Here are 6 free agents Eagles should target to upgrade depth chart in 2022 | Why Saints’ Marcus Williams should top list

[time2rock]

Here are 6 free agents Eagles should target to upgrade depth chart in 2022 | Why Saints’ Marcus Williams should top list

Updated: Jan. 18, 2022, 8:00 a.m.

By Mike Kaye | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com

The Eagles are in the infancy of their offseason, just a couple of days removed from an eye-opening playoff loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. That early exit from the postseason pointed out a lot of glaring deficiencies on the Eagles’ roster, and GM Howie Roseman will need to correct most — if not all — of those depth-chart shortcomings to get back to the playoffs.

Projected to be $12.1 million under the salary cap (according to Over The Cap), the Eagles aren’t weighed down by the anchor of dead money from the Carson Wentz trade anymore. Roseman can spend freely, seeking out notable free agents with offers that extend beyond the one-year rental range of years past.

The Eagles should be a team to watch in free agency, as they are likely to make a splash move or two with a healthy salary-cap situation.

Here are six veteran free agents who the Eagles should target this offseason:

S Marcus Williams

Williams is coming off a standout five-season run with the Saints. Just 25, Williams is entering his prime after producing 314 tackles, 38 pass breakups, 15 interceptions and three forced fumbles in New Orleans.

Williams is a play-making free safety who can serve as a youthful upgrade over both Anthony Harris and Rodney McLeod. The Eagles can build the secondary around him and Darius Slay.

Williams should be the Eagles’ top target in free agency this year, especially if the Cincinnati Bengals franchise-tag Jessie Bates, which seems inevitable at this point. Williams would be a game-changer for the secondary.

WR Allen Robinson

Robinson’s tenure in Chicago came to a disastrous end in 2021. Robinson was sparingly used, and when he was in the lineup, the Bears didn’t target him. Robinson’s route tree was limited as he took an inexplicable backseat to the Bears’ no-name wideouts.

With that said, the Eagles should be able to sign Robinson for a fairly reasonable price. Robinson’s experience, route-running prowess and jump-ball ability should make him a favorable complement to DeVonta Smith. Robinson can work in the slot and at the X position, while Smith moves all around the field.

LB Zaire Franklin

The Eagles need to enhance their depth chart at linebacker. T.J. Edwards, Davion Taylor and Alex Singleton are likely to return, but Roseman needs to add another starting-caliber linebacker to compete during camp. Franklin, a Philly native, is a special teams dynamo, and he showed a lot of upside on defense this season.

Franklin, 25, could battle Taylor and Singleton for the nickel role opposite Edwards in training camp. The Eagles don’t really spend at the position, but Franklin has the type of low-risk upside that makes sense for a team that is likely to address linebacker early in the draft as well.

DE Kemoko Turay

The Eagles should add a few bodies to their defensive end rotation this year. With Brandon Graham coming off a season-ending injury, there’s no telling what kind of impact he will make next season. Plus, Ryan Kerrigan and Derek Barnett are likely to leave in free agency in March.

Along with targeting an EDGE rusher early in this year’s draft, the Eagles should bring in a veteran who has starter upside to fill out the rotation behind Graham and Josh Sweat. Turay would make sense as that target in free agency. The Rutgers alum is only 26, and he has produced 12 sacks and 29 QB hits in limited action over the past four years. His background with defensive coordinator Jonathan Gannon should make him even more appealing.

S Justin Reid

Coming off an up-and-down season in Houston, Reid will probably look for a one-year deal in free agency. If the Eagles decide to go all-in on Williams (as they should), they’ll probably want to upgrade the strong safety spot with a one-year rental. That type of deal would give the team flexibility in the draft with the upside of upgrading multiple spots before April.

Reid had an impressive first two NFL seasons, but the turmoil within the Texans seemingly caught up to him over the past two years. Anxious to prove himself, the Eagles would present an excellent opportunity for him. With Reid and Williams at safety, the Eagles could get younger and more athletic in the defensive backfield.

WR Christian Kirk

The Eagles should double-dip at wideout in free agency. Smith and Quez Watkins are really the only two proven playmakers at the position, so adding Robinson and another standout would make a lot of sense. Kirk is a dynamic wideout who can move around the formation. At just 25, Kirk already has 236 catches for 2,902 yards and 17 touchdowns on his resume.

Kirk has a background with wide receivers coach Aaron Moorehead, who worked with him at Texas A&M. Kirk fits the mold the Eagles are likely to look for, as he can play all three wideout positions at a high level. While it would probably prove to be costly to wrangle Kirk away from the Cardinals, the Eagles should do everything in their power to bring him to the NovaCare Complex.

https://www.nj.com/eagles/2022/01/6-free-agents-eagles-should-target-to-upgrade-depth-chart-in-2022-why-saints-marcus-williams-should-top-list.html

[UK_EaglesFan89]

They should be all over Williams and a good veteran WR.

[time2rock]

We’re going to be somewhat limited in what we can do in free agency again due to all the dead money (and if they make more cuts or trades that’ll add even more … if Brooks retires that’ll add quite a bit more as well).  Personally if they can add a DE and a WR that should be about all we can expect (not including bottom of roster/depth and primarily STs players).  

We really need Howie to hit a home run with this draft (and probably next year too) to fill the roster with much needed talent and allow the cap to get back in decent shape.  

[UK_EaglesFan89]

7 hours ago, time2rock said:

We’re going to be somewhat limited in what we can do in free agency again due to all the dead money (and if they make more cuts or trades that’ll add even more … if Brooks retires that’ll add quite a bit more as well).  Personally if they can add a DE and a WR that should be about all we can expect (not including bottom of roster/depth and primarily STs players).  

Nah this is Howie. He will wheel and deal, he will kick the can down the road as he always does. It'll make our current cap situation look quite good but of course overall it really won't be.