Heading into the 2023 NFL season, the Eagles might just have the most complete roster in football. Whether it’s Jalen Hurts coming off of an MVP-caliber season, or the loaded defensive line, the talent on this team is undeniable. However, no NFL roster is ever truly perfect, and there are still plenty of potential free agents for the Philadelphia Eagles to sign prior to week one.
Despite the Eagles having virtually no holes, there are still some position groups that could use some added depth. Take, for example, the linebacker room, which has second-year Nakobe Dean and recently acquired Nicholas Morrow pegged in as the starters. However, behind them are three players–Christian Elliss, Shaun Bradley, and Davion Taylor–with a combined zero NFL starts. While Howie Roseman doesn’t typically value this position, there is still a clear need for some sort of veteran presence to back up the young starting duo.
However, with a roster this good, Roseman and Co. could also opt to just have a little fun with some free-agent signings. Sure, money is pretty tight at this point, but there’s still some room for one or two splashy moves before the season begins. Today, we’ll like at three potential free agents for the Philadelphia Eagles to sign as the 2023 NFL offseason winds down.
Three Potential Free Agents for the Philadelphia Eagles
Former Cardinals WR DeAndre Hopkins (10) – Rick Scuteri/AP Photo
DeAndre Hopkins, Wide Receiver
Okay, so maybe this signing seems a little farfetched, but why not give it a little bit of attention here? A little under a month ago, Hopkins went on the “I AM ATHLETE” podcast, where he named Hurts as one of the five quarterbacks he would most want to play with next season. Not too long after, the Cardinals released Hopkins, and although the Eagles connections have died down since then, who’s to say Hopkins couldn’t end up playing in midnight green?
Since he was drafted by the Houston Texans back in 2013, Hopkins has been one of the league’s best receivers. In recent years, a combination of injury and a suspension for PED usage has limited his production from what it was early on in his career, but still, he’s consistently shown himself to be a dominant force in the passing game. Of the remaining free-agent wide receivers, there really is no bigger name left on the market than Hopkins.
For Philadelphia, an argument can be made that they don’t need to spend the money required to get a talent like Hopkins. AJ Brown and Devonta Smith have proven to be one of the best wide receiver duos in football, and despite having a down year in 2022, Quez Watkins is a high-upside WR3 option. However, there’s no arguing that Hopkins would absolutely be an upgrade over Watkins and, if he returns to his pre-suspension form, could even be the team’s outright WR1.
Of all the possible acquisitions on this list, this would be the hardest to make happen for two reasons: the number of teams in play and the price tag. While Hopkins isn’t worth as much as he was a few years ago, he would still require solid WR1 money, a price that only goes up the more teams get in on the sweepstakes. This probably isn’t a realistic signing for the Eagles, but still, if Howie could work his magic and make it happen, it would truly transform the offense.
Former Steelers LB Myles Jack – Matt Durisko/AP Photo
Myles Jack, Linebacker
Here’s a callback to the intro of this article, and one that lots of Eagles fans have been requesting for some time. Jack, a former second-round pick in the 2016 draft, came into the league with tons of hype as the next great do-it-all linebacker. His only reason for falling to the second round was because of injury concerns, but he quickly proved those to be overblown as he played into a four-year, $57 million contract extension with the Jacksonville Jaguars. Unfortunately for him, his level of play dipped along with the performance of the Jaguars, and he’s now looking for his third team in the same number of years.
Jack has been a tackling machine since he entered the league but has struggled in the pass coverage department. This aspect of his game has been a major letdown compared to the hype he garnered out of college, as it was supposed to be one of his strengths, likely the reason he was a projected day-one pick for much of the draft process. These issues are the primary reason he hasn’t been able to stick as an NFL starter.
However, to the Eagles’ benefit, this may provide them with the cheap veteran presence they need. Jack simply won’t earn the contract of a top-tier linebacker at this point in his career, but for an Eagles team that has two young backers in need of an established vet, he could be the perfect fit for Philly.
Jack fits a similar mold to Morrow, the latter of whom had a career year in 2022 as a tackler. While Dean offers a much higher pass coverage ceiling, Jack can provide some much-needed depth, if not worthy competition, to a guy who needs to prove he can be a consistent producer in Morrow. Jack should be a no-brainer for the Eagles as he provides solid depth, if not a strong starter, along with Dean, while not costing the team too much money.
Former Broncos OG Dalton Risner (66) – Aaron Ontiveroz/The Denver Post
Dalton Risner, Offensive Guard
Risner, a four-year veteran who’s spent his entire career in Denver to this point, is a very intriguing option for a team always looking to bolster the offensive line. The Kansas State product has been an above-average pass blocker during his time with the Broncos but has had struggles in the run game, likely leaving teams with legitimate concerns when trying to offer him a contract. The amount of money Risner wants at this point is unknown, but if the financial situation ends up falling the right way, he could be a great fit for the Eagles.
First off, everyone should know how good Jeff Stoutland is as the Eagles’ offensive line coach. He has been the mastermind behind the Eagles’ elite o-line play over the last decade, turning many raw linemen into Pro Bowl players (looking at you Jordan Mailata). For a guy with weaknesses in his game like Risner, there might not be a better opportunity than to end up in Philadelphia, possibly even getting to start at guard right away if the team opts to keep Cam Jurgens as the backup center.
Risner may end up having to sign a prove-it deal, and doing so with the league’s best offensive line is a win for both sides. The Eagles lack quality depth behind their starting five and could look for a more proven player to fill the right guard spot than Jurgens. Either way, this would be a great move for the Eagles, especially if the price tag ends up being reasonable.
