If I were Howie Roseman: a 15-step guide for how the Philadelphia Eagles could navigate the offseason

Howie Roseman isn’t seeking my advice days before free agency opens in a critical Eagles offseason. He’s armed with more than $40 million in cap space plus three picks in the first two rounds (and more thereafter) to upgrade the roster. But if he wants ideas, here’s a 15-step guide for how to navigate the offseason:

1. Find a resolution with Haason Reddick 

The most immediate decision must be what to do about Haason Reddick. If a three-year, $65-million contract would keep him in Philadelphia, I’d try to make it work. If the average annual salary he will fetch on the market is pushing upwards of $25 million, I’d consider what a trade delivers. 

The Cardinals did not have a single player record more than six sacks last season, and it’s a down year for edge rushers in the draft. Would a reunion with Jonathan Gannon — and a redemptive return to the desert — make sense for Reddick? I’d try to land the No. 35 overall pick and a 2025 fourth-round pick. If the Cardinals instead find their upgrade on the open market, would the Detroit Lions pay for Reddick to try to push them over the edge? I’d ask for the No. 73 overall pick this year and a 2025 second-round pick as opposed to seeking this year’s second-rounder at the end of the round.

2. If Reddick is traded, think big about his replacement 

In the scenario that Reddick is traded, don’t look at the roster and think you’re fine with Josh Sweat and Nolan Smith. Roseman likes to be involved with every player. The first call I’d make is to Carolina Panthers general manager Dan Morgan and see if they would trade Brian Burns, who is on the franchise tag. I’d offer the No. 22 pick and make Burns one of the highest-paid edge rushers in the NFL. The Eagles traded a first-round pick for Jason Peters in his prime. They traded a first-round pick for A.J. Brown in his prime. I’d be similarly bold with Burns, who turns 26 in April and has 46 sacks since entering the league in 2019. You could counter that they might as well just pay Reddick in this scenario, but I’d be intrigued about an edge rusher who is four years younger and could emerge into one of the NFL’s best pass rushers during his second contract. And the added draft picks from the Reddick trade would still give you enough inventory to add talent in the draft.

If you can’t get Burns, at least you took a swing. I’d then look for an emerging pass rusher in free agency. My target would be Bryce Huff, a rotational pass rusher with the Jets coming off a 10-sack season. If his salary is in the mid-teens, that would be a good direction. If the contract pushes closer to $20 million per season, I’d look for Patriots’ Josh Uche on a two-year, $15-million deal. Uche had 11.5 sacks two seasons ago and never played more than 33 percent of New England’s defensive snaps. He’s coming off a down season, so he doesn’t have the same leverage as Huff and would come at a lower cost.

 3. Sign a starting safety with the profile of Malcolm Jenkins/Rodney McLeod

The Eagles need safety help. If money was not a consideration, Xavier McKinney would be the target — he turns 25 in August, he’s been a high-level player with the Giants and has range and coverage skills. But I’m not sure the Eagles will outbid for the top non-tagged safety, even if they were willing to do so two years ago for Marcus Williams.  I would look at history as a guide and channel what worked with Malcolm Jenkins and Rodney McLeod — a mid-20s player who’s not coming off a career season, but could emerge as a better player in his second contract than his first. The player who would intrigue me is Rams safety Jordan Fuller, a two-time captain with experience in a Vic Fangio-style defense. A North Jersey native who went to Ohio State and comes from the Rams with plus intangibles is your perfect Jenkins/McLeod combo, right? I’d look at Juan Thornhill’s contract as a comparison and offer a three-year deal around $7 million per season.

Two variables here I’d mention: C.J. Gardner-Johnson would interest me if bygones are bygones. The Eagles missed his personality on defense last season, and he’s a ballhawk with safety/slot cornerback versatility. The contract could be discounted relative to last season’s ask.

Also, the Jeremy Chinn evaluation would depend on the scheme. He’d be a target if you think he can play in Fangio’s defense. But he had a down year in that style of scheme last year, and the Eagles would need to evaluate what type of player he is. Roseman has liked him in the past, and there’s much to like. But this is a scheme evaluation as much as a player evaluation.

I would resist going with the Justin Simmons/Eddie Jackson route. Find a starter for the next three years, not a Band-Aid. There are enough appealing options that fit that profile.

4. Sign a starting linebacker with the biggest financial investment in the position since Nigel Bradham

I’m not suggesting the Eagles get into the Patrick Queen market — that price is going to be too high. But they should see if they could get in the Jordyn Brooks market. That’s the starting linebacker I’d target as a player — a 26-year-old, former first-round pick who can cover, blitz and has starting experience, but has not yet put it all together at an elite level. A contract pushing $10 million per year might be too high to go for the Eagles at linebacker — and one might argue it’s too high for Brooks — although it would be the Eagles’ biggest financial investment in the position since Nigel Bradham. I’d also see what Blake Cashman costs. (If you like Frankie Luvu, then I’d say him, although that’s not the direction I’d go.) Short of those, I’d look at Willie Gay, who has 47 career starts in four years with Kansas City with notable athletic traits. The $5 million-$8 million range might be a more likely option, but I wouldn’t treat this like last season when they waited until August for veterans on low-cost deals.

The wild card is if they evaluate Chinn as a linebacker. He could be an intriguing option in that case.

5. Let the market come to you at running back, with a D’Andre Swift return an option

This is like two free agent classes in one at running back with the three players who were tagged last year available this year (Saquon Barkley, Josh Jacobs, Tony Pollard). As appealing as it might be to add a dynamic running back, I would not set the market at the position. There’s going to be more starting-caliber supply than demand for starters at the position, and the Eagles should act accordingly. If the price is reasonable for Barkley, make a move for a top-of-the-league running back. But don’t pay $12 million per year. I’d keep communication open with D’Andre Swift for a one-year deal. It could benefit Swift to return to a good role in a familiar setting, continue to produce, and hit a less-crowded running back market next offseason at age 26. Would Swift return on a one-year deal worth $6 million? I’d explore that option.

My backup plan would be to take a buy-low swing on J.K. Dobbins — a player the Eagles liked in the 2020 draft — or sign A.J. Dillon as a role player, and then draft a running back (such as Tennessee’s Jaylen Wright) to land a young eventual starter on a cost-controlled deal. 

And if the Eagles explore the trade market again, I’d see what Houston’s price is for Dameon Pierce.

6. Exercise DeVonta Smith’s fifth-year option, work on contract extensions for Smith and Landon Dickerson

Both DeVonta Smith and Landon Dickerson are eligible for contract extensions, and I would act swiftly. The first order of business is exercising Smith’s fifth-year option, which buys time for a new deal. But I still would not wait too long with Smith because the wide receiver market is rising, especially with players such as Ja’Marr Chase and Justin Jefferson in line for new deals. Dickerson is entering the last year of his deal and I wouldn’t want him to get in a situation where the Eagles must tag him next offseasason. Finding the right price could be the challenge. Only two guards make at least $20 million — Chris Lindstrom and Quenton Nelson — and the Eagles should try to get in a step below. The asking price for Dickerson remains to be seen. But Dickerson should be a core player for the Eagles, and Roseman typically finds a way to keep homegrown core players.

7. Be patient with the James Bradberry decision 

This is not to say the Eagles should keep James Bradberry on the 2024 roster, but there’s no financial incentive to cut him. Although there’s less dead money making him a post-June 1 cut, there still would not be cap savings. So I’d hold onto him for now, see how he looks this spring in Vic Fangio’s defense, and then make a decision. It’s unfortunate for Bradberry if he’s released later in the calendar — the Giants similarly held onto him in 2022, hurting his market — but the guaranteed money in the deal is such that it makes for the Eagles to take their time before making a decision.

8. Turn right guard to Tyler Steen, and don’t overspend on veteran depth

The Eagles drafted Tyler Steen at the top of the third round with the belief that he could become the starting right guard. Give him that opportunity. There might be risk in turning to an unproven right guard next to an unproven center (Cam Jurgens), but this is life after Jason Kelce and this is why they anticipate needs a year ahead, Steen had a year to learn in Jeff Stoutland’s decision, and now they must see what he is. I would add veteran depth as insurance, but I wouldn’t overpay for a starting-caliber guard. Maybe Jack Driscoll or Sua Opeta return as a reliable backup, or there’s an inexpensive veteran who could help. Plus, the Eagles will add in the draft. But I would make this Steen’s spot.

9. Give Brandon Graham his farewell tour

This one should be easy. Graham wants to return for a 15th season. He won’t play elsewhere. The price presumably won’t be prohibitive, and Graham could be valuable in the locker room (and slot as a No. 4 edge rusher) for 2024. Every dollar matters, but they should find a compromise to make this work.

10. Find your No. 3 wide receiver in the draft

The Eagles must upgrade the No. 3 wide receiver this offseason, although they can wait until the draft to do it. You might be compelled to try to bring in Noah Brown or Darnell Mooney in free agency. I’d argue otherwise — the Eagles will have enough resources tied into A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith and can find an upgrade in a loaded receiver draft class. Roman Wilson, Keon Coleman, or Troy Franklin in Round 2? Jacob Cowing or Ainias Smith in a middle round? The Eagles will have options. They haven’t selected a wide receiver during the past two years. Spend the pick — not the money — this offseason.

11. Draft an offensive tackle in the first two rounds

You might find this pick boring, although as Joe Douglas used to say, today’s luxury becomes tomorrow’s necessity. This is a top-heavy offensive tackle draft, so value will likely be present. The Eagles need to start thinking about Lane Johnson’s backup plan. And what if Johnson (or Jordan Mailata) misses time? There aren’t many 34-year-old offensive tackles playing 17 games. The Eagles need young, high-level talent, and this is the draft to find it. Whether it’s Tyler Guyton or Amarius Mims — or perhaps a slight trade-back for Kingsley Suamataia — the Eagles can find their future bookend and the 2024 swing tackle early in the draft.

12. Draft two cornerbacks, including one in the first three rounds and one who can play the slot

The Eagles need to continue adding to their pipeline of young cornerbacks. Kelee Ringo was one investment last year, and Eli Ricks showed upside as an undrafted rookie. This year offers another opportunity with a more valuable pick. NFL Network’s Daniel Jeremiah has 14 cornerbacks with grades in the first three rounds. The Eagles have shown interest in first-round cornerbacks in recent years, and if the value is present this year, they could take the swing or find an appealing in Round 2. (Could Kamari Lassiter continue the Georgia-to-Philly pipeline?) They also should consider finding Avonte Maddox’s replacement for their top option in the slot — how would Mike Sainristil sound? A boundary cornerback and nickel cornerback would be the ideal part of their overall draft haul.

13. Acquire a 2025 Day 2 pick 

With three picks in the first two rounds (and a potential Haason Reddick trade), the Eagles should consider trade-back opportunities to land a 2025 Day 2 pick. That type of down-the-line thinking will help the Eagles be in more situations like the past two years, when they had a surplus of picks in the top two rounds. Also, there’s an argument the draft might be deeper next season given the relative dearth of underclassmen this year with the NIL era of college football kicking in. I would be more inclined to trade back in Round 1 and/or Round 2 with an eye on future picks than trading up. 

14. Stack the deck for Tanner McKee to win the No. 2 QB job

The Eagles value the backup quarterback spot, as they would be quick to tell you. But the salary allocation for a backup is different when the starter is on his rookie contract compared to his second contract. Hurts’ extension is kicking in, and the Eagles might not be able to spend for the experienced veteran. Tanner McKee showed promise in the preseason last season and has been in the room with Hurts for a year. The Eagles can bring in a low-priced veteran to compete with McKee, but I’d give McKee every chance to win the backup spot. If he can spend three seasons as Hurts’ No. 2, that’s a good return for a sixth-round pick.

15. Keep your eyes on an upgrade at No. 2 tight end, but don’t force it (And consider the trade market)

Dallas Goedert is older than Brent Celek when the Eagles drafted Zach Ertz and Ertz when the Eagles drafted Goedert. So it could be time for the Eagles to start thinking about his eventual replacement who could help as the No. 2 tight end. The Eagles should be on the lookout for options to upgrade over their returning backups, although this is not an especially deep tight end class. The quick signing of Albert Okwuegbunam might have signaled the Eagles need their internal options to further development. One avenue to explore: the trade market. If the Titans draft Brock Bowers, does Chigoziem Okonkwo become expendable the way Swift was free last year when the Lions took Jahmyr Gibbs? Tight end shouldn’t be a priority, but it should be a consideration.