The Philadelphia Eagles were an injury to Carson Wentz away from proving a lot of people wrong. While things didn't go as planned, Howie Roseman can now begin to get the team back on track this offseason with some great signings.
One of their biggest concerns is on the defensive side of the ball, especially at the cornerback position. While a few talented players are available, there are no excuses for why they can walk away with no less than two new starters.
Another issue for the team is their backup QB situation. Having Carson Wentz go down in the playoffs made this a high priority. In the last three seasons, Wentz has not made it through an entire year. While the Eagles had a veteran presence in Josh McCown, Roseman now understands that youth may be the way to go. There are a few signal-callers worth taking a look at.
Here are three free agents the Philadelphia Eagles must target this offseason.
Chris Harris (CB-Denver Broncos)
Last season, during the NFL trade deadline, there were rumors that Howie Roseman was going to put together a package for Harris. While noting materialized, now is the time to get him outright. The Eagles secondary has been a mess for a few seasons now and adding a solid player like Harris could be Harris start of a major overhaul. In 2019, the Eagles ranked 19th in passing yards allowed which put extra pressure on their front seven to produce.
For his career, Chis Harris has acclimated 518 tackles and 20 interceptions. While not Hall of Fame numbers yet, Harris is a seasoned vet with nine years under his belt and four Pro Bowls. He could be the new cornerstone of the Eagles' secondary. In a division where the receivers are not that great, if they can secure that part of the field, Jim Schwartz can unleash the hounds on all QBs.
Blake Bortles (QB-Los Angeles Rams)
After what happened last season in the playoffs, the Philadelphia Eagles would be wise to grab a quarterback this offseason. While the draft is QB heavy, the team needs a veteran, hopefully, a younger one than what they had in Josh McCown. Blake Bortles fits perfectly here. While many will down Bortles, he has shown the ability to win. His career has fallen a bit off the deep end, but as a backup, he could come in and win a game or two if needed.
What McCown couldn't do against the Seattle Seahawks, Bortles should have no trouble with execution. The Eagles' attack is not one dimension but Bortles has enough arm strength to get the ball down the field and enough movement in his legs to gain the extra five yards needed on a scramble. The best part is he will come cheap. Last season, while with the Los Angeles Rams, Bortles took home $1M. This is perfect for the Eagles' salary cap.
Bradley Roby (CB-Houston Texans)
This is how bad the Eagles need help. There were high hopes for Roby coming out of college in 2014 but mostly used as a reserve, he never fully got his chance to prove his worth early on. If the Eagles miss out on Harris, Roby would be a great second option. With the status of Jalen Mills and Ronald Darby not known, it's time for Plan B and C. In 2019, in 10 games, Roby registered 38 tackles to go along with 2 interceptions while playing for the Houston Texans.
The Philadelphia Eagles will have to pony up some dollars for what they need. Roby is still under 30 and was having the best season of his career even while missing six games. He's due for a payday and Roseman may be the one to show him the money. The good part is, Roseman has made movements with player's contacts that he can possibly snag both Harris and Roby in the same offseason.
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