Eagles Free Agency: The Three Categories to Know

You've been warned Eagles fans.

Howie Roseman is already on record twice explaining that the Eagles will be suffering some attrition during free agency when the new league year starts on March 15.

My advice is to learn something from last year and don’t overreact to the first few days of the process.

That said, there are three distinct categories you can place the Eagles’ pending free agent into that will help you determine the likelihood of each returning to the organization:

TELL ME WHAT THE MARKET IS

DT Javon Hargrave (30) - One of the better interior pass rushers in the league coming off an 11-sack season, Hargrave is set for another big-money deal after coming to Philadelphia via that route for the 2020 season. The question is how big?

At $16 million to $18 million over three seasons, the Eagles will likely do what they need to do at a positive they value. At $20M, you’ll start hearing about how Hargrave is not necessarily the best fit for a Vic Fangio-style defense.

DE Brandon Graham (34) - Graham is on record saying he wants to play 15 seasons and he wants to finish where he started in Philly. That said, B.G. has also said that the former is more important than the latter. Graham is still playing at a high level and no team is going to blow things out of the water financially to where the Eagles shouldn’t be able to compete to keep a franchise legend.

S C.J. Gardner-Johnson (25) - The assumption that the Eagles will want to bring Gardner-Johnson back at any cost is an incorrect one. Gardner-Johnson had a career season and is a playmaker but Philadelphia is smart enough to realize he isn’t in the conversation as one of the best safeties in the game.

His big personality and recent tweet throwing former defensive coordinator Jonathan Gannon under the bus could help the Eagles lower the price tag a bit. At $11M or perhaps $12M Gardner-Johnson will likely be back. Anything more than that and the Eagles will take the 2024 compensatory pick.

LB T.J. Edwards (26) - The Eagles would like Edwards back but if someone comes calling with an eight-figure deal Philadelphia will move on and insert Nakobe Dean at Mike LB.

WR Zach Pascal (28) - If the Eagles can get Pascal back on another one-year deal near or at the veteran minimum, they will do so. Pascal really is an excellent blocker and that shouldn’t be undersold in an RPO-heavy offense.

RB Boston Scott (27) - The Eagles would like Scott back at the veteran minimum and perhaps the New York Giants should give him a slight bump to $2.5M or so just to stop the annual agony.

EITHER/OR PLAYERS

RG Isaac Seumalo (29) - Seumalo’s future in Philadelphia is tied to Jason Kelce’s retirement decision. If Kelce decides to play another season the Eagles will let Seumalo walk and insert second-year player Cam Jurgens at RG. If Kelce walks away, Jurgens will slot in at center and the Eagles will try to bring Seumao back at a big number (think $12M or $13M per season).

DT Fletcher Cox (32) - If the Eagles make the huge financial outlay to Hargrave, Cox will likely move on with the goal being a two-year contract near $10 million per season. If Hargrave walks, Roseman will get to keep his Fathead in the office for another year.

LB Kyzir White (26) - If the Eagles can’t get Edwards done, they will likely bring White back on another one-year deal and keep some stability next to Dean.

S Marcus Epps (27) - Epps has turned into a solid player and an effort will be made to bring him back to the fold if the Gardner-Johnson negotiations sour.

GOOD AS GONE

CB James Bradberry (29) - A second-team All-Pro season has Bradberry back on the market after taking a one-year, prove-it deal with the Eagles for 2022-23. You simply can’t pay a CB2 the $15-or-so million he is likely to command.

RB Miles Sanders (25) - In theory, backs like Josh Jacobs and Tony Pollard getting tagged should help Sanders on the market but I’m not sure the $7M per season is going to be there for him. Even if he drops to say a one-year, $5M prove-it deal, though, the belief here is that the Eagles want to find a more well-rounded back.

DE Robert Quinn (32) - Yes, Quinn was effective in Chicago with Sean Desai but things simply didn’t work out when the veteran was brought to Philadelphia at the trade deadline.

QB Gardner Minshew (26) - Minshew would like an opportunity to start and while he likely won’t find it in free agency he will find multiple suitors who offer easier potential paths to the field as the backup than the Eagles.

LT Andre Dillard (27) - Dillard is the easiest prediction of all. He will get an opportunity to be a starting left tackle in what is an offensive line-deficient league.

DTs Linval Joseph (34) and Ndamukong Suh (36) - Both have made a ton of money in their careers and would be playing 17 games for a pittance by their standards if they sign in free agency. If either wants to continue playing, they will do what they did this season and go ring-shopping in early November.

P Brett Kern (37) - The Eagles need to get better at punter and that includes Arryn Siposs, never mind his aging injury replacement.

-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

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