The Eagles are set for wholesale changes after finishing the season 1-6 after a 10-1 start.
The first domino to fall is All-Pro center Jason Kelce, 36, who reportedly told his teammates he is retiring after 13 seasons with the Eagles but may now be having a change of heart.
Brandon Graham, who turns 36 in April, says he wants to return to the Eagles for one more final season, his 15th, and he’s one of the few guys on the roster deserving of writing his final script.
According to Over The Cap, Philadelphia has 20+ free agents, and we’re looking at the ten players who exceeded expectations this season.
RB D'Andre Swift
Swift made the Pro Bowl in his first season with the Eagles, and the free agent to be rushed for a career-high 1,049 yards with five touchdowns.
He also logged 39 receptions for 214 yards and a touchdown.
Swift has shown the ability to be a lead running back and if Howie Roseman doesn’t come correct, the former Georgia running back could his dual-threat production elsewhere.
OL Jordan Mailata
Jordan Mailata (85.9), Jason Kelce (84.8) and Lane Johnson (82.9) were each among the five highest-graded players at their positions this season.
Mailata was the only NFL offensive tackle this season to earn at least an 83.0 grade in both run blocking and pass blocking.
WR A.J. Brown
One year after shattering the Eagles record for receiving yards in a season, A.J. Brown registered an Eagles receiver record 106 catches, to go along with 1,456 yards and 7 touchdowns.
S Reed Blankenship
Blankenship appeared in 15 regular-season games this season, leading the Eagles in interceptions (three), solo tackles (79) and total tackles (113).
The former undrafted free agent is now a key part of the Eagles defense and should team with Sydney Brown and potential draft pick for years to come.
P Braden Mann
After years of uncertainty at the position, punter Braden Mann set an Eagles records by averaging 49.8 yards per punt with a 43.9-yard net average.
An unrestricted free agent, Mann should be high on the list of players that need to return, and he’ll have suitors on the open market.
WR Britain Covey
Jeff McLane of The Philadelphia Inquirer reports that Covey underwent a procedure on his left knee this offseason.
Still, the former Utah wide receiver averaged the league’s second-most yards per punt return (14.4).
In 17 games in 2022 with the Eagles, Covey did not record a catch and only had four catches for 42 yards and no touchdowns last season, but that could change in 2024 under new OC Kellen Moore.
LB Zach Cunningham
A late summer edition, Cunningham finished the season with 85 tackles (54 solo) and a pair of fumble recoveries in 13 regular-season games.
Hamstring and knee issues caused Cunningham to miss four of the final six weeks of the season, a major reason for the Eagles late-season collapse.
DT Jalen Carter
First-round picks are expected to produce, but Carter got out to a fast start, and even after fading down the stretch, he still was the runner-up for the AP NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year award.
Through the first nine weeks, Carter generated 29 pressures (tied for eighth in the league among interior defensive linemen), according to Pro Football Focus, including four sacks and 20 hurries.
During the first half of the season, Carter played 49% of the defensive snaps (despite missing Week 6 against the New York Jets with an injury), second among Eagles defensive tackles behind only Fletcher Cox.
His production fell off down the stretch.
Carter finished his rookie year with 6.0 sacks, 33 tackles, two forced fumbles, and one fumble recovery (which he returned for a touchdown) in 16 regular-season games.
Carter started just one game and played 51 percent of the Eagles’ defensive snaps, but the ninth overall pick in the 2023 Draft was third on the team in sacks and fifth among all rookies.
DT Fletcher Cox
The 33-year-old Cox has played 12 NFL seasons since being chosen by the Eagles in the first round of the 2012 draft.
In 2023, Cox produced 33 total tackles, five sacks, 17 quarterback hits, and three tackles for loss, remaining a steady force as an interior pass rusher during a season in which he was expected to play the mentor role.
Cox made the Pro Bowl every season from 2015 to 2020 and re-signed with Philadelphia last offseason on a one-year, $10 million deal.
CB Eli Ricks
An undrafted free agent out of Alabama, Ricks saw action in 16 regular season games, logging 19 tackles, 1 tackle for loss, and 3 passes defended.
Ricks saw 233 snaps in coverage, allowing a 76.2 passing rating, and 11.7 yards per reception.
