Philadelphia Eagles: 5 offseason moves Howie Roseman must make

Prioritize DB in the draft

The Eagles essentially need to retool their entire secondary. Malcolm Jenkins will only return with a new contract. Rodney McLeod is an unrestricted free agent, as are both starting corners. That leaves Rasul Douglas, Avonte Maddox, Cre-von LeBlanc and…ugh…Sidney Jones (who, in all fairness, stepped up with some big plays near season’s end despite not playing a single snap in the team’s lone playoff game.)

So, as Sam Cooke would say, a change is gonna come.

There are plenty of big names on the secondary market, but I don’t think the team makes a splash with one of the elite. I like Byron Jones, but think his price tag will be too high for what the Eagles value. The Eagles are an organization who seemingly places more value in the lines (hence my Jadeveon Clowney take) than linebackers and secondary.

Plus, do you remember the last couple of times the Eagles made a “splash” in the CB free agent market? Do the names Byron Maxwell and Nnamdi Asomugha ring a bell? I wish they didn’t. Hopefully Howie Roseman learned his lesson on both of those players and avoids spending frivolously at an expendable position.

The DB free agent market is rather deep this year, and I’d be satisfied with the team investing on interior pressure while adding a cheaper, lower-tiered corner such as Chris Harris or Logan Ryan.

Likewise, the Lions’ Darius Slay is a trade option and has been linked to the Eagles in the past, but his reported cost is quite high and not worth it for the Eagles’ other needs. They’re better off salvaging their high draft picks to replenish an aging roster. Over the last two years, no team has had fewer draft picks than the Eagles.

Ultimately, I think the team re-signs both Jenkins and Mills, leaving only the strong safety spot and CB role to fill.