With the Eagles season over, it's time to take a look at some offseason tasks. There are a lot Eagles who are set to become free agents this offseason if Howie Roseman doesn't extend them before March. In the article we will list every player who has an expiring contract, and I will give my thoughts on whether or not Howie Roseman should keep them around, or if they should be shown the door.
RB Jordan Howard
I know that I'm not the only one begging Howie Roseman to give him a contract extension. Before his injury he was an explosive weapon for the offense. The Eagles would make a huge mistake if they let him test the waters. It'll all come down to how much money he is asking for coming off of an injury-riddled contract year.
CB Jalen Mills
I have been on the Mills bandwagon for some time now. However, I feel it is time we part ways with him. He was very inconsistent, he'd have a few great games followed by some of the worst games you'd ever see a cornerback play. I say it's time to move on and see what we can find in the draft to replace him.
CB Ronald Darby
Thanks for taking that hit on Patrick Robinson's pick-six in the 2017-18 NFC Championship Game, but GTFO.
LB Kamu Grugier-Hill
The Eagles love this young linebacker, but their defense doesn't utilize the linebacker position that well. He'll likely want a bigger role and the money that comes with a bigger role. I think they can find someone cheaper to fill his special teams and defensive snaps, so it's time to move on.
LT Jason Peters
The Bodyguard will be a Hall of Fame soon after his retirement. It's tough to say goodbye, but in truth he probably should have retired after the Super Bowl. If he stays any longer he will be costing the team the growth of Andre Dillard. He did the jobs he was asked to do in his incredible Eagles career, but it's time for him to do one more job for Philadelphia -- step back for the sake of the growth of the team.
QB Nate Sudfeld
Before he broke his wrist, there was a spark that he brought in the preseason. I think Sudfeld is ready to start, so he needs to stay at least one more year to prove that he can be a starter in this league and also be a great backup in 2020 if Carson Wentz goes down with an injury.
QB Josh McCown
This one is simple -- he is a 40-year-old who came out of retirement to help the Eagles fill the quarterback depth after Sudfeld went down with his injury. Though it was great of him to help coach Wentz and play in the Wildcard round with a torn hamstring, he obviously needs to go back to retirement (and either become a coach or a TV analyst).
FS Rodney McLeod
A lot of Eagles fans are going to hate my opinion on McLeod, but it's truth time -- he needs to go. He is just not worth the money he will probably want, he's been average at best these past few seasons. There are times where he just fades into the background and you don't even realize he is on the field. The Eagles needs to inject some youth at safety, so it is best if the team lets McLeod walk and drafts a defensive back.
WR Nelson Agholor
Thanks for what you did in 2017, but GTFO.
DE Vinny Curry
I love Vinny Curry and he also wants to be back with the Eagles next season, so they need to figure it out to get him to stay. He played well in the Eagles defensive scheme this season, racking up five sacks (3rd-most on the team). He's just a player that gives his all when he is asked to step in and play.
DT Timmy Jernigan
I really wish this one would have worked out better, but with his injuries and lack of production when he is on the field, it's time they let him go (again). The Eagles need to find a defensive tackle they can trust next to Fletcher Cox in 2020 and beyond.
DT Hassan Ridgeway
He played pretty well for the Eagles early in the season before suffering his season-ending injury. Ridgeway is a younger guy that the Birds so desperately need to develop into a solid stuffer. If they can talk him into a cheap contract, then he needs to stay to boast up the depth of a defensive line that has dealt with a bunch of injuries and almost no production outside of Fletcher Cox.
TE Richard Rodgers
He came to the Eagles to fill a roster spot and that's literally he did. In parts of two seasons with the team, he had one catch for seven yards. They need to let him go and work on a guy like Joshua Perkins, who performed pretty well in his opportunities late in the season. If they don't feel Perkins is the answer for 3rd tight end, then they need to address the position in free agency or late in the draft.
OL Halapoulivaati Vaitai
After seeing that Vaitai plays better at guard than tackle, I think he could keep some depth on this offensive line. Since the Eagles line has some older players who have dealt with injuries (and it being crucial to protect Carson Wentz), I would like to see him stay if he accepts a reasonable contract price. However, if he wants to start or wants a significant pay increase, they could find someone cheaper to sit on the bench. So I'm on the fence with this one -- it all depends on what Big V's price is.
P Cameron Johnston
Johnston had the 12th-best net punting average. He is young and has no history of injuries and can boot a ball all the way down to the other end of the field. There is no reason why he shouldn't stay for 2020 and beyond.
WR Deontay Burnett
The Eagles wide receiver situation was a big problem this year. Burnett did show a little flash in his limited play though, so it would be smart to keep this young player around who has already spent some time on the field with Wentz to see what he can offer in a whole training camp and (potentially) a full season instead of just two games.
CB Craig James
Another one of the Eagles practice squad hero's who saved the Green Bay Packers game. With the Eagles secondary needing a whole new look, to keep someone like him around would certainly help the transition. He was also a pretty decent special teamer too.
RB Corey Clement
Boston Scott took his spot. Truly I loved Clement after his burst onto the scene in 2017, but injuries the past two season have stunted his career growth. He went from a guy who helped the Eagles win their Super Bowl to a guy who lost his spot at the table to a practice squad-er. It's sad to say this, but now it's time to GTFO.
No matter what happens to these players, I wish them all the best with their careers. In some form or another, they have all contributed to the Eagles, and helped them win their first ever Super Bowl as well as made postseason runs in 2018 and 2019 when no one thought it was possible. Now he have to sit back and let Howie Roseman do his job to see who will stay or go, so that this team can come back better than ever in 2020.
