After the First Week of Free Agency, Six Players the Eagles Should Sign

In NFL Free Agency, who should the Philadelphia Eagles target next?

Howie Roseman, general manager of the Philadelphia Eagles, entered the 2024 offseason with a nasty taste in his mouth. Roseman was expected to perform at a higher level following the Buccaneers’ upset of them in the first round of the playoffs, given that he was already regarded as one of the league’s most aggressive executives.

And that’s precisely what the Eagles have been. Throughout the summer, they have been quite active, signing players like Devin White, Bryce Huff, CJ Gardner-Johnson, and Saquon Barkley. There are still some decisions to be made, but they have been gradually adding talent to the roster and making improvements.
Where might the Eagles look in NFL free agency next, even with the 2024 NFL Draft just around the corner?

1. Henderson, CB
Vic Fangio, the defensive coordinator for the Miami Dolphins, and a former head coach of the Denver Broncos were both hired by the Eagles. Fangio was called in to assist in reviving a defense that was disarrayed under Matt Patricia and Sean Desai the previous season.

Fangio was hired in, and he brought Christian Parker, the defensive backs coach for the Denver Broncos, with him. The Eagles should feel more confident than ever about taking on a reclamation project in CJ Henderson, the former first-round choice out of Florida, with Fangio and Parker together.

After being traded by the Jaguars, Henderson spent the first few years of the previous two seasons in Carolina. For many teams, his talent, athleticism, and upside should make him an obvious choice, but the Eagles need to give this cornerback position some serious consideration. For a brief contract, he would be worth the risk because he is still only 25 years old.

2. WR, DJ Chark

The Philadelphia Eagles’ lack of depth at wide receiver last season exposed them, and this is a position on the roster they should definitely continue to monitor.

Philadelphia would be better suited finding cheap options on short-term agreements at receiver, especially if the prices continue to drop (supposedly) as the offseason goes on. They have already pursued DeVante Parker, a former member of the New England Patriots, but that action doesn’t exactly give us hope.

Although Parker is among the worst receivers in the NFL, his pay of nearly $4.6 million is guaranteed, thus it’s almost a given that he will remain on the team. The Eagles will need to recruit a few more players to complement that addition, and DJ Chark is a quick alternative that may be very beneficial.

Despite Chark’s unlucky recent injury-plagued career, he still led the Carolina Panthers with over 500 yards and five touchdowns in the previous season. Those downfield contributions might provide a little more value for an offense like Philadelphia’s. A team like Philadelphia ought to go after Chark rather than someone like DeVante Parker.

3. Wide Receiver Josh Reynolds
Josh Reynolds, the former wide receiver for the Rams and Lions, is another wide receiver that the Philadelphia Eagles ought to be considering.

Reynolds has demonstrated over the past few years that he is resilient and capable of taking hits when the chips are down. Over the past two seasons, he has caught over 63 percent of his targets, so it would be quite unexpected if the Detroit Lions let him go. Since they were teammates with the Rams, he and Jared Goff have had such a wonderful rapport.

The Eagles ought to call Reynolds if he isn’t merely biding his time until the ideal opportunity to return to Detroit presents itself. He can occasionally stretch the field vertically and make difficult catches in traffic. Last season, he set a career-high with 32 first-down receptions and averaged a career-high 15.2 yards per reception.

Last year, he had 40 receptions, 37 of which resulted in a first down or score. For Jalen Hurts, that level of effectiveness as a third receiver option in the passing game would be very welcome.

When searching for potential free agents, it’s usually a good idea to see which players have ties to the head coaches in the past. In NFL free agency, connective tissue is important, particularly as the offseason progresses.

The Philadelphia Eagles have the option of adding defensive tackle DeShawn Williams, a former member of the Broncos and Panthers, to bolster their defensive line. Over the past two seasons, Williams has been a fantastic success story. He battled his way into the active roster of the Broncos before joining the Panthers as a starter and second-year player on a deal.

The coaches Williams has worked with in the past really like him, and coincidentally, the Eagles have developed a bit of a fondness for former Broncos.

Vic Fangio won’t precisely have roster authority, but he will have some voice in decisions because of his position as defensive coordinator. Fangio had Williams while he was in Denver, and he saw him develop into a vital defensive player from a reserve/futures contract guy. Following two years of playing for Fangio in Denver and an additional year in Carolina under Ejiro Evero, who employs a variant of the Fangio style, Williams would be a good addition to Philadelphia’s defensive line.