Eagles Free Agency Blunder – Who Stays?
2 March 2018 Eagles News
The Eagles shortened offseason has essentially come to a close with the kick off of the NFL combine this week (not that we’re complaining). Now that it is officially time to examine the roster, here are three positions where someone will most likely lose out due to a logjam at the position.
It is clearly evident that running back is no longer a position of need for the Eagles…at least in the short term. With last year’s mid-season acquisition of Jay Ajayi and the emergence of undrafted free agent Corey Clement, it appears the team only has one or two spots left for the 2018 depth chart. With veteran ‘Mighty-Mouse’ Darren Sproles wanting to return, the team will have to come to a decision on whether to re-sign Sproles, Blount, or Barner AND if Donnel Pumphrey is worthy of a roster spot in his second year.
Running back isn’t the only position of uncertainty, however. On defense, the Eagles will have to make a decision to resign one (if not both) safeties, Corey Graham and/or Jaylen Watkins as well as linebackers Dannell Ellerbe and/or Najee Goode. The decision to not re-sign all four of these players could save the team $4 million based on last season’s salaries on their way to reaching this year’s team salary cap number of $178 million.
Keep in mind Nigel Bradham is also an unrestricted free agent with an estimated market value of 2-years/$12 million, but both Malcolm Jenkins and Rodney McLeod are signed through 2020. The Eagles could look to spend their first-round pick to add LB depth as well, according to multiple mock drafts.