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  • Who should the Birds keep?

    Philadelphia Eagles 2017 Free Agents: Stay Or Go

    Who should the Eagles keep?

    By Brandon Lee Gowton | January 12, 2017 at 6:00 am




    The Eagles have nine players who are currently scheduled to be free agents when the new league year begins on March 9. Philadelphia’s front office must decide by then which players deserve to stick around. Here’s a look at the Eagles free agents and my take on which players should stay or go.



    DT BENNIE LOGAN

    The Eagles have a big decision to make on one Logan.

    The 27-year-old defensive lineman has been a nice player on Philadelphia’s defense since being drafted in the third round of the 2013 NFL Draft. Logan isn’t known for his pass rush abilities but he’s very good at stuffing the run. The Eagles’ defense suffered when Logan suffered an injury in Week 6 and missed 3.5 games. Fletcher Cox didn’t record a single sack while Logan was out.



    Logan is well-liked in the locker room and he does a lot of good work when it comes to charitable efforts. The organization seems to be high on him.

    “Bennie fits in that group as a fiber guy, a guy that we drafted that has great character, leadership and is a really good player,” Roseman said in November. “We’d love to keep Bennie around.”

    The question, of course, is whether Logan will be worth the price tag it takes to keep him. Over The Cap told Birds 24/7 they expect Logan’s market value to be in the “$5.75 million to $6.75 million range.” There’s concern, however, that Logan could price himself out of the Eagles’ range. Philadelphia already has a lot of money invested in the defensive line, especially after giving a $100 million to Cox last summer.

    The feeling here is the Eagles should try to keep Logan. Make no mistake: the team shouldn’t just hand him a blank check. But he’s a good player and keeping him would keep in line with Roseman’s culture of rewarding home-grown talent. It would be frustrating for the Eagles to have extended the contract of Vinny Curry, who played 42% of the snaps in 2016, to only not be able to keep Logan.

    Another reason to keep Logan is the fact that the Eagles have no suitable in-house replacements. Beau Allen is fine backup but he’s not an ideal full-time starter. Defensive tackle becomes a big need if the Eagles can’t keep Logan.

    Pick: Stay

    CB NOLAN CARROLL

    Carroll is one of the “bandaid” players Howie Roseman referred to in his press conference following the conclusion of the regular season. The Eagles only brought back Carroll last offseason after letting him test the market. It would only make sense for Carroll to return in a similar situation this offseason. The Eagles don’t need to be in a rush to sign the 30-year-old corner.

    Pick: Go

    OL STEFEN WISNIEWSKI


    Shortly after signing with the Eagles last offseason, Wisniewski made it clear he was looking to test the market again in 2017. He’ll probably get the opportunity the wanted all along. Wis was a decent spot starter for the Eagles in six games. If his market dries up and he’s willing to return as a backup, the Eagles should have interest. But it seems like he wants an opportunity for more playing time than what will be available in Philadelphia. Wisniewski turns 28 in March. The Eagles should be looking to get the younger Isaac Seumalo more involved in the future.

    Pick: Go

    LB STEPHEN TULLOCH

    The Eagles only signed Tulloch after Joe Walker suffered a season-ending injury during a preseason game against the Steelers. Tulloch played 69 snaps on defense but didn’t play a single snap on special teams. There’s no need for the Eagles to bring the 32-year-old veteran back.

    Pick: Go

    LB NAJEE GOODE

    Goode, who turns 28 this summer, finished second on the Eagles in special teams tackles in 2016. He’s a good ST player who also serves as a versatile backup linebacker. The Eagles should be able to bring him back on a cheap deal.

    Pick: Stay

    DE Bryan Braman

    Braman is really a special teams player only. One might figure the Eagles would have already re-signed him by now if they wanted to keep him around. The Eagles didn’t choose to extend Braman when they gave out new deals to key members of their special teams unit (Chris Maragos, Donnie Jones, Jon Dorenbos). Philadelphia should let him test the market and consider bringing him back on a cheap deal.

    Pick: Go

    RB KENJON BARNER (RESTRICTED)

    Barner made the most of his limited touches in 2016. He finished the season with 129 rushing yards on 27 attempts (4.8 average) and two rushing touchdowns. He also had 42 receiving yards on five catches. Along with his offensive contributions, Barner filled in nicely at kick returner after Josh Huff was released. Barner averaged 30.7 yards on nine returns, including a long return of 61 yards. The Eagles should offer Barner the lowest restricted free agency tender and give him a shot to make the 2017 roster.

    Pick: Stay

    TE TREY BURTON (RESTRICTED)

    The Eagles’ third string tight end played 29.2% of Philadelphia’s offensive snaps last season. He ended the 2016 campaign with 37 receptions for 327 yards and one touchdown. Burton finished fourth on the team in special teams tackles with five. He also forced a fumble and recovered one while playing on special teams.

    The 25-year-old Burton is a nice role player to have around. He arguably has some of the most reliable hands on the team. That’s not saying much considering how bad the Eagles’ receivers are, but still.

    The Eagles should look to give Burton the second-round restricted free agent tender. He’s deserving and it would make it easier on the team to keep him around. Other teams might try to make him offers if the Eagles give him the lowest tender.

    Pick: Stay

    DB JAYLEN WATKINS
    (EXCLUSIVE RIGHTS)

    Watkins is an exclusive rights free agent which means he has to accept the minimum tender the Eagles offer him or else he can’t play for anyone else. Watkins had a nice summer showing in order to make the 2016 roster but he didn’t play great during the season. The Eagles should bring him back to compete for a depth safety job but he shouldn’t be guaranteed a roster spot. He’ll be competing for a backup job with Terrence Brooks and perhaps a rookie or two as well. Watkins will need another strong offseason to make the team in 2017.

    Pick: Stay


    Personally I'd let everybody go and try to sign Benny
    "Hey Giants, who's your Daddy?"

  • #2
    Logan: GO (will cost too much to keep)
    Carroll: GO (need to draft two corners with first 3 picks)
    Wiz: STAY if the price is right (need to keep quality depth)
    Can't argue with the rest other than Watkins. He was our worst player on D this year by far. Can't tackle, can't cover, out of position, slow to react to the ball, . . .
    Every time our corners had Watkins "helping" over the top he might as well have not even been there. The QBs knew it too.
    Canada's #1 Eagles fan.

    Comment


    • #3
      rspurr, I think you stole my answer.
      http://shop.cafepress.com/content/global/img/spacer.gifOK, let's try this again...

      Comment


      • #4
        I would try to sign Logan. If he signs for a reasonable amount great. If he wants to break the bank you have to let him go. I would also offer Carroll a chance to come back and compete, and wind up as a backup, but it would be at the minimum. He will probably get more somewhere so he will probably go.
        The only one I would try hard to keep is Burton but he may get looks from other teams offering a bigger role. I'd also talk hard to Barner because he may think some other team is offering him a good deal but his best bet is with the birds.
        Wait until next year is a terrible philosophy
        Hope is not a strategy
        RIP

        Comment


        • #5
          Stay: Burton
          Stay (Joe Banner Style): Logan, Wiz, Goode, Barner
          Go: Braman, Tulloch
          You're kidding right: Carroll, Watkins

          Comment


          • #6
            I said Benny earlier and I'd offer the others vet minimum and see how it goes. If a rookie can beat them out then cut them.I guess that you have to offer Burton something especially if Celek goes. I just don't see all the love that Burton gets. He's decent and I'll leave it at that. I know that he's a great athlete but I don't see him ever becoming some kind of weapon. I guess that you could also point to his ST value for a reason to keep him too.
            "Hey Giants, who's your Daddy?"

            Comment


            • #7
              Jaylen Watkins is AWFUL JUST HORRID TERRIBLE AWFUL.
              You know Darren if you'd have told me 10 years ago that someday I was going to solve the world's energy problems I'd have said your crazy.... now lets drop this big ball of oil out the window.

              Comment


              • #8
                I'd try to keep Logan and Wiz. Carroll if the price is right because we are hurting at corner. The rest can go.

                Comment


                • #9
                  Yea, I don't know why they said Wiz should "go". If it's because they don't think the Eagles will be able to convince him to stay, then I understand. but SHOULD go? no. He's at least decent, and is versatile to back up multiple positions. You keep guys like that around in case you have seasons like.....we just had.
                  http://shop.cafepress.com/content/global/img/spacer.gifOK, let's try this again...

                  Comment


                  • #10
                    Originally posted by FRESH View Post
                    Yea, I don't know why they said Wiz should "go". If it's because they don't think the Eagles will be able to convince him to stay, then I understand. but SHOULD go? no. He's at least decent, and is versatile to back up multiple positions. You keep guys like that around in case you have seasons like.....we just had.
                    I think that Wiz is gone Fresh and probably should go. He wants to start and the Eagles want to go young. They're going with Peters so that is a big hit. I imagine Barber will start because he got extended.
                    "Hey Giants, who's your Daddy?"

                    Comment


                    • #11
                      That could be part of the equation, IMM. If Peters stays, it makes more sense to let Wiz go. If Peters is let go, the we should definitely try t retain him.
                      http://shop.cafepress.com/content/global/img/spacer.gifOK, let's try this again...

                      Comment


                      • #12
                        Originally posted by FRESH View Post
                        That could be part of the equation, IMM. If Peters stays, it makes more sense to let Wiz go. If Peters is let go, the we should definitely try t retain him.
                        If Peters goes I'm leaving with him!
                        "Hey Giants, who's your Daddy?"

                        Comment


                        • #13
                          I want the best OL possible, be that adding draft picks, FAs or retaining our own at an appropriate price. I want them to be bad ass from 1-10.
                          We're looking for people that are fundamentally different,” vice president of player personnel Andy Weidl said Saturday night. “The love and passion for football, it's non-negotiable. They're caring, their character, they do the right thing persistently, and they have a relentless playing style that you can see on tape. The motor, it burns hot. You see them finishing plays. They have a team-first mentality. They're selfless individuals.

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