited. This year it was Darius Slay, Javon Hargrave, and Nickell Robey-Coleman.
In Slay's case, fans were watching him the past few years envisioning him on the Eagles. Hargrave and NRC were more of a surprise, but definitely welcomed additions.
This got me thinking: what players on other teams are future Eagles?
I asked on Twitter and let's take a look at the answers.
The Long Shots
I said to give me realistic players, people!
Deebo Samuel
https://twitter.com/twiggyboots004/status/1300787273601089542?s=20
Three years until he's available, if he doesn't sign an extension beforehand. The perfect player for Kyle Shanahan's offense. He's not going anywhere for a long time.
Fred Warner and Marvin Jones
https://twitter.com/ScooterMcgilli1/status/1300786199792099328?s=20
Fred Warner is an absolute stud. 242 tackles in his first two seasons and, according to Benjamin Solak, he was the league's most impactful LB in 2019.
Howie Roseman is allergic to linebackers of his caliber. Combine that with the potential contract Warner will command in the future, the Eagles will most likely stick with T.J. Edwards (deservedly so) for the long haul.
Marvin Jones missed three games last year, seven games in 2018, and has played in just 96 games over his eight-year career (128 possible). He is just a month younger than Jeffery and could command big money over a short term contract in 2021 free agency. He's a good player, but not worth investing in.
Odell Beckham Jr.
https://twitter.com/ScottyDrowned/status/1300782636877611008?s=20
Odell Beckham Jr. paired with Carson Wentz would produce unplanned pregnancies throughout the city of Philadelphia and across the country. Just the thought of what those two can do together, with Reagor, Hightower, Ertz, Goedert, Sanders... did I just turn you on?
But realistically, as Scotty points out, it's all a dream.
OBJ is under contract through 2023, hoooooweeevveerrrrrr he has zero guaranteed money after this year. This means, if the Browns so choose, he can be cut with zero dead money.
A 29-year-old OBJ on the open market? The dream scenario for the Eagles and their fans, more of a nightmare for the salary cap.
He is most likely going to want a deal that's larger than his last 5 year $90 million extension. With the Eagles looking to dish out "IOU's" next year in lieu of salary cap, that immediately takes them out of the bidding. I would expect the Colts to be heavily involved in the bidding, while the Eagles balance their checkbooks.
Check out the next page for the more realistic options.
Photo by Ian Johnson/Icon Sportswire
"Hey, it could happen"
Now let's get to the players that have a realistic shot of putting on Midnight-Green in the future
Haason Reddick
https://twitter.com/ReddHerring_/status/1300782844323794944?s=20
If you're new to my articles and/or Twitter, you haven't seen how much I've been banging the table for a Haason Reddick trade.
Lauded for his pass-rushing ability and his pass coverage prowess as a linebacker, Reddick hasn't lived up to that billing so far in Arizona. However, he's also had three different defensive coordinators in his three years in the league. Not great for consistency.
The Cardinals drafted elite do-it-all LB Isaiah Simmons, signed De'Vondre Campbell and Devon Kennard, and still have underrated superstar Chandler Jones. There is no room for Reddick.
After declining Reddick's fifth-year option, it's clear the Cardinals are ready to move on from the fourth-year linebacker. Time to bring Reddick home (from Camden, NJ and went to Temple).
Solomon Thomas
https://twitter.com/MattGrumbrecht/status/1300797764973060098?s=20
If there's one thing this Eagles team loves, it's defensive line players. Another former first-round pick (3rd overall in 2017) who had his fifth-year option declined, Thomas could be in his final year in San Francisco.
It can be heavily argued that the Eagles' first-round pick from 2017, despite being the bane of many Eagles fans' existences, has performed much better than Thomas has:
Thomas is slightly older and has less stats overall than Barnett, but the key stat here is games played.
If Barnett has another injury-riddled year (it hasn't started great) in 2020, the Eagles could move on from Barnett and look to revitalize the career of a prospect that was compared to the likes of Michael Bennett and Myles Garrett.
D.J. Moore
https://twitter.com/Iball94/status/1300782450570862597?s=20
You're probably saying "this idiot should've put Moore in the long shots". Hear me out.
The Panthers certainly can have enough cap space to extend the uber-talented Moore when he hits free agency in 2022. However, the defensive-minded Matt Rhule could opt to spend his cap space on his plethora of very good defensive players.
Teddy Bridgewater accounts for $26 million of the cap in 2022, but it's almost a certainty that he won't be around after 2021. The Panthers could look to pair wunderkind offensive coordinator Joe Brady with Trevor Lawrence or Justin Fields in the 2021 draft, and allow whichever QB run the offense with Christian McCaffrey while a dominating defense takes the field. There could simply be no room for a Moore extension.
A Philadelphia native, Moore could pair with Reagor to form a dynamic duo for years to come. With Alshon Jeffery and DeSean Jackson projected to be off the team by 2022, the Eagles will have close to $50 million in cap space to continue to provide Wentz with dynamic players.
It's a long shot for sure, but one that has the best chance of happening.
Leave your predictions for future Eagles in the comments or yell at me on Twitter: @Infante54
Photo by Ian Johnson/Icon Sportswire
