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Ranking the Eagles' 7 Most Important Pending Free Agents

Which upcoming free agents should the Eagles prioritize re-signing? Find out who will play a massive role in shaping the team's direction moving forward.

By Jason Schandl

Sep 14, 2023; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Philadelphia Eagles linebacker Zach Cunningham (52)
Sep 14, 2023; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Philadelphia Eagles linebacker Zach Cunningham (52) / Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports
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5. D'Andre Swift

Eagles fans got a nice lesson this season — retaining your top running back isn't that important. Losing Miles Sanders likely didn't even crack anyone's top-10 reasons that the Eagles' offense had issues in 2023. But that doesn't mean our running backs don't matter at all.

D'Andre Swift was a genuine difference-maker in the Philly backfield in a way that Kenneth Gainwell and Boston Scott weren't.

Despite handling a lot of his carries in more obvious running situations (meaning defenses could key on the run more aggressively), Swift came away with the backfield lead in yards per rush (4.6 to Gainwell and Scott's 4.3). He also earned a 71.6 rushing grade from PFF, while RB2 Gainwell had a brutal 52.4 grade.

Nobody in the backfield was great as a receiver, so you've gotta chalk some of that up to play-calling and scheming. But one of the most appealing things about Swift coming into his Eagles career was his receiving chops — having caught 156 balls while averaging 5.8 yards per target over his three seasons in Detroit.

With the entire Eagles offense collapsing late in the year, it shouldn't cost too much to bring Swift back, and keeping that continuity at RB1 should be a priority for the Eagles.

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