Bye, Bye, Bye: 2023 Philadelphia Eagles Free Agency Predictions

We are a mere few hours away from the legal tampering phase of free agency beginning for the 2023 NFL season. Our beloved Eagles are about to lose a lot of players that helped get them to the doorsteps of a title, thanks to an almost unprecedented class of free agents. Unlike years past when the Eagles were aggressive, Howie Roseman will likely have to be selective and pick his spots this year. The one certainty that we know heading into this is that a lot of players on the Super Bowl LVII roster will have new teams by the end of the week.

The Eagles’ salary cap situation is well-documented at this point. The Birds don’t have a ton of cash to spend and will have a number of holes to fill. There has not been a lot of noise around the Eagles over the last few weeks until just the last few days, so right now, it’s anyone’s guess what Howie Roseman and the Eagles are able to pull off. Here’s my make take on who ends up staying and going.

Javon Hargrave DT

Any chance that the Eagles had at resigning Hargrave flew out the window on Sunday when Washington gave Daron Payne $22m a year and $90m overall (with $60m guaranteed). Hargrave is going to get PAID. Probably by the Bears or the Browns. The Eagles simply won’t be able to match the offers that Hargrave is going to get. What the Eagles will need to do is look for their next Javon Hargrave. When they signed him to a 3-year, $39m contract coming off his rookie deal, it was seen as a leap of faith by the Eagles. Hargrave proved the Eagles right.

Spotrac puts Hargrave’s market value at 3-years, $60m, but after the Payne contract, Hargrave should get much more than that.

Prediction: Gone baby, gone.

James Bradberry CB

In a perfect world, the Eagles would sign Bradberry as their CB2 after he played at an All-Pro level in 2022. We don’t live in a perfect world, though. Spotrac puts Bradberry’s market value at ~$45m/3 years. Those numbers aren’t unreasonable for a corner of Bradberry’s stature, but it’s hard to pay two big corner contracts – especially with the Hurts extension looking.

It is interesting that Bradberry said on Sunday that he would basically give the Eagles the chance to match any offer, but I can’t imagine a scenario that exists where the best deal Bradberry gets is something the Eagles can afford.

Prediction: Gone

Darius Slay (CB)

I didn’t think this name would appear on a prediction post for free agency, but included it because of Friday’s news that the Eagles have given him permission to seek a trade even though he apparently didn’t ask for it. It seems pretty clear that Slay wants one more payday and the Eagles want to lower his cap number in 2023 without committing to a lot (maybe any) more money after this year.

I’ve seen knowledge people on the Eagles beat suggest that he’ll be cut, but I just don’t see how that makes sense. If you cut him now, you save all of $3m on the cap with $23m in dead cap. If you designate him a June 1 cut that number is cut in half essentially, but what does the cap relief do for the Eagles post June 1? They’d still have Slay’s contract on the books eating up $23m until then.

I think the two sides work something out where they both get a little of what they want without the Eagles having to commit to a ton of new money.

Prediction: Stay / Small extension

CJ-Gardner Johnson (S)

This one has been a roller-coaster. Reports a few weeks ago were that the Eagles were making CJGJ a priority with some even suggesting the Eagles would use the franchise tag on him if they couldn’t get a deal done. Well, not only did they not tag him, but then Garnder-Johnson posted that breakup video thanking the fans for their support. Immediately following, fans started freaking out, thinking the sky was falling. Just 24 hours before free agency tampering is set to open, however, new reports have surfaced that the Eagles are making another run at him.

This one could still go either way, but it feels like momentum is picking up for the Eagles here. Despite the positive news, those same reports did say that Gardner-Johnson would hit free agency so don’t expect an 11th hour deal. That said, I’ll make a bold prediction that CJGJ is back in 2023 and beyond.

Prediction: Stay

Jason Kelce C

Will he or won’t he retire? That’s still the question with Jason Kelce. There’s been too much smoke from the Eagles beat about a Kelce return for me to think that he won’t be back in 2023. We already got the news that one of the core four for Nick Sirriani is returning – Brandon Graham – and hopefully we get news soon that Kelce is joining him for one more run.

Some local Philly hot take artists who desperately want to be Skip Bayless suggested last week that it would be better for the Eagles if Kelce didn’t return and it might have been the worst take I’ve ever seen. Kelce is still one of the best centers in the league and is playing at an elite level. His return not only is good for 2023, but it would give them a chance to find a guard in this year’s draft and not have to overpay to bring back Isaac Seumola – more on that soon.

Prediction: Stay

Fletcher Cox (DT)

It looked like Cox was done in Philly last year before the weird cut/resigning that happened in the off-season, but now it looks like it really is over. Cox is still a good player, but he’s no where near the dominate force he once was. If we wanted to come back on a super reduced rate as a depth piece, the Eagles would be fools not to do it. Brandon Graham already did it, but I don’t expect Cox to as well.

Cox is still good enough, however, there will be a market for him – especially since this isn’t a great DT free agent class – and we will most likely see Fletch in another uniform next year. It’ll be as weird as seeing Hugh Dougles in a Jaguars uniform or Brian Westbrook in a 49ers helmet, but it seems inevitable. Spotrac has Cox’s market value at $28m/2-years which seems high, but he played last year for exactly $14m.

We know that Cox is probably one of the last defensive free agents to follow Jonathan Gannon to Arizona, but Cleveland with their new DC Jim Schwartz seemed logical.

Prediction: Gone

TJ Edwards (LB)

Edwards was a great story of player development for the Eagles. The guy racked up tackles in bunches and was very solid. He is likely going to get thrown some money that is more than just solid, though. Edwards didn’t make a lot of mistakes, but he also didn’t make a ton of big-time impactful plays either. He’s a guy you’d love to bring back, but like running back, linebacker isn’t a position the Eagles usually spend a lot of money at.

Spotrac has his market value at just under $48m/4-years. He would have to sign for a lot less to stay in Philly. Watch for Edwards to end up in Arizona just like Jordan Hicks did after the last Eagles Super Bowl run. Edwards is a smart player who knows Jonathan Gannon’s defense already, and the Cardinals are a team with money to burn, with $32m in cap space at the start of free agency.

Prediction: Gone

Boston Scott (RB)

The Eagles have to bring back Scott if nothing more than to tormet the New York Giants a little longer. In all seriousness though, unless Scott lands some sort of crazy offer, the Eagles should make an effort to bring him back. There’s a narrative that Scott is almost like this glorified walkon or something, but he’s actually a pretty good back and has produced whenever he’s gotten the opportunity.

The Eagles historically don’t invest a ton of money at the running back position, and a combination of Scott, Kenny Gainwell, Trey Sermon, and a rookie makes a lot of sense. I think he stays. The Eagles have to sign him just to make Wink Martindale eat his words about Scott not being a Giant killer while he was there.

Prediction: Stays

Isaac Seumalo (OG)

Seumalo is a good offensive lineman who’s had a good run in Philly, but he’s going to get some big offers and the Eagles would be foolish to match them. Assuming Kelce returns, Cam Jurgens can play guard this year while the Eagles look for another potential lineman in the draft for the future.

Even if Kelce retires, it’s hard to see a scenario where Seumalo is resigned by the Eagles, given the money it will take. The Birds have the best offensive line coach in the game in Jeff Stoutland. He’s more than capable of getting one of the younger offensive linemen who will be back ready to play guard next year.

Prediction: Gone

Miles Sanders (RB)

I already alluded to this in my bit on Scott, but I don’t think Miles Sanders is back in 2023 unless there is just like no market at all for him, and he comes back on a 1-year deal to prove 2022 wasn’t a fluke while trying to cash in again next year. The Eagles just won’t have the luxury to spend big money at running back. And they shouldn’t. The list of teams who have spent big at running back and won the Super Bowl is a pretty small list.

Sanders had a great year, and it would be nice to be able to bring him back, but it just won’t happen.

Prediction: Gone

Marcus Epps (S)

Epps is an interesting case for the Eagles because I think it’s clear they prefer to bring back CJGJ, but since there’s no guarantee they’ll be able to fend off a likely long list of suitors for him, there’s a solid argument that could be made that resigning Epps and locking him in versus risking losing both is the right move. It’s by far the more conservative move, but it’s an argument that could be made.

That said if the Eagles hold out hope for signing CJGJ, their chance to bring back Epps in the event those efforts fail is very low since there were reports that there’s a solid market for Epps out there too.

Prediction: Gone, assuming CJGJ is re-signed

Kyzir White (LB)

There was some hope that White was a good buy-low option for the Eagles last year in free agency, and he was largely just fine. He wasn’t great but wasn’t awful, either. He will be much more affordable than Edwards, but the Eagles have Nakobe Dean ready to step into the starting lineup. White wouldn’t cost much, but it makes sense for the Eagles to move on. The Eagles could perhaps get an Edwards replacement from White’s old team, though. Drue Tranquil is listed with a ridiculously low $4.1m/1-year market value on Spotrac. He’ll get more than that for sure, but he’d be a really interesting MLB replacement if Edwards gets a big deal.

Prediction: Gone

Andre Dillard (OT)

NFL teams will overpay for versatile offensive linemen with potential. Someone will undoubtedly look at Dillard as a reclamation project and give him a decent deal. Well, lemme tell ya, if Jeff Stoutland couldn’t tap into his potential, I don’t know what OL coach is. It’s a shame it didn’t work out for Dillard in Philly, because, at the time he was picked, it actually looked like a solid move by Howie – unlike say, the moves to draft Jalen Reagor and JJ Arcega Whiteside, which were immediately met with disdain.

Prediction: LOL

The Rest

Outside of the names above, Gardner Minshew, Linval Joseph, Ndamukong Suh, Zach Paschal, and Brett Kern are also free agents. The only one with a chance of returning most likely is Paschal.