Start Of Legal Free Agent Tampering Reportedly Doesn’t Go Eagles’ Way

The clock had noon yesterday marking the unofficial start of NFL free agency, better known as the legal tampering period.

But if you were keeping score at home by the time the clock struck midnight, though it probably won’t go down as a banner day in Philadelphia Eagles history. Watching some of their top targets come off the free agent shelves as if they were hand sanitizer and toilet paper had to disappoint folks visualizing players like cornerbacks Byron Jones or James Bradberry and wide receiver Amari Cooper joining the Eagles’ flock.

And unless you’re a big fan of former Steelers’ nose tackle Javon Hargrave, who’s coming to town for a mere $39 million over the next three years, you have to hope today will be a better free agent day.

Keeping in mind nothing can officially be announced before 4:00 Wednesday, by the time the sun had set last night various sources had reported the top two free agent cornerbacks, Jones and Bradberry, were already off the board, along with such notables as Patriots’ linebacker Kyle Van Noy, Titans’ tackle Jack Conklin and Rams’ defensive lineman Michael Brocker.

Then, shortly after stunning news broke that Halapoulivaati Vaitai, who had started all of 20 games in his four years as an Eagle offensive lineman, had come to terms on a five-year, $50 million deal with the Lions, it was finally Philadelphia’s turn to make a splash. 

So say hello to the 27 year-old 6-2, 305 lb. Hargrave.  It came as a bit of surprise the Birds would go in the direction of the former Steeler, who’s recorded only 15 sacks over his four-year career and until this past season had never played more than 47% of the snaps. 

That’s not only because they would seem to have bigger needs, but because they already seemed pretty set at defensive tackle with Pro Bowler Fletcher Cox, plus Malik Jackson who’s set to return from the Lisfranc ankle sprain that prematurely ended his season after one game. In addition, earlier in the day they re-signed DT Hassan Ridgeway for another year.

Perhaps there’s another shoe left to drop here. Otherwise the Eagles have just used almost 1/3 of their available cap space at a position of relative strength. 

Meanwhile, Jones will play for the Dolphins—joining fellow free agent signees Van Noy, Shaq Lawson and Erick Flowers— for a reported $82.5 million over the next five years, a $16.5 million average. Bradberry will face them twice a year as a Giant thanks to his new three-year, $45 million deal.  And when Houston re-signed 28- year-old Bradley Roby for three years and $36 million it reduced their cornerback options even further.

While that was going on another chain of events shook up the wide receiver market. The highlight of the day came when Houston sent 27-year-old DeAndre Hopkins, coming off a 104-catch, 1165-yard season to the Cardinals for a package that included running back David Johnson, who’s been hurt the past few seasons. Hopkins will make $14 million next season, the third year of a five-year, $81 million contract. Johnson, though, will still cost them $10.2 million.

Next came word that the Bills had dealt for 26-year-old Vikings wideout, Stefon Diggs, who was in the second year of five-year, $72 million contract. He didn’t come cheap, though, costing Buffalo this year’s first round pick plus three additional picks.  Prior to the trade there had been rumors the Eagles were interested in dealing for Diggs.

That seemed to pave the way for the Eagles or someone else to snare the 26-year-old Cooper after he was unable to work out a deal with the Cowboys before hitting the open market. Or did it?   In the ensuing hours either Cooper couldn’t find an offer to his liking or else decided his heart really did belong in Big D.

The end result was Cooper’s life as a free agent ended shortly after 11 P.M when it was reported he’d agreed to stay with the Cowboys for $100 million—$60 million guaranteed—over the next five years.  It was a major blow for those hoping the Eagles biggest rival would be weakened by Cooper’s departure, especially if they’d believed the Birds would snatch him up.

Before anyone panics, there are still some prime targets both at wide receiver—Tampa’s Breshad Perriman and the Jets’ Robby Anderson heading the list—as well as cornerback, topped by Minnesota’s Trae Waynes and Tennessee’s Logan Ryan. However, if you were hoping the Eagles might find someone to backup Carson Wentz who’s actually played quarterback, that ship may have sailed.

Players whose names have been mentioned like Marcus Mariota and Case Keenum won’t be coming here, after the Raiders and Browns respectively locked them up. It also seems inconceivable a Teddy Bridgewater, Philip Rivers or Jameis Winston would be willing to be coming as anything less than a starter. That leaves the incumbents, 40-year-old Josh McKown and Nate Sudfeld, along with veterans like Blake Bortles, Blaine Gabbard, Colt McCoy or Trevor Siemian to choose from.

So Day One of legal free agent tampering is in the books. There figures to be plenty more action as Day Two gets underway. The Eagles, still in need of a receiver, at least one cornerback, linebacker and more, have to hope today goes better than yesterday.

The clock is already ticking.