After a 3-0 start, this Eagles' season hasn’t exactly gone the way many fans would have hoped.
With just one game remaining in the 2016 season, the best the Eagles can finish is 7-9. While questions about coaching have come up throughout the year, a lack of talent at key positions has repeatedly been exposed. The good news for the Eagles is that they think they have their quarterback in Carson Wentz. Everything else is just building around him.
The Eagles don’t have their own first-round draft pick this spring, but they do have the Vikings’ pick, which — as it stands now — will be around 15th. That’s pretty good considering how good the Vikings were to start the season. After the first round, the Eagles have their own picks in Rounds 2-7, plus an extra fifth-rounder (could end up being a compensatory pick in the fourth) from the Browns. That’s eight picks in 2017 to work with … for now.
And in free agency, they’ll have about $17 million to work with as it stands now. But Howie Roseman can make some moves to free up more cap space.
The Eagles need a lot of help to turn things around in 2017. In the holiday spirit, here are five positions that should be on the Eagles’ wish list as the new year approaches.
1. Cornerback
While fans have become fixated on the lack of talent at wide receiver, the cornerback position has been equally as bad. Among the group of corners on the team, Nolan Carroll is set to be a free agent, while Leodis McKelvin, Jalen Mills and Ron Brooks are still under contract.
It looks like the only lock to be back next season is Mills, who was a seventh-round pick this past spring. The Eagles could save a little over $3 million by cutting McKelvin, who has been a disappointment for much of 2016. And Brooks has two years left on his deal, but is coming off a significant injury. Cutting him would save around $1.6 million.
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However they have to do it, the Eagles need to get better at cornerback, especially considering they’re in a division with Odell Beckham Jr. and Dez Bryant for the foreseeable future.
Top upcoming free agents: Trumaine Johnson, Stephon Gilmore, Captain Munnerlyn, A.J. Bouye
Yeah, the Eagles are going to be somewhat strapped for cash in the upcoming offseason, but cornerback is clearly a huge need. These are the top guys on the market. If Jim Schwartz is still around, it’s worth noting that Stephon Gilmore played for him in Buffalo in 2014, just like McKelvin and Brooks.
Top available in draft: Teez Tabor, Marlon Humprhey, Desmond King, Sidney Jones, Adoree' Jackson, Tre'Davious White
Would the Eagles use their first-round pick on a cornerback? Well, if they decide to, any one of these guys could be an option. And with the depth at cornerback in this draft class, it’s possible one of them could fall to the Birds with their second-round pick. We could see as many as five or six corners go in the first round this year – 2017 for corners is like 2016 was for defensive tackles. The Eagles have too many needs to draft for need, but if it’s a coin flip, maybe they ought to pick up a corner.
2. Receiver
The Eagles are young at receiver, which could be a good thing. The problem is they’re young and bad. Jordan Matthews, Nelson Agholor, Dorial Green-Beckham, Bryce Treggs and Paul Turner. Not a great group there.
Matthews will be back next season and could eventually become a solid second or third option once some better talent is brought in. Agholor doesn’t look like he’ll ever become a solid receiver in the league, but because of his salary structure, he should be back in 2017. The coaching staff is going to want to have Green-Beckham for an entire offseason to see if they can finally squeeze any production out of his ridiculously athletic body.
Treggs and Turner will be on the team during training camp next year, but if they’re on the team to start the season, it likely means the team hasn’t done a great job of improving the position.
Top upcoming free agents: Kenny Britt, Terrelle Pryor, DeSean Jackson, Pierre Garcon, Alshon Jeffery, Kenny Stills, Kamar Aiken
Jackson is the name on this list that will get the most attention. The Eagles and Chip Kelly clearly made a mistake when they cut him a few years back, but D-Jack is a speedy receiver who just turned 30. It’s possible the Eagles’ money would be better spent on a younger receiver who can grow with Wentz.
Pryor, the former quarterback who has successfully made the transition, might be the top guy on this list. But he’s going to be expensive. Jeffery is just 26, but was recently suspended four games for a failed PED test. The Eagles have had enough headaches with PED suspensions, but Jeffery is talented and still young enough to grow.
Top available in draft: Mike Williams, JuJu Smith-Schuster, John Ross, Corey Davis, Dede Westbrook
Some real talent here if the Eagles choose to go receiver in Round 1. Williams is probably the top guy on the board. The 6-3, 225-pounder is from Clemson, which has become Wide Receiver U in recent years. All these players, sans Ross, are 6-foot-plus. Finally, Wentz could have a big target that plays like a big target. While Ross might be a tad under 6-foot, he’s a speedster. Who needs an old DeSean when you can have a young Ross?
And, yes, Smith-Schuster is from USC. The last time the Eagles drafted a USC receiver, it didn’t end well. But that shouldn’t be enough reason to steer clear.
3. Running back
For whatever reason, the running back position seems to be somewhat of a forgotten one among Eagles fans. Darren Sproles will be back next season after signing an extension a few months ago. And Wendell Smallwood will enter the second year of his rookie contract. And Byron Marshall should be around — at least early — in some capacity.
But Ryan Mathews and Kenjon Barner are serious question marks. Mathews has had good and bad moments in 2016. But if he isn’t in the Eagles’ plans of the future, they can cut him and save $4 million in cap room. And Barner barely got to play this season, so his time in Philly might be coming to a close.
Top upcoming free agents: Le'Veon Bell, Eddie Lacy, Latavius Murray, Christine Michael
The thought process for a lot of teams at running back is to find a guy for cheap. Whether that means to sign a lesser-known free agent or to draft one in a middle or late round. Bell would not be cheap. In fact, he’s arguably the best running back in football. There just aren’t a ton of other great options in the free agent market.
Top available in draft: Leonard Fournette, Christian McCaffrey, Dalvin Cook, Jeremy McNichols, D’Onta Foreman
Is it worth taking a running back in the first round? It’s a question that gets debated a ton. Last year, when Ezekiel Elliott was rising up draft boards, Roseman said he wouldn’t have a problem taking a back in the first, depending on the player. For the Cowboys, that decision has worked out quite well. But are any of these guys going to have the immediate impact that Elliott had in Dallas? Hard to know.
There’s a really good chance one or more of these players are available when the Eagles are on the clock in the second round. Maybe that would be more appealing.
4. Offensive line
The Eagles’ offensive line going into 2017 is a curious topic. The big question is about Jason Peters, who is about to turn 35 and will have a cap hit of $11.7 million next year. That’s a lot of money for an aging veteran, even with his ninth Pro Bowl appearance. Until the Eagles figure out what they’re doing with Peters, they are handcuffed.
They’ll also have a decision to make about Jason Kelce. Is it time to move on and make Isaac Seumalo the center of the future? Maybe it’s a little early for that, but it’s possible.
The only offensive lineman who will become a free agent is Stefen Wisniewski. The veteran signed a one-year deal and will hope to get a long-term contract from another team.
Top upcoming free agents: OG Kevin Zeitler, OT Ryan Schraeder, OT Riley Reiff, OG TJ. Lang
Some solid options here. The Eagles did a great job getting Wisniewski into the building during last year’s free agency. Wisniewski gave the Eagles depth on the line that really paid off throughout the year. Is it worth signing a starting guard in free agency? Maybe not. It might make more sense to toss Seumalo into the position.
Top available in draft: OT Cam Robinson, OT Ryan Ramczyk, OT Mike McGlinchey, OG Dan Feeney, OG Dorian Johnson
Maybe offensive line isn’t the biggest need right now for the Eagles, but drafting on the line is never a bad idea. After years of not drafting offensive linemen, the Birds got back to it last year and it’s a way to continually build for the future. Don’t take a guard in the first round, though.
5. Defensive line
Fletcher Cox and Brandon Graham will be back next season. That’s half of this year’s starting defensive line and a pretty good start. Cox is already a Pro Bowler and Graham is a first-alternate.
But Bennie Logan is set to be a free agent and he watched as many of his teammates were awarded long-term deals last offseason. Roseman has continued to say that they want Logan back long-term, but how much will it cost? Can the Eagles afford to break the bank for a second defensive tackle?
And Connor Barwin is a question mark too. The Eagles paid Vinny Curry in the offseason, so it would make sense if he would finally play more than 30 percent of the snaps. And Barwin is a solid player, but it’s looking like he’s a better fit in a 3-4. The Eagles should see if there’s a trade market for the veteran.
Top upcoming free agents: DT Bennie Logan, DE Jason Pierre-Paul, DE Jabaal Sheard, DT Dontari Poe, DE Andre Branch
The Eagles will have to decide what to do about Logan until they can really make any other moves. Perhaps they shouldn’t pay a ton for an interior lineman, but edge rushers are always worth money.
Top available in draft: DE Myles Garrett, DE Jonathan Allen, DE Derek Barnett, DT Malik McDowell, DE Chris Wormley
It’s a tough thing here. Defensive line isn’t near the top need for this team, but remember what we said about not drafting for need? If it’s clear that the top player on their board in the first or second round is one of these fellas, take him.