Place Marcus Epps’ name on a list of possible extended Eagles in 2022.
Sometimes, it’s the subtle changes that make a world of difference. During the most recent Philadelphia Eagles season, several moves helped shift the atmosphere. We watched a team begin the campaign with a 2-5 mark and transform itself into one that earned a postseason berth.
There are many reasons for that being the case. One of which that we don’t discuss enough is the emergence of Marcus Epps. As the season wore on, Jonathan Gannon included him in the game plan more, and that created a safety rotation that yielded delicious fruit.
As we move through next season, he’ll be one of the players Philly will need to make decisions about. Since joining the Eagles in 2019, after they claimed him off of waivers, he’s added 109 tackles, nine pass breakups, and three interceptions to his professional resume. He’s proven that he belongs, and more playing time will only make him more of a key part of this Eagles defense.
The Birds figure to improve the safety position in free agency or the coming NFL Draft (or both), but we shouldn’t be surprised if, in the coming season, the Eagles extend him. Here are a handful of other Birds that we can say the same thing about. Don’t be surprised if Philadelphia opens the purse to keep them in town past the 2022-2023 NFL season.
Don’t be shocked if Javon Hargrave remains with the Eagles.
At no fault of something that was of Javon Hargrave‘s own doing, when the Philadelphia Eagles inked him to a three-year, $39-million deal on March 21st of 2020, it wasn’t the most popular move. They had needs on both sides of the ball, and the hope by many was Philly’s first move would be to land a big-name skill player or that difference-maker at cornerback (more on that later).
The Birds had Fletcher Cox in their wheelhouse, so though no one seemingly remembers this now, giving $13 million per season to another defensive tackle seemed puzzling at the time, especially when Hargrave got off to a slow start in Jim Schwartz’s defensive scheme. It didn’t take long for the retractions to be written.
Hargrave eventually got healthy. He mastered the 4-3 scheme after spending the early part of his career in the Pittsburgh Steelers’ 3-4, and following the 2021-2022 season, he eventually saw his name added to the Pro Bowl roster.
Simple mathematics should tell you that the aforementioned three-year deal that Hargrave signed expires in 2023. We’re guessing that there’s an extension coming. Cox is aging. The interior of the Eagles’ defensive line will always be a priority, and there’s seemingly no reason why every measure to keep Javon Hargrave in Philadelphia shouldn’t be exhausted when it’s time to begin discussing a new deal.
Le’Raven Clark is quickly becoming one of the Eagles’ better young linemen.
The Philadelphia Eagles absolutely love Le’Raven Clark. He’s someone that they’re excited about and have been since they signed him on March 19th of 2021. He’s seen his share of ups and downs since entering the league in 2016, and that’s putting things lightly.
One, he was drafted in the third round, and that’s normally around the area of the draft where teams still believe the guys they’re taking will be valued contributors. During his first four seasons in the National Football League, he appeared in 48 games for the Indianapolis Colts, starting 15 of them (that includes one postseason game), but his run in Indy ended with a trip to their injured reserve on December 9th and the Colts decision to move on during the following offseason.
Since his arrival in the City of Brotherly Love, he’s been released (August 31st), re-signed to the practice squad a day later, and promoted to the active roster on December 8th (after signing a two-year deal). He was placed on the COVID-19 list on December 22nd but removed seven days later. He’s even switched his number from 61 to 74 (as evidenced by the above photo).
That has nothing to do with football. We realize that. We’re just pumped here.
2022 will be a big year for Clark. No one should be surprised if he takes another step forward. No one should be surprised if he signs an extension that keeps him in Philly for a few more years either.
The Eagles are finally beginning to see what they have in T.J. Edwards.
The Philadelphia Eagles added T.J. Edwards as an undrafted rookie free agent following the 2019 NFL Draft. There were concerns about his NFL readiness. There were questions about his speed, but there were also theories that he should have been drafted and that the Eagles had a potential steal on their hands. Unfortunately for Edwards, Philadelphia has spent a great deal of their time trying to find his replacement.
Philly signed Zach Brown, Chris Worley, Alex Singleton, and Hayes Pullard in 2019. They added Jatavis Brown in 2020 before drafting Davion Taylor, Shaun Bradley, and Casey Toohill (who converted to defensive end) that same year.
In 2021, Philadelphia signed Eric Wilson during free agency, and they drafted both JaCoby Stevens and Patrick Johnson during the selection meeting. Guys failed. The Eagles moved on. Injuries occurred, and T.J. Edwards is the proverbial cream that keeps rising to the top. It’s time that T.J. gets his just due and the Birds acknowledge what they have.
We’ve talked about the Eagles’ lack of dedication to fixing the linebacker position ad nauseam, but if they continue to ride the T.J. Edwards train and develop him, that will go a long way in driving a wedge in what’s been a revolving door.
The Eagles have one of the game’s best cornerbacks in the form of Darius Slay.
Think back to the aforementioned signing of Javon Hargrave in 2020. That was a huge offseason for this team.
The Birds were expected to pursue one of the better free agents that were available (Byron Jones or James Bradberry). They both signed elsewhere and in an act of desperation or genius (or both), Eagles vice president/general manager Howie Roseman traded for Darius Slay and immediately signed him to a three-year deal worth $50 million with $30 million guaranteed the next day.
Byron Jones hasn’t made a Pro Bowl since joining the Miami Dolphins. James Bradberry made pro football’s all-star team in 2020. For his efforts during the most reason NFL regular season, Big Play Slay got another nod, his fourth, in 2021.
Yes, Slay is over 30-years old, and that’s considered to be ancient by football standards sometimes. This is still one of the better cover guys in the game. Those guys don’t grow on trees, and the Birds aren’t in a position where they can move on from their best players.
He technically isn’t a free agent until 2024 thanks to a restructure that came in March of last year, but no one should be shocked if an extension comes sometime in the 2022 season. It could be wise to ink him to a deal earlier.