Ominous Signs for Eagles in Free Agency

C.J. Gardner-Johnson could be dropping hints, and defensive tackle Javon Hargrave isn’t far behind

Eagles GM Howie Roseman has already gone on record with the fact that the Eagles will be losing impactful free agents when the new league year begins on March 15 and the Tuesday deadline for placing the franchise or transition tags, a tool Philadelphia usually leaves alone and did so again this year, seems to have fanned the flames of reality for some.

In the cases of Gardner-Johnson and Hargrave, the two players speculated of having the best chance to be tagged, the market is trending in a negative direction for the Eagles, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter.

“Hargrave is gonna get about $20 million a year, I think,” Schefter said on The John Kincade Show on 97.5 The Fanatic in Philadelphia. “That's my projection going into next week. We'll see if that turns out to be right or wrong. I think he's gonna get the most money of all these guys.”

If that’s the number for Hargrave, it’s unlikely the Eagles will go down that route and instead turn to younger players at defensive tackle like Jordan Davis, Milton Williams, and Marlon Tuipulotu.

A Hargrave exit could also make it more likely that veteran Fletcher Cox could return for his 12th season in Philadelphia.

Hargrave left a mysterious tweet on social media on Tuesday:

1 week away 😬😭
— Javon Hargrave (@Jay_MostWanted) March 7, 2023

Gardner-Johnson, who is expected to get a deal near $13M per season per Schefter also took to Twitter with what many believed was a goodbye video.

All Love Philly 💚🦅 pic.twitter.com/TpdnwqhVJx
— C.J. Gardner-Johnson (@CGJXXIII) March 8, 2023

For what it’s worth, Schefter, perhaps the most plugged-in NFL insider, believes both players are leaving the Eagles and added cornerback James Bradberry to that exit list as well.

Gardner-Johnson moving on could make it easier for Roseman to bring back the other 2022 starter at safety, Marcus Epps, and pencil in impressive undrafted rookie Reed Blankenship in place of the playmaking Gardner-Johnson.

Bradberry’s potential move was always the likely end game after what was a second-team All-Pro season but there was some hope that the Eagles could find ways to get Hargrave and/or Gardner-Johnson back.

Hargrave was one of the top interior pass rushers in the NFL last season with 11 sacks and Gardner-Johnson tied for the league lead in interceptions with six despite missing five games with a lacerated kidney.

-John McMullen contributes Eagles coverage for SI.com's Eagles Today and is the NFL Insider for JAKIB Media. You can listen to John, alongside legendary sports-talk host Jody McDonald every morning from 8-10 on ‘Birds 365,” streaming live on YouTube. John is also the host of his own show "Football 24/7 and a daily contributor to ESPN South Jersey. You can reach him at jmcmullen44@gmail.com or on Twitter @JFMcMullen