The Philadelphia Eagles made headlines with their impressive Draft Day performance. The most notable move was the trade for wide receiver AJ Brown who is sure to be a great compliment to DeVonta Smith. The Eagles have gone all-in on surrounding Jalen Hurts with the necessary weapons and this is sure to be a “prove-it” year for the young quarterback.
The Eagles also made some notable additions through the draft itself. They opened the draft by trading up in the first round to add DT Jordan Davis. Philadelphia also added Nakobe Dean in Round 3. The Georgia linebacker is regarded as one of the steals of the draft and was college teammates with Jordan Davis. Philadelphia also drafted center Cam Jurgens, linebacker Kyron Johnson and tight end Grant Calcaterra. While the success in the draft is worth celebrating, there is still plenty of work to do to properly construct the roster.
2 Moves the Eagles Must Make After 2022 NFL Draft to Complete Roster:
Sign James Bradberry
There has been a lot of buzz connecting the Eagles and former Giants cornerback James Bradberry. The secondary is the weakest area of the team and has been for several years. The addition of Darius Slay has made a massive impact but there is still a hole on the other side of the secondary.
James Bradberry would be a perfect addition to the team. The 28-year-old would complete the Eagles' defensive puzzle. The former Samford standout made a Pro Bowl appearance in 2020 and had a career-high four interceptions and two fumble recoveries last season. He also has missed just two games in the past five years. Bradberry still has plenty left in the tank and is one of the more proven secondary options still available.
The circumstances that made the six-year veteran available are somewhat unique. The New York Giants had been actively trying to trade the cornerback until shortly after the draft. They did not receive the amount of interest expected. With no deal available, the Giants elected to release the defensive back. That saved themselves $10.1 million against the salary cap.
Pairing Darius Slay and James Bradberry would give the Eagles two elite corners. That could help take the Eagles from a good team to a legitimate Super Bowl contender. Philadelphia was rumored to have an interest in trading for Bradberry, and with him now on the free agency market, they have a second chance to complete the team. Howie Roseman would be wise to capitalize on this and complete his near-perfect offseason.
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Sign Will Fuller
The Eagles have already done an excellent job upgrading at the wide receiver position by trading for AJ Brown this offseason. AJ Brown and DeVonte Smith are great stylistic compliments and have exciting potential. However, there should be less confidence in the crop of wide receivers behind this duo.
Quez Watkins, Greg Ward, Jalen Reagor, and Zach Pascal each of their individual pros and cons. However, it is hard to believe any of these players would have the immediate impact of Will Fuller.
The 28-year-old receiver has had at least 500 yards receiving in all five seasons with the Houston Texans. Fuller has elite speed and is a home-run threat on an every-play basis. In his five seasons with the Texans, Fuller never averaged less than 13.5 yards per catch. Adding his elite speed alongside the physicality of AJ Brown and the elite route-running of DeVonte Smith would be a nightmare for opposing defenses.
The veteran wideout is not without his red flags. He missed time in 2021 with a PED suspension, a personal issue, and a broken finger. He had just four receptions in two games with the Miami Dolphins. The expectations that he could take the next step in his career were not met and the season turned out to be a major disappointment.
While this obviously was not ideal, it also creates an opportunity to add Will Fuller on a cheaper contract than he is worth.
The 2022 offseason should already be looked at as a major success for the Philadelphia Eagles. Eagles GM Howie Roseman has masterfully maneuvered the draft and put the team in a position to succeed. However, the final touches must still be made to complete this current team. The additions of James Bradberry and Will Fuller would raise the ceiling even further.
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