Philadelphia Eagles Need to Re-sign These 2015 Free Agents

Dec 20, 2014; Landover, MD, USA; Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver Jeremy Maclin (18) catches the ball as Washington Redskins cornerback Bashaud Breeland (26) defends in the fourth quarter at FedEx Field. The Redskins won 27-24. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports

The next month and a half leading up to the start of NFL free agency that begins on March 10, 2015 is a crucial time of the year for the Philadelphia Eagles. There’s no rest in today’s NFL as the Eagles must evaluate their current roster and identify areas for improvement having just finished the 2014 season. The Eagles have a group of ten free agents that must be studied to determine whether or not the team wants to retain their services.

Philadelphia is considered by many to be in a good roster situation overall due to having one of the lowest amounts of dead money (estimated $1,949,755) in the league, as well as a very manageable number of free agents. While we will not know the final 2015 NFL salary cap number until late February or early March, it is estimated that it could end up at $142 million, or even higher.

The Eagles cap space for 2015 also contributes to the positive outlook, as according to Over The Cap they will have roughly $18 million in available room to sign free agents and rookies. With a small number of free agents and a relatively young and healthy roster, it’s time to decide which of the following free agents the Eagles must retain:

QB Mark Sanchez

WR Jeremy Maclin

WR Brad Smith

WR Jeff Maehl (Exclusive Rights Free Agent)

DE Cedric Thornton (Restricted Free Agent)

LB Brandon Graham

LB Casey Matthews

RB Chris Polk (Restricted Free Agent)

S Nate Allen

CB Bradley Fletcher

Wide Receiver Jeff Maehl is an exclusive rights free agent that means he cannot negotiate with any other teams in the NFL, so we can remove him from the list.

Quarterback Free Agent

Mark Sanchez was forced into service when starting QB Nick Foles went down with injury. From a numbers perspective, Sanchez ended the season with a 4-4 record throwing 2,418 yards, 14 touchdowns, 11 interceptions, and a career best 64.1 completion percentage. While they certainly were not great stats for Mark in 2014, they are not terrible for a backup QB either. It will be interesting to see what the Eagles decide to do with him. I think other teams will covet his veteran savvy as a backup, so his price tag may be too high for Philadelphia to retain Sanchez’s services. Being that the veteran QB backup pool is very shallow this year, and the only other serviceable quarterback is Matt Barkley, I believe the Eagles “need to re-sign” Sanchez.

Wide Receiver Free Agents

Both wide receivers Jeremy Maclin and Brad Smith are free agents this year. Maclin of course had the knee injury, in 2013, signed a one year contract, and proved emphatically that he is completely healed catching a career high 85 receptions for 1,318 yards and 10 touchdowns. The Eagles are probably kicking themselves that they did not sign Maclin to a longer contract last year since he was much more affordable with uncertainties surrounding his injury. With the outstanding season, Maclin will demand and deserves a big payday. Brad Smith was used almost exclusively on an Eagles special teams group that was arguably the best in the league. Smith’s 2014 highlight came against San Francisco when he recovered a blocked punt in the end zone for a touchdown. Between the two, I think Maclin is the priority and while I do think rookie receivers Josh Huff and Jordan Matthews take some of the pressure of Philadelphia to sign Jeremy, I’m putting Maclin down as a “need to re-sign.”

Defensive End Free Agent

Moving on through the list we come to defensive end Cedric Thornton who is a restricted free agent, meaning he can negotiate with other teams but the Eagles have the right to match any offers. Other than the fact that he has a fantastic last name, Thornton had a good season playing in every game while recording 52 combined tackles, one sack, recovering three fumbles, and scoring his first career touchdown against the St. Louis Rams. He has ideal size that you need in the 3-4 defensive scheme, and his price tag should be affordable, so Thornton is a “nice to re-sign” player in my mind for Philadelphia.

Linebacker Free Agents

Linebackers Brandon Graham and Casey Matthews are up for new contracts this year. Graham was incredibly effective playing off the bench for the Eagles in 2014 collecting 46 combined tackles, 5.5 sacks, and 4 forced fumbles in a limited number of snaps. Reportedly Philadelphia began contract talks with Graham in December as the team has expressed that they would like to retain his services. However, it is likely that he will test free agency and not return to the Eagles. Matthews started at inside linebacker for 11 games due to injuries. He did a serviceable job collecting 1.5 sacks and 53 combined tackles with one forced fumble. I believe Graham will want to and should start so he likely will not return, so he is a “nice to re-sign” while Matthews also did a fine job filling in for injuries and is also a “nice to re-sign.”

Running back Free Agent

Running back Chris Polk had career highs in both rushing (142 yards) and touchdowns (4) during the 2014 season. He’s used primarily on special teams, and with the addition of RB Darren Sproles in 2013, Philadelphia does not need to re-sign Polk. However, he did have flashes of brilliance on special teams returning a kickoff against Washington 102 yards for the TD, so I have Chris as a “nice to re-sign.”

Safety Free Agents

Free agent safety Nate Allen was helped out substantially in 2014 by the off-season signing of fellow safety Malcolm Jenkins. While Allen wasn’t spectacular, he did lead the team with four interceptions and registered a healthy 62-combined tackles. Some place the secondary issues the Eagles experienced last year at the feet of Allen, but I put more of that burden on the cornerbacks. That being said, Allen is not a must have but more of a “nice to re-sign” player as there are plenty of free agents whom I believe could upgrade Philadelphia’s defensive backfield.

Cornerback Free Agent

Many Eagles fans have not been shy about expressing their displeasure with cornerback Bradley Fletcher’s execution during the 2013-14 NFL season. Fletcher never looked comfortable and opponents picked on him throughout the year. Fletcher’s ranked as one of the worst cornerbacks in the league according to Pro Football Focus, and I do not believe the team will bring him back next season.

The players I believe the Philadelphia Eagles need to re-sign in free agency are both Mark Sanchez and Jeremy Maclin. It would be nice if the Eagles could sign most of their other free agents, but I am of the opinion the team can either find equal or greater talents through the draft or free agency. Either way, head coach Chip Kelly and the Eagles brass have some work to do in a short period of time to improve their team.