Eagles Players Set To Be Free Agents After The 2022 Season
The Philadelphia Eagles go into the 2022 season retaining the vast majority of last year’s starters. This gave Howie Roseman and the Eagles plenty of flexibility to improve the roster and make upgrades. The Eagles appear to be offseason winners with a successful free agency and the draft.
Looking ahead to 2023 shows why this was an important offseason to get right. After this season, the Eagles will have plenty of decisions to make. Multiple starters on the offense and defense are set to become free agents when the upcoming season concludes. Who are some of the Eagles players that are set to be free agents after the 2022 season?
Fletcher Cox, DT
The Eagles are set to lose three starting defensive linemen after the 2022 season including both defensive tackles. At the start of the league year, Fletcher Cox was released but brought back the next day on a one-year deal. He has six Pro Bowl selections and four All-Pro honors in his ten-year career.
Cox is still a force on the defensive line but is getting into his 30s now. The Eagles picked his eventual replacement in the first round of this year’s draft (Jordan Davis). This could be Cox’s last year in Philadelphia.
Javon Hargrave, DT
Javon Hargrave was originally drafted in 2016 by the Pittsburgh Steelers. He signed with the Eagles on a three-year contract in 2020. Hargrave had his best season in 2021 where he recorded 63 tackles and 7.5 sacks in 16 starts. He was named to the Pro Bowl for the first time in his career.
Hargrave is 29 years old and still a dominant player. If he continues to play well, the Eagles should consider bringing him back if Fletcher Cox retires or is not re-signed.
Brandon Graham DE
Brandon Graham was drafted in the first round back in 2010 and is the longest-tenured Eagle. Graham tore his Achilles in Week Two of last season, but the Eagles brought him back for a one-year deal this season.
Graham has gotten better as his career went on despite getting into his 30s. He was selected to his first-ever Pro Bowl in 2020 for recording 46 tackles and eight sacks. Graham will need to stay healthy and play well this season to be considered for a new contract in 2023.
James Bradberry, CB
The Eagles recently signed Bradberry to a one-year deal worth $10 million. Bradberry is expected to be the team’s starting cornerback opposite of Darius Slay. He had a Pro Bowl season in 2020 for the Giants and played four seasons with the Panthers. The Eagles did not draft any cornerbacks this year, so if Bradberry plays well, they should consider him for a contract extension.
Anthony Harris, S
The Eagles re-signed Anthony Harris to a one-year deal in 2022. He will turn 31 this season, so it is unlikely he is a long-term solution at safety. Harris played decently in 2021. He had 72 tackles, three pass deflections, and one interception in 14 starts last season.
Overall, the Eagles are thin at safety. K’Von Wallace and Marcus Epps are the only other safeties on the roster with NFL game experience. The Eagles may look to younger players or other free agents going forward unless Harris has a better-than-expected season.
T.J. Edwards, LB
The Eagles signed T.J Edwards as an undrafted free agent in 2019. He became a starting linebacker in 2020 and had his best year in 2021. Last season, Edwards had 130 tackles, one interception, and one fumble recovery.
The Eagles drafted Georgia linebacker Nakobe Dean in this year’s draft, so it is unlikely that Edwards is going to be a long-term starter at middle linebacker. It should be interesting to see Edwards and Dean battle for the linebacker spot this season.
Kyzir White, LB
The Eagles signed the former Charger to a one-year deal in 2022. White had a lot of success this past season for Los Angeles. He recorded 144 tackles which led the team and he also had two forced fumbles and two interceptions.
White should help strengthen the Philadelphia defense as an outside linebacker. If he can continue his strong 2021 production into this year, the Eagles should consider him for a long-term deal.
Jason Kelce, C
Jason Kelce will be remembered as one of the best centers in NFL history. The Eagles drafted him in the sixth round of the 2011 NFL Draft. He has five Pro Bowl selections and four All-Pro honors in his career. He is still playing at a high level but will turn 35 this season.
The Eagles used this year’s second-round pick on Nebraska Center Cam Jurgens. It is likely Jason Kelce’s last year in Philadelphia. He helped select Jurgens and will develop him to be the team’s center of the future going forward.
Issac Seumalo, G
Issac Seumalo has been with the Eagles since getting drafted in 2016. He was named a starter in 2018 but has not stayed healthy for a full season. Seumalo is expected to be a starting guard this year, so he has an opportunity to prove himself if he wants another contract.
Andre Dillard, OT
The Eagles drafted Andre Dillard in 2019 in the first round. He has nine career starts and 31 appearances in three seasons. Dillard missed the entire 2020 season due to injury. In 2021, he lost to Jordan Mailata for the starting left tackle job.
Andre Dillard will likely be the backup tackle to Jordan Mailata and Lane Johnson this season. Johnson is getting older, but it is hard to tell if Dillard would be a long-term replacement going forward. Look for Dillard to provide offensive line depth this year.
Miles Sanders, RB
Miles Sanders set rookie rushing records for an Eagles running back in 2019 but has not consistently produced since then. He has the talent and skill to be a dual threat running back but has missed time due to injury the past couple of seasons.
Sanders has averaged 5.1 yards per carry in his three years in Philadelphia. He rushed for at least 750 yards each season despite not starting more than 12 games in a year. Sanders will need to produce consistently and be reliable for the Eagles to re-sign him. It will be interesting to see what the Eagles do at running back going forward.
Zach Pascal, WR
The Eagles signed Zach Pascal to a one-year contract for 2022. He spent the past four years with the Colts. Pascal brings NFL experience to the Eagles group of receivers.
Before the trade for WR A.J. Brown, the Eagles lacked weapons for QB Jalen Hurts. It will be interesting to see what kind of role Pascal has with the Eagles. Right now, it is tough to say whether he will be needed after the 2022 season.
Gardner Minshew QB
Gardner Minshew will enter the final year of his rookie contract in 2022. The Eagles traded for him right before last season to be the backup quarterback to Jalen Hurts. He only made two starts in 2021 but played well. Minshew completed 68.3% of his passes for 439 yards, 4 touchdowns, and one interception in two games.
Minshew is a high-quality backup that could even be a starter in the league. The Eagles went all-in to strengthen the roster and give Jalen Hurts an opportunity to prove himself before making him the franchise QB. It would make sense to invest in a backup for Jalen Hurts, but Minshew might want a shot at becoming a starter elsewhere in 2023.
Which players do you want the Eagles to extend their contracts? Let us know in the comments.
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