4 Key Eagles Who Will Be Free Agents After 2023 Season

D’Andre Swift

Knowing they weren’t going to be able to pay Miles Sanders, the Eagles took a much more inexpensive approach at running back for 2023.

The highlight of the backfield is certainly D’Andre Swift, who came in on his existing contract in a trade from the Detroit Lions — which has just one remaining season before he hits unrestricted free agency.

Swift brings something completely different to the backfield than Sanders did.

He’s a capable rusher, yes, but his receiving prowess is far more impressive. Swift’s 156 receptions over the last three seasons are the fifth most for any running back in that three-year stretch, Sanders has just 74 receptions during the same time.

It’s not just a volume game, either. Sanders was playing with an MVP-candidate quarterback last year, and he averaged just 3.0 yards per target and 3.9 yards per reception.

Swift’s lowest single-season marks are 5.6 yards per target and 7.3 yards per reception. Sanders also has a drop rate of 8.9% since 2020, while Swift’s is 6.8%.

So Swift brings an element to this offense that Eagles fans haven’t seen in the Jalen Hurts era. It remains to be seen just how much that will mean to the offense, but a big year from one of the Eagles’ top breakout candidates will put the front office in a tough spot.

Do they bite the bullet and pay Swift to keep a receiving weapon in the backfield for Hurts? Or do they count on being able to continue finding ad hoc production in the backfield on cheap contracts?