The 2024 NFL offseason is officially underway after the Chiefs’ 25-22 win over the 49ers in Super Bowl LVIII from Las Vegas.
The league will take the next month to catch its breath, but the slowdown won’t last long, as potential free agents will face the franchise tag, and all 32 teams will head to Indianapolis for the NFL Scouting Combine at the end of February.
The 2024 cap is expected to exceed $240 million, according to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, and where things currently stand, Philadelphia is expected to have roughly $20,284,984 in cap space.
The Birds are set to have 20 pending free agents, and with another likely retool schedule on defense, the organization could conjure up a scheme for more flexibility.
According to Over the Cap’s potential transaction chart, the Eagles can easily create $35.4 million in cap space by making these five moves.
With the new league year fast approaching, we’re looking at 30 potential free-agent targets for Philadelphia.
1
LB, Patrick Queen, Ravens
If I were Howie Roseman, the Brinks truck would get back up for Queen as the Eagles finally look to approach the linebacker position with a sense of urgency.
Queen had a career-high 133 tackles (84 solos) and matched a career-high with six passes defended while adding 3.5 sacks, nine tackles for loss, one interception, one forced fumble, and one fumble recovery.
Queen is the only NFL defender to produce at least 400 tackles, 10 sacks and 10 takeaways since he entered the league in 2020.
2
Andrew Van Ginkel, LB, Dolphins
Van Ginkel was productive in his one season under Fangio, starting 11 games for the Dolphins in 2023 and logging 69 tackles, an interception, and a career-high six sacks.
Under Fangio, Van Ginkel (6-4, 242) offers versatility, playing some inside linebacker, while flourishing as an edge rusher.
3
DeShon Elliott, S, Dolphins
Elliott played just one season under Fangio with the Dolphins in 2023, starting 15 games and logging 82 tackles, seven pass breakups, and an interception playing next to fellow safety Jevon Holland in a defense that utilized three safeties.
4
Josey Jewell, LB, Broncos
A Former fourth-round pick out of Iowa who has played all six of his NFL seasons in Denver, Jewell played under Fangio from 2019-2021, logging 33 games with 21 starts.
Jewell averaged 108 tackles the past two seasons despite missing five games because of injuries. He’s still a smart, instinctive player and a strong tackler.
5
P.J. Locke, S, Broncos
With Kareem Jackson missing time this season in Denver, Locke ended up playing a career-high 539 snaps and started 8 games, logging 53 tackles, three sacks, 5 passes defended, and one interception alongside Justin Simmons.
Locke played under Christian Parker, who is joining the Eagles’ staff under Fangio.
6
OLB Malik Reed, Raiders
Reed (6-2, 245 pounds) played for Fangio in Denver and re-joined the veteran defensive coordinator with the Dolphins last offseason.
During his tenure with the Broncos under Fangio From 2019-2021, Reed played in 45 games with 34 starts and had 15 of his 16 career sacks. His best season came in 2020 when he started 13 games and had a career-high eight sacks and 17 QB hits.
7
EDGE Brian Burns, Panthers
In 2023, Burns logged 50 tackles, 16 tackles for loss, 8.0 sacks, 18 QB hits, two pass breakups, one forced fumble, and one fumble recovery in 16 starts.
8
S Antoine Winfield Jr., Buccaneers
Winfield Jr. is the top safety expected to hit free agency, displaying elite versatility in the box, in the slot, or as a free safety, which will have him in high demand.
9
S Kyle Dugger, Patriots
10
S Geno Stone, Ravens
Stone started 11 of 17 games for Baltimore this season, finishing second in the NFL with 7 interceptions, along with 68 tackles and 9 passes defended.
11
EDGE Chase Young
The former No. 2 overall pick did have 66 pressures and 7.5 sacks in 16 games with the 49ers and Washington Commanders. Just 24, Young could be perfect for a rebuilding Eagles defense.
12
Devin White, LB, Buccaneers
White finished the 2023 regular season with 83 tackles (49 solo), including 2.5 sacks, two interceptions and an additional four defensed passes across 14 games. He added three assisted tackles in the Buccaneers’ two postseason games.
13
Kenneth Murray,LB, Chargers
Murray registered 107 tackles (79 solo), four passes defensed, three sacks and one interception across 15 games for the Chargers during the 2023 season.
Murray missed the final two games of the season due to a shoulder injury, but the 25-year-old linebacker had his most productive professional campaign to date.
14
Willie Gay Jr., LB, Chiefs
Gay has earned the role as a starting linebacker since entering the league in 2020 as a second-round draft pick and has now won back-to-back championships as the starting weakside linebacker for the Chiefs.
Gay’s 88 tackles during the 2022 season, ranking third on the team.
During the 2023 season — he posted 58 tackles, and according to Pro Football Focus, Gay posted grades of at least 66.5 during his first three seasons in the league. He ranked 20th among all players in his position during the 2021 season and 32nd during the 2022 season.
15
Clyde Edwards-Helaire, RB, Chiefs
Edwards-Helaire is a former first-round pick in the NFL Draft, and with Isiah Pacheco solidified as the lead running back in Kansas City; he only logged 223 yards and one touchdown in 2023.
He offers potential on a low-market deal.
16
Xavier McKinney, S, Giants
McKinney fits the profile of the new age of NFL safety play.
The 2020 second-round NFL Draft pick is just 24 and has been a captain for the past two seasons.
McKinney was sidelined for the first 10 games of his rookie season with a broken foot, but showed his durability by playing all 1,128 defensive snaps this season.
McKinney can play deep as a free safety, play the run in the box and cover tight ends in man coverage.
17
Isaiah Simmons, LB, Giants
A freak athlete that offers versatility at multiple positions, Simmons logged 50 tackles (33 solo), including a sack, and added an interception that he returned for a touchdown over 17 games during the regular season.
Simmons joined the Giants via trade in August after having been a starter for the Cardinals each of the previous two seasons.
18
Mack Wilson, LB, Patriots
19
J.K. Dobbins, RB, Ravens
Dobbins had eight carries for 22 yards and a touchdown, along with two catches for 15 yards, before he suffered a torn Achilles in the Ravens season opener.
The talented running back will have suitors on the open market.
20
A.J. Dillon, RB, Packers
Dillon (thumb/neck) logged 178 carries for 613 yards and two touchdowns while adding 22 receptions for 223 yards over 15 games in the 2023 season.
Dillon saw action in Green Bay’s first 14 games of the season, but his yards per carry have dipped each of the last three seasons and Philadelphia could be the perfect change of scenery.
21
Jeremy Chinn, S, Panthers
Chinn finished the 2023 regular season with 30 tackles (18 solo), including one sack, and one pass defended in 12 games.
Chinn’s production has declined across each of his four NFL seasons, and the former 2020 second-round pick land elsewhere as an unrestricted free agent this offseason.
22
Antonio Gibson, RB, Commanders
Gibson finished 2023 with 65 carries for 265 yards and a touchdown and 48 catches for 389 yards and two touchdowns on 59 targets.
Gibson offers a rare combination of size and speed.
23
Saquon Barkley, RB, Giants
Barkley amassed 962 rushing yards and six touchdowns last year while adding 280 receiving yards and four scores.
24
C.J. Gardner-Johnson, S, Lions
Gardner-Johnson tore a pectoral muscle in Week 2 and did not play again until the regular-season finale against Minnesota. He finished the regular season with 16 tackles and one INT in three games, primarily playing at single-high safety but also with a healthy dose of box safety and slot corner mixed in.
In 2022 with the Eagles, Gardner-Johnson led the NFL in interceptions with six picks in just 12 games, and Roseman could look to bring him back.
25
Darnell Savage Jr., S, Packers
26
Devin Singletary, RB, Texans
Singletary, a dual threat who continues to improve, recorded at least three receptions in five of his final six games. He’s set to hit free agency this offseason and helped his market by tallying 1,091 yards from scrimmage with four total touchdowns across 17 games with the Texans.
27
Taylor Rapp, DB, Bills
Rapp spent one underwhelming season in Buffalo, logging 33 tackles, one interception and two passes defended.
28
Zack Moss, RB, Colts
A potential value signing, Moss ran for 369 yards and a touchdown in eight games with the Colts in 2022 and then had a breakout season in 2023.
Filling in for an injured Jonathan Taylor, Moss played in 14 games with eight starts and ran for 794 yards with five touchdowns. He added 192 yards and two touchdowns on 27 receptions, finishing just under 1,000 yards from scrimmage.
29
Curtis Samuel, WR, Commanders
The Eagles won’t be bringing back Quez Watkins, and a potential replacement can be found in a familiar NFC East foe.
Curtis Samuel finished 2023 with 62 catches for 613 yards, four touchdowns on 91 targets, seven carries for 39 yards, and a touchdown.
Samuel was one of five Commanders to catch four TD passes and finished second to Terry McLaurin in most major receiving categories. Samuel’s 2023 receiving numbers were nearly identical to those from 2022 (62-613-4 receiving line).
Samuel would be the perfect No. 3 wideout behind DeVonta Smith and A.J. Brown, with opposing defenses being forced to respect his pass-catching abilities.
30
Frankie Luvu, LB, Panthers
ESPN’s Aaron Schatz predicts the Eagles will make a run at Carolina Panthers linebacker Frankie Luvu as a top offseason priority.
During the 2023 season, Luvu logged 125 total tackles and 7.5 sacks, forced two fumbles, and broke up five passes for Carolina.
31
Del'Shawn Phillips, LB, Ravens
The 27-year-old Phillips logged 24 tackles while playing primarily on special teams across 17 appearances for the Ravens last season.
An experienced player who saw limited action behind Patrick Queen and Roquan Smith, Phillips could bring stability to the Eagles at a value price.
32
Eddie Jackson, S, Bears
Jackson was released by the Bears in a cost-cutting move.
We have released Eddie Jackson and Cody Whitehair.
— Chicago Bears (@ChicagoBears) February 15, 2024
Jackson, 30, has spent his entire seven-season career with Chicago, who picked him in the fourth round of the 2017 draft.
He has started all 100 games he has appeared in his career, and in 2023, he had an interception and 37 tackles in 12 games.
Jackson is familiar with Vic Fangio’s scheme and could be a name to watch.
