Stay or Go: Predicting what will happen with the Eagles 13 free agents

[time2rock]

Stay or Go: Predicting what will happen with the Eagles 13 free agents

While lots of attention (understandably) is being paid to the Eagles’ draft picks and quarterback situation, the team does have some tough decisions to make when it comes to free agency.

The Eagles currently have 13 players set to hit he free agency market, over half of which are either starters or major contributors to the team this past season. Armed with just under $22 million to spend in free agency, Howie Roseman has the money to bring them all back if he wants — but we all know that won’t be happening.

Considering their needs at other positions, and a desire to get younger at key spots, it will be interesting to see who Roseman decides to bring back and who lets walk to another team.

Here is a look at all 14 free agents, and what I think the team will do with each:

Stay:
Steven Nelson: Nelson had a solid season for the Eagles, providing the stability they have needed at the No. 2 cornerback spot. He likely won’t be getting a big-money deal this offseason, meaning there is a chance the Eagles can get him back on a one-year deal, or a two-year deal with not much guaranteed for the second season. Bringing Nelson back would be a wise move considering the Eagles don’t have much behind him besides unproven rookie Zech McPhearson. Turning the position over to McPhearson right now seems too risky, which is why bringing back Nelson seems like a real possibility.

Rodney McLeod: Like Nelson, McLeod likely doesn’t have a big-money deal waiting for him in free agency. He might not even be offered a starting job from another team. With that in mind, bringing McLeod back makes sense for the Eagles. They have almost nothing at safety, and if they do use a first/second round pick on one, having McLeod in the room to help develop him would be money well spent. McLeod is a veteran leader and did play better as the season went on. With a full offseason healthy, instead of rehabbing, McLeod would be better in 2022 than he was in 2021.

Nate Herbig: This one is a no-brainer — Herbig is a valuable backup that can start at either guard spot, plus center if the team really needs someone. There is a chance he is a starter in Week 1 next year.

Boston Scott: Scott is a EFRA, meaning he will be back with the team in 2022. The question is whether he sees an increased role or if the Eagles continue to use him as a rotational backup.

Stay at the right price:
Anthony Harris: Harris is going to be an interesting decision for the Eagles. On one hand he was not the bargain, low-priced, high-upside player it seemed he might have been for the Eagles. He wasn’t a playmaker and didn’t seem to be much of a difference maker either, with the team giving more-and-more of his reps to Marcus Epps as the season went on. On the other hand, he is a solid player that would be a high-quality backup. If Harris doesn’t get offered another chance at a start job, and he likely won’t, bringing him back on a deal with not much guaranteed money makes sense.

Derek Barnett: Eagles fans won’t want to hear this. Nick Sirianni might not either. But the team’s situation at edge pass rusher is so bad that bringing back Derek Barnett should not be ruled out. Next season the Eagles have Brandon Graham and Josh Sweat under contract for their edge rushers. That is pretty much it. The team needs to sign a veteran in free agency, and will almost certainly be using high-level draft picks on the position. Barnett is not a difference maker, and he is not worth the $10 million cap hit he had in 2021, but he is an above average pass rusher. There is a decent chance he gets a deal in free agency the Eagles decide not to match. If his price doesn’t get too high, however, bringing Barnett back might be a choice the Eagles have to make if it costs around $6/7 million a season.

Stay because of price:
Jordan Howard: Howard has shown time-and-time again that he can be a very good option as a rotational running back. Yet time-and-time again the NFL has shown they don’t really value him. Chances are that is the case one again, and as a result, Howard will once again be back on a one-year, low-money deal for the Eagles that doesn’t guarantee him a roster spot.

Alex Singleton: No team is going to be beating down the door to sign Alex Singleton, and as a restricted free agent, the Eagles can being him back on a one-year, low-money deal. Singleton is a high-quality backup that will be worth the one-year deal for the Eagles.

Greg Ward: Ward should be back on a deal that at least gives him a chance to make the team in training camp.

Andre Chachere: Charchere showed some upside as a special teams player and will cost almost nothing to bring back.

Go, no matter the price: Ryan Kerrigan, Hassan Ridgeway, Genard Avery.

https://www.audacy.com/94wip/sports/eagles/stay-or-go-eagles-13-free-agents

[UK_EaglesFan89]

Barnett needs to be on the go at any price list. That dude is not good and has hurt the team more times than he's helped it after his rookie year. This last year he had 2.5 sacks and 5 roughing the passer penalties. 

[PoconoDon]

18 minutes ago, UK_EaglesFan89 said:

Barnett needs to be on the go at any price list. That dude is not good and has hurt the team more times than he's helped it after his rookie year. This last year he had 2.5 sacks and 5 roughing the passer penalties. 

To suggest that a hundred other options are so inferior to Barnett that they should keep him is ridiculous. Then again, it's ESP writing it.

[UK_EaglesFan89]

4 minutes ago, PoconoDon said:

To suggest that a hundred other options are so inferior to Barnett that they should keep him is ridiculous. Then again, it's ESP writing it.

Thing is... I don't think he's a terrible player. Like he's solid enough I guess. But he's a walking flag and I do not want this team to bring him back. 

[PoconoDon]

Just now, UK_EaglesFan89 said:

Thing is... I don't think he's a terrible player. Like he's solid enough I guess. But he's a walking flag and I do not want this team to bring him back. 

It's true that he is a penalty machine, and if I knew nothing else, that'd be enough to dump him. He's also undersized with limited moves, and his strength at the point of attack isn't anything to write home about either. To me, he's an average DE who can have a good game vs. the right opponent but can't deliver week in and week out. I say just let him go.