Eagles’ 2024 Free Agents, Targets and Draft Needs After NFL Playoff Loss

Eagles’ 2024 Free Agents, Targets and Draft Needs After NFL Playoff Loss 0 of 3

Eagles head coach Nick SirianniAndy Lewis/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

In the regular season, the Philadelphia Eagles failed to meet expectations after narrowly losing Super Bowl LVII.

Philadelphia started out strong and held a league-best 10-1 record entering December. However, defensive struggles finally caught up with the Eagles, who faded down the stretch and ended up backing into the playoffs with a wild-card berth.

The good news is that Philadelphia has a young core—one that includes quarterback Jalen Hurts—that can keep the team in contention for the foreseeable future. However, head coach Nick Sirianni and general manager Howie Roseman have a ton of work to do in the offseason to augment that core.

Now that the Eagles’ postseason run has come to an end, let’s take a look at what’s in store for Philadelphia in the 2024 offseason.

Free Agents1 of 3

Eagles RB D’Andre SwiftSteph Chambers/Getty Images

Unrestricted Free Agents

LB Shaun Bradley

DT Fletcher Cox

LB Zach Cunningham

G Jack Driscoll

S Justin Evans

DE Brandon Graham

WR Julio Jones

C Jason Kelce

LB Shaquille Leonard

P Braden Mann

QB Marcus Mariota

LB Nicholas Morrow

TE Albert Okwuegbunam

G Iosua Opeta

RB Rashaad Penny

RB Boston Scott

RB D’Andre Swift

WR Quez Watkins

WR Olamide Zaccheaus

Restricted/Exclusive-Rights Free Agents

TE Jack Stoll

While the Eagles have largely done a good job of drafting future starters over the past several years, they do have some aging veterans whose returns could be paramount in 2024.

Players like center Jason Kelce and defensive tackle Fletcher Cox remain highly productive in their 30s and could see their way back to Philadelphia on short-term deals. With $26.3 million in projected cap space available, it’ll be interesting to see how Roseman approaches things with some of Philly’s elder statesmen.

It will also be interesting to see what the Eagles do at the running back position. They acquired D’Andre Swift in a draft-day trade with the Detroit Lions last offseason, and Swift has done an admirable job as the team’s leading back.

Swift was named to his first Pro Bowl this season and could warrant a long-term extension. However, the Eagles weren’t willing to pay Pro Bowler Miles Sanders last spring, and they could look to replace Swift with another cheaper alternative.

Philadelphia could lose a good amount of linebacker depth in free agency, though given the defense’s inconsistency in the back seven, the unit could be due for a makeover.

Roseman will either need to re-sign or replace backup quarterback Marcus Mariota to provide some insurance at the game’s most important position. Hurts stayed on the field in 2023, but he did miss some time the previous season.

Punter Braden Mann is also up for free agency and could be an offseason priority. Former punter Arryn Siposs was waived from the practice squad in September, and Mann went on to rank in the top 10 in yards per punt.

Potential Free-Agent/Trade Targets2 of 3

S C.J. Gardner JohnsonScott W. Grau/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

Roseman hasn’t been afraid to make trades to strengthen the Eagles roster, and we might see him make a play for a potential cap casualty—as he did when acquiring C.J. Gardner-Johnson ahead of the 2022 season.

Defensive backs entering the final years of their contracts, like Carlton Davis and Rasul Douglas could be especially attractive to the Eagles.

The secondary is likely to be a big focus for Philadelphia in both free agency and the draft. The back end of the defense fell apart over the second half of the season and became arguably the Eagles’ biggest liability.

Players like cornerback Jaylon Johnson, cornerback L’Jarius Sneed, safety Micah Hyde and Gardner-Johnson should be near the top of Philadelphia’s wish list—though financially competing with the league’s cap-rich teams won’t be easy.

The Eagles’ defensive front remains a team strength, but depth could be needed if players like Cox and Brandon Graham depart. However, don’t expect the Eagles to chase pricier free-agent targets like Christian Wilkins or Danielle Hunter.

It would also behoove Philadelphia to target a playmaking linebacker like Lavonte David or Patrick Queen.

Offensively, the Eagles may need a new running back and should be in the market for a new No. 3 receiver. Expect more budget-friendly targets like Gus Edwards and D’Onta Foreman, while Philly might be willing to splurge on a receiver like Michael Pittman Jr. or Tee Higgins.

Olamide Zaccheaus finished third among Eagles wideouts with only 144 receiving yards, and it’s high time the offense got more receiver production out of players not named A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith.

If Mariota departs, seasoned vets like Jacoby Brissett and Tyrod Taylor should garner consideration at quarterback.

Draft Targets3 of 3

Scott Winters/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

The Eagles invested heavily in their front seven over the last two drafts, taking defensive linemen Jordan Davis and Jalen Carter, along with linebacker/edge Nolan Smith, in the first round.

This year, Philly’s early focus should be on the defensive backfield. The Eagles desperately need difference-makers at cornerback and safety. The problem is that this isn’t a class heavy on secondary talent.

Trading up for a corner like McKinstry could make a lot of sense for the Eagles.

“A versatile defender, McKinstry has the skill set to play in multiple schemes in the NFL,” Cory Giddings of the B/R Scouting Department wrote. “One of the top cornerbacks coming out of high school, he has continued that trajectory once given the opportunity at Alabama.”

Barring a trade, though, we may see the Eagles go best-player-available in Round 1 and target prospects like USC safety Calen Bullock and Iowa State cornerback T.J. Tampa on Day 2 instead.

If the Eagles don’t re-sign Swift or find a suitable replacement, running backs like Florida State’s Trey Benson and Wisconsin’s Braelon Allen could also be on the Day 2 wish list.

Receivers like Alabama’s Jermaine Burton, Florida State’s Johnny Wilson and Georgia’s Ladd McConkey should also be on Philly’s radar if it doesn’t load up on receiver depth in free agency. Similarly, linebackers like Michigan’s Junior Colson and N.C. State’s Payton Wilson should also have the Eagles’ attention.

There should be a heavy focus on defense in the 2024 draft, though Philadelphia may look to secure a couple of skill players along the way.

The Eagles currently possess six draft selections—one first-rounder, two second-round picks and three sixth-round selections. Further wheeling and dealing could very well be part of Roseman’s draft plan.

*Cap, contract and free-agent status information via Spotrac. Draft order information via Tankathon.