Few teams need a more productive offseason than the Philadelphia Eagles, so the Eagles' free agency scores in 2024 will be crucial to their success this season.
Keep in mind that the Eagles had a terrible collapse at the end of the 2023 season. There is a lot of uncertainty and skepticism around the organization right now, so they need a solid offseason to regain faith.
Ranking of Philadelphia free agent moves
How have the Eagles done so far this season? What is the Eagles' offseason plan? Is it clear they have a plan? Well, we know that Philadelphia didn't use the franchise tag, which isn't surprising. But what about the team's free agent signing? Let's go over all the big moves they made and the Eagles' free agency grades in 2024.
Saquon Barkley – 3 years, $37.75 million
Let's face it, Saquon Barkley is an upgrade at running back than almost any other player in the league. Philly was able to sign him to a reasonable contract, promising him $37.75 million over the next three years. Obviously, Barkley has struggled with some injuries in the past and is not coming off his best season.
But at 27 years old, Barkley should have three good years in his legs if he can stay healthy. Keep in mind that he won't have to carry Philly's offense the way he has had to carry the Giants in recent years. Convincing the Southeastern Pennsylvania native to leave a rival and come to Philadelphia is the icing on the top and makes this a crucial move for the Eagles.
Grade: A-
Bryce Huff – 3 years, $51.1 million
That seems like a lot of money to pay for Bryce Huff, especially since he probably won't even get into the Eagles' starting lineup in 2024. To be fair, Huff has done a nice job of putting together an NFL career as an undrafted player. .
But he has a modest 14.5 sacks in four seasons and has dealt with injuries at times. The Eagles are taking a chance by promising Huff so much money when they could have met other needs.
Grade: C-
DeVante Parker – One year, $4.69 million
The only reason this move isn't a complete disaster is the fact that the Eagles aren't giving DeVante Parker that much money. However, they didn't need to spend any money this offseason on a wide receiver.
Keep in mind that Parker only has one 1,000-yard season on his resume, and that came in 2019. Playing in New England the past two years obviously didn't help him, so he could come back with better players around him. On the other hand, the 31-year-old may be over the hill, making the move a waste of $4 million.
Grade: C-
CJ Gardner Johnson – 3 years, $27 million
After letting CJ Gardner-Johnson walk away last season, the Eagles did a good job of righting things by bringing him back to Philadelphia on a long-term deal. Including the postseason, Gardner-Johnson played just five games for the Lions last season due to injury.
However, the 26-year-old is a good candidate to bounce back. Given the age of Philly's other cornerbacks, a young corner like Gardner Johnson was an ideal move and a sound investment.
Grade: B+
Other notable signatures
While players like Barkley and Gardner-Johnson are the standouts of the offseason, the Eagles have made several low-key moves as well. Taking a chance on former Pro Bowler Devin White at quarterback is a move that could pay big dividends for the Eagles.
They also added good depth at the position with Zach Baun and Orrin Burks while Matt Hennessy was a good depth addition to the offensive line. Also, grabbing Paris Campbell has some upsides and may end up being a better signing than Parker.
Total
The Eagles haven't been able to completely avoid some head-scratching moves over the offseason. Signing Huff comes with some risks, while signing Parker might be somewhat pointless. However, signing Barkley could be huge for Philly while adding depth at linebacker and a quality cornerback like Gardner Johnson is exactly what the Eagles need on defense.
This hasn't been the best offseason for any team, but it will put the Eagles in a good position to put last year's collapse behind them and be a No. 1 contender in the NFC in 2024.
Grade: B+
