Eagles becoming Free Agents in 2023 - who stays, who goes?

[gameshowfan91]

On 10/20/2022 at 6:15 AM, nipples said:

I agree with these… except I don’t think they can afford both Bradberry and CJGJ after Hurts gets his extension. 

It's great to see Hurts improve a bunch, but is it because of weapons on offense or is it because he got better? Can Hurts still play good without as much help around him? If Eagles pay Hurts, can they still be competitive and get players who can ball. In the past, teams who pay their QBs usually got worse because they can't keep or sign other players. Eagles won Super Bowl LII while Wentz was on his rookie deal. What if Eagles can sign a lot of these players if they don't pay Hurts?

[nipples]

46 minutes ago, gameshowfan91 said:

It's great to see Hurts improve a bunch, but is it because of weapons on offense or is it because he got better? Can Hurts still play good without as much help around him? If Eagles pay Hurts, can they still be competitive and get players who can ball. In the past, teams who pay their QBs usually got worse because they can't keep or sign other players. Eagles won Super Bowl LII while Wentz was on his rookie deal. What if Eagles can sign a lot of these players if they don't pay Hurts?

So your solution is to let Hurts go and start over with a QB who may or may not suck?

No. If you have a franchise Qb you pay him. 

[Shalodeep]

19 minutes ago, nipples said:

So your solution is to let Hurts go and start over with a QB who may or may not suck?

No. If you have a franchise Qb you pay him. 

I think his question is that is he a franchise QB or is it the support system around him. Similar question that was asked about Prescott 

[DawkinsOwnage03]

If we let Hurts go we would be laughing stock of the nfl and deserve the forever failure that would follow 🤣🤣😁

[BayAreaLennie]

On 10/23/2022 at 9:45 AM, DawkinsOwnage03 said:

If we let Hurts go we would be laughing stock of the nfl and deserve the forever failure that would follow 🤣🤣😁

That’s kind of what everyone said about Wentz a few years ago when the Eagles drafted Hurts.  That take has not worked out too well.

[Procus]

On 10/17/2022 at 9:59 AM, CheesesteakNBeer said:

 With as well as this team is playing, i can't help but think about some of the key contributors within this 6-0 start and how and who you try to keep going forward. Way early to think about this but this offseason could be very exciting. Does Kelce or Graham retire? Both starting DT's and Both Starting Linebackers are playing well, who gets extended? Hurts, Is he the guy? Sure looks like it...Do you extend him now? Do you do it early or pay extra after a deep playoff and hopefully Super Bowl win? Backup QB, Running back, Secondary? There's even a former 1st round pick left tackle? Do you let him walk?

Alot of questions coming...What a great roster Howie assembled, but this off season might be his most important.

This season is the Eagles window.  During the offseason, the team needs to sign Hurts long term and quite a few UFA's on the roster.  Can't keep everybody.  It's why they need to nail the draft.

On 10/23/2022 at 12:45 PM, DawkinsOwnage03 said:

If we let Hurts go we would be laughing stock of the nfl and deserve the forever failure that would follow 🤣🤣😁

The Eagles built their offense around Hurts.  He's not going anywhere absent an injury or something crazy out of left field.

[Eagz]

1 hour ago, BayAreaLennie said:

That’s kind of what everyone said about Wentz a few years ago when the Eagles drafted Hurts.  That take has not worked out too well.

Hurts is a natural leader and well liked in the locker room. He's so far enjoying a career year and it wouldn't seem prudent at all to let him walk, certainly as long as he continues on his current trajectory.

This will be revisited in the postseason but it already seems clear which direction the team takes and I doubt too many fans will be up in arms about it.

[Hawkeye]

3 hours ago, BayAreaLennie said:

That’s kind of what everyone said about Wentz a few years ago when the Eagles drafted Hurts.  That take has not worked out too well.

One difference is pedigree.  Hurts is the son of a coach and played in the biggest programs in college football.  Wentz is a small town country boy who played in a marginal conference.  He had talent but the mental makeup is a game changer. 

[Hawkeye]

2 hours ago, Eagz said:

Hurts is a natural leader and well liked in the locker room. He's so far enjoying a career year and it wouldn't seem prudent at all to let him walk, certainly as long as he continues on his current trajectory.

This will be revisited in the postseason but it already seems clear which direction the team takes and I doubt too many fans will be up in arms about it.

The Eagles didn't spend three seasons developing Hurts to walk away now that he's finding success. And Eagles fans should be ecstatic.  He's still on his rookie contract through next year and that give the Eagles tremendous cap flexibility to add talent.  Layer in their treasure chest of draft picks and this team is set up to reload and succeed for years. 

[Eagz]

2 hours ago, Hawkeye said:

The Eagles didn't spend three seasons developing Hurts to walk away now that he's finding success. And Eagles fans should be ecstatic.  He's still on his rookie contract through next year and that give the Eagles tremendous cap flexibility to add talent.  Layer in their treasure chest of draft picks and this team is set up to reload and succeed for years. 

Precisely. On top of the rest of this season there's plenty to look forward to when free agency and the draft roll out due to Howie's magic.

[Rob331]

First - let's look at the players who will be free agents after the season. It's a long list and incudes 10 starters. 

After 2022 (from EMB)
Unrestricted: James Bradberry, Andre Dillard, T.J. Edwards, Marcus Epps, Chauncey Gardner-Johnson, Brandon Graham, Javon Hargrave, Jason Kelce, Gardner Minshew II, Sua Opeta, Zach Pascal, Miles Sanders, Boston Scott, Isaac Seumalo, Brett Toth, Kyzir White

I think the list is missing Lovato. 
Restricted: Tyree Jackson (ERFA)

Second - With only $9 million is cap space and looking at a big deal for Hurts in the off-season, it's not likely Howie will be very active this year. 

• Bradberry - no likely. He's playing at a pro-bowl level which should turn into a lucrative deal after the season. 
• Dilllard - No. if he's not traded he'll be a free agent and earn more money that he would as an Eagle back up. 
• Edwards - maybe. It'll be either him or Kyzir White. With Nakobe Dean in the wings they can afford to let one of their linebakcers go. TJ is a better thumper while Naobe and Kyzir are very similar players. 
• Epps - maybe. Like linebacker, I'd expect the Birds to bring one of their safeties back. 
• CGJ - maybe, but he has more upside than Epps
• BG - probably. He wants to be here and is playing a modest number of snaps at ahigh level. 
• Hargrave - unlikely. He's not playing up to his contract and probably would not accept a lesser salary. 
• Kelce - ??? It's totally up to Kelce. If he wants to be hback he will be. 
• Minshew - No, He wants to compete to start and that definitely won't be here.
• Opeta - yes. Seumalo is also a free agent and Sua will cost appreciably less. 
• Pascal - probably. He won't come with a steep price tag and he is a valuable piece to the Eagles.
• Sanders - No. He's in a contract year and playing extremely well. Unlike BG, he hasn't has his big payday yet and he'll earn more in free agency than the Eagles are willling to pay.
• Scott - No. After a fine 2021 Boston lasted deep into free agency last year and there's no reason to expect it to be any different this year. . 
• Seumalo - No. Like Sanders, he has a chance for a lucrative contract in free agency. 
• Toth - maybe. If it looks like we'll be losing Seumalo, Dillard, and maybe Kelce from Stoutland's room it makes sense to preserve some of our depthexpecially since Stout likes Toth so much. 
• White - unlikely. See TJ Edwards. 
• Lovato - Yes. Whu wait. Long snappers don't cost much and it's good to keep your good ones. 
• Jackson - they'll keep him. 

 

[Bwestbrook36]

How many of these do we need?

 

Edit: that was a quick merge lol

[Iggles25]

After the Quinn signing, this is the only news I want to see before the trade deadline.

I'm no cap wizard, but Howie seems to be one. If there is a way to extend him in-season, do it! 

Bradberry has been a revelation this season. Can't believe the Giants let him get away.

I'd prioritize him over any other pending FA on the roster.

There was Revis Island.

We have Bradberry Hill!

Pay the man!

[Rob331]

There are plenty to choose from since the Eagles have a bussell of players whose contract will expire or arent expected back next year.

The defense is a huge concern with 8 starters on expiring deals -  both DT's Hargrave and Cox, both LB's White and Edwards, both safeties CGJ and Epps, and Bradberry. Add key rotational piece BG to that mix and that far too many holes to fill.

On offense there'and several more including 3 key starters and 4  key reserves. That's Sanders, Kelce, Seumalo, Dillard, Opeta, Pascal, Minshew, and Scottt.

Granted - Jurgers is here to take over from Kelce and Dean will step on for one of those linebackers so that's two fewer starters to replace but two additial backups we'll need.

With only 6 draft picks and only $16M available even with the cap going up and our carryover I don't see how we replace all those key pieces. 

We're all having a fantastic ride this year and this team just keeps coming through for us. We might even have another parade. 

2023 looks like it will be different. With all those potential holes there's a dark cloud on the horizon - anyone else worried. 

[Bwestbrook36]

[20dawk4life]

[Bwestbrook36]

Lol got merged again!!!

[EazyEaglez]

On 10/24/2022 at 1:40 PM, BayAreaLennie said:

That’s kind of what everyone said about Wentz a few years ago when the Eagles drafted Hurts.  That take has not worked out too well.

At the time of that contract there were a lot of questions about Wentz. Some people weren’t sure if the Eagles were smart to choose Wentz over Foles. Also it’s obvious the Eagles had some questions about Wentz otherwise they don’t take Hurts in the second round. 

[EazyEaglez]

Eagles need another big man in the middle to help disrupt games with Davis. Time to walk away from these old guys. Use that pick to get a big run stopper type DT to work next to Davis. Either that or just go 3-4 completely and get a run stuffing linebacker with some size. 

[weko]

2 hours ago, EazyEaglez said:

Eagles need another big man in the middle to help disrupt games with Davis. Time to walk away from these old guys. Use that pick to get a big run stopper type DT to work next to Davis. Either that or just go 3-4 completely and get a run stuffing linebacker with some size. 

Yes another big DT with one of our 3 picks in rounds 1 & 2

[NOTW]

2 hours ago, EazyEaglez said:

Eagles need another big man in the middle to help disrupt games with Davis. Time to walk away from these old guys. Use that pick to get a big run stopper type DT to work next to Davis. Either that or just go 3-4 completely and get a run stuffing linebacker with some size. 

Hargrave is having a good year but yes now is a good time to get a replacement for him as well.  We have to see how Davis recovers from injury and his conditioning by the end of the year. Is he ready to take the majority of snaps? 

Depending on the draft class and their board they may not take another DT high, but drafting one at some point is a good idea.  Maybe use one of the 1sts to trade back to have additional 2nd or 3rd to work with.

[EagleVA]

On 10/17/2022 at 5:25 PM, EazyEaglez said:

I’m not going to worry about it. Howie’s got it. 

Howie's got it my arse, he's responsible for getting us in this situation, by missing on so many picks he has to resort to spending Lurie's money on UDFAs and if any of them turn out to be worth a damn you have to pay a zillion dollars a year to keep them.

 

 

[CheesesteakNBeer]

🤭

Howie about to make it rain!?🤷🏻‍♂️

[eagle45]

Lots of contributors, few studs.

Sentimental issues with Cox and Graham.  Both fill spots admirably, neither is disruptive anymore.

Hargrave is still very good, but this is dependent upon his asking price.  

CJGJ/Epps/Bradberry.  They need to be thought of as a unit.  CJGJ is clearly the flashier player, but someone who pays attention to the all-22 (or, you know, a coach) is really necessary to decide who is better in coverage.  They are both pretty damn good there.  Bradberry is the most important of all 3, maybe THE most important contributor of all the FAs.  But he'll be 30 and he hasn't always uniformly played like this.

The Eagles have to make some tough decisions and gambling will be necessary.  Perhaps even worse than gambling that you can replace a player and missing is gambling by giving them lots of guaranteed money and being stuck with them if they can't repeat 2022.  Especially with the pending Hurts contract, you can't afford to waste money on other players.

[Hawkeye]

On 11/27/2022 at 3:08 PM, eagle45 said:

 

The Eagles have to make some tough decisions and gambling will be necessary.  Perhaps even worse than gambling that you can replace a player and missing is gambling by giving them lots of guaranteed money and being stuck with them if they can't repeat 2022.  Especially with the pending Hurts contract, you can't afford to waste money on other players.

Agreed. You can't hold on to all your elite players in today's NFL. The Chiefs certainly didn't want to lose Tyreek Hill, but with Mahomes counting for almost $50 million against the cap next year, they had to make a move.  Hurts will get paid, but as mentioned previously, he's still on his rookie deal through next year.  That buys a little time, but to your point, they have to make some tough calls in the months ahead.