Eagles free-agent lowdown: Receivers to consider

After spending the last week in Indianapolis for the scouting combine, Eagles executives and coaches return to Philadelphia this week to begin making major changes to the roster. The NFL's legal tampering period opens Tuesday at noon and the new league year begins Thursday at 4 p.m., when free agents can begin signing contracts and trades can be made official.

By the end of the week, the Eagles will likely have bid unceremonious farewells to key players and started addressing glaring needs on their roster such as wide receiver and cornerback.

Expensive players will need to move on for the Eagles to make moves. As of Monday, the Eagles possessed meager salary-cap space - between $8 million and $9 million, which is barely enough to put a dent in free agency. But that space could change if the Eagles move on from veterans such as defensive end Connor Barwin, center Jason Kelce, linebacker Mychal Kendricks, quarterback Chase Daniel, and guard Allen Barbre - all of whom could be traded this week to open space. (The Eagles also could release those whose contracts do not leave them with an exorbitant amount of dead money.)

Even if the Eagles create salary-cap space, they would not be in a position for a spending frenzy. Thirteen teams have more than $40 million to spend, with the Cleveland Browns ($102.4 million), San Francisco 49ers ($93.5 million), and Jacksonville Jaguars ($71 million) all capable of luring top targets. And because teams are flush with cash, this week is sure to produce reactions like the first week of the NBA's free agency when mid-level players receive upper-market contracts.

"Free agency is overpayment," said Howie Roseman, the Eagles' executive vice president of football operations. "You have a large amount of bidders for players. The market is different than when it's just one team negotiating with their own player. When you have this amount of cap room, and teams have done a great job of keeping their own players. . . . There aren't as many blue-chip players as there has been in the past."

The top free agent on the market actually fits a position the Eagles need: wide receiver Alshon Jeffery. The Chicago Bears did not use the franchise tag on Jeffery, a 27-year-old, two-time Pro Bowler whose best seasons came when Eagles wide receivers coach Mike Groh was his position coach. Jeffery's last two seasons were shortened by injury and suspension, keeping him from reaching 1,000 yards. But his talent (five-catch, 72-yard per game average in five seasons) and size (6-foot-3 and 218 pounds) still him make him one of the best receivers to hit the open market in years. The problem is he'll likely be paid accordingly.

One wide receiver who could surprisingly hit the market is Cleveland's Terrelle Pryor, a converted quarterback who had 77 catches for 1,007 yards and four touchdowns in his first full-time season at the position. Pryor, at 6-4 and 223 pounds, will be 28 on opening day. Because the Browns have deep pockets this week, it was thought that he would return to Cleveland. But with the market opening in a couple of hours, it no longer appears so certain.

"I think the reality at this point is if you're not going to use the [franchise] tag, the guy's effectively in free agency and will be solicited by other teams," Browns general manager Sashi Brown said. "We're realistic about that. . . . He's a priority. We won't be panicked if things don't work out and he's not on our roster."

The marketplace also includes accomplished receivers on the wrong side of 30 such as DeSean Jackson, Brandon Marshall, and Pierre Garcon; two Kennys (Stills and Britt) coming off impressive seasons who could draw impressive contracts; and former high draft picks who could benefit from a change of scenery (Michael Floyd, Cordarrelle Patterson, Kendall Wright, Robert Woods).

But considering the Eagles' financial situation, they could find a better option on the trade market. New Orleans' Brandin Cooks is the object of the Eagles' affection, but it will require expensive draft capital. Even if a trade is agreed upon in the next two days, it cannot become official until Thursday.

At cornerback, a deep draft class could keep the Eagles from another big-money investment. (Asante Samuel, Nnamdi Asomugha, and Byron Maxwell are examples of how the Eagles spent big on the position in the past.) But if they wanted an established starter, Buffalo's Stephon Gilmore has 66 career starts, will be 26 on opening day, and has experience in defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz's scheme. Houston's A.J. Bouye could draw the biggest contract at the position after a standout year with the Texans. Voorhees native Logan Ryan has two Super Bowl rings with the Patriots, is 26, and has the versatility to play several spots.

If those cornerbacks are too expensive, the Eagles could again try the Band-Aid approach and find a down-the-list free agent to sign a short, inexpensive deal. Or they can just wait until the draft.

Pass rush is a need for the Eagles, but the marketplace became less inviting after the top free agents received the franchise tag last week.

The Eagles have six players who are set to hit unrestricted free agency: defensive tackle Bennie Logan, cornerback Nolan Carroll, offensive lineman Stefen Wisniewski, defensive end Bryan Braman, and linebackers Najee Goode and Stephen Tulloch. Logan is the best of the group but will likely to be too expensive for the Eagles at this point. The others would not figure to be priority signings.

Although the legal tampering period opens at noon, teams and agents should have a sense of the market. They didn't spend the last week in Indianapolis lounging at a spa. But it will finally be legal to negotiate contracts, and by the end of the week, there will be notable Eagles elsewhere and new players in their spots.

zberman@phillynews.com

@ZBerm