Eagles quiet so far; plenty of talent still out there
The second day of the NFL's legal tampering period passed with more activity but no moves for the Eagles. That is likely to change Thursday, when the NFL's league year begins at 4 p.m. and all signings and trades can be completed.
The second day of the NFL's legal tampering period passed with more activity but no moves for the Eagles. That is likely to change Thursday, when the NFL's league year begins at 4 p.m. and all signings and trades can be completed.
The Eagles still have not traded or released any veterans to open needed salary-cap space, a sign that they're going to work the phones down to the wire (likely) or going to sit tight with $6.25 million in cap space (unlikely).
Top executive Howie Roseman has stuck to his talking points of being patient, building for the long term, and learning from past mistakes, but he has spent much of the last decade building a reputation for creativity with cap management and trades. A quiet Thursday is possible, even though it would be a departure. A silent Thursday is less likely, given the big Eagles contracts that could be moved.
One potential wide receiver target is off the board after Kenny Stills reached an agreement Wednesday to remain with the Miami Dolphins on a four-year, $32 million deal that includes $20 million guaranteed, according to ESPN. The good news for Eagles fans clamoring for a big-name wide receiver is that the other top free agents are still available, and the Saints' Brandin Cooks had not yet been traded.
Two veteran receivers came off the market. The New York Giants bolstered their offense by signing Brandon Marshall to a two-year, $12 million contract, and Washington is expected to lose Pierre Garcon to San Francisco.
Garcon and Marshall have already celebrated their 30th birthdays, making them unlikely matches for a team trying to build around 24-year-old Carson Wentz. But if receivers nearing the end of their careers are making good money on the open market, what does that mean for in-their-prime receivers such as Alshon Jeffery and Terrelle Pryor? Thursday could be an indication.
With Marshall in the NFC East, there is even more importance on a good secondary. There are conflicting reports about how serious a suitor the Eagles are for Texans cornerback A.J. Bouye. Even if the Eagles open salary-cap space, it's unlikely they'll be in a position to pay big money to both a wide receiver and a cornerback, given what other teams have to spend.
Wednesday's activity mostly involved quarterbacks and fullbacks. The Eagles are not in the starting-quarterback market, and the Buffalo Bills aren't, either, after restructuring Tyrod Taylor's contract. Tony Romo's career in Dallas will end with a release Thursday, according to reports. He won't share a free-agent market with Brian Hoyer, who is reportedly headed to San Francisco.
The 49ers are also expected to sign fullback Kyle Juszcyzk away from Baltimore, and Buffalo is double-dipping on the fullback market by signing Pat DiMarco and Mike Tolbert. The New England Patriots traded for tight end Dwayne Allen, which likely means Martellus Bennett will sign elsewhere.
But for the Eagles, wide receivers and cornerbacks deserve the attention. The Eagles have made signings on the first day of free agency each year since 2013, and Thursday will show whether they again start the new league year with big moves. Even if they wait for the market to settle down to make signings, they'll still need to move expensive veterans for cap flexibility.
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