The Eagles have roster holes to fill. This isn’t breaking news. It isn’t a surprise. Not to the fans, not to the media, not to the front office. Chip Kelly has spent his offseason on vacation. Well…as close to vacation as you will find him: jet-setting from bowl game to bowl game in the hopes of identifying the names that will comprise his draft board come April. Chip won’t be able to fill out his roster with rookies alone. The idea is that formerly drafted players—the Josh Huffs & Marcus Smiths & Taylor Harts, etc.—step into starting roles and begin contributing to the success of the team. Unfortunately, the Eagles have glaring deficits at positions where there is no talent in the developmental pipeline.
Chip Kelly & his yet-to-be-named second in command will have to compile a free agent shopping list to fix what the draft can’t. Last week, we identified the players within the NFC East that could play for the Eagles in 2015. This week, we look at the AFC East:
Buffalo Bills
CJ Spiller, Jerry Hughes, Da’Norris Searcy, Chris Hairston
Spiller is a name to watch here. The Eagles have reportedly tried to acquire the sparkplug back on several occasions without success; most recently last offseason before they turned a fifth round draft pick into Darren Sproles. Chip loves him some weapons, so Spiller is intriguing. Jerry Hughes has played exceedingly well the last two seasons: totaling 20 sacks & forcing 5 fumbles. If Kelly & Co. are trying to lock up guys like Brandon Graham before he hits free agency, then Rex Ryan & his new personnel department is doing the same with Hughes. Searcy played the best year of his four-year career in 2014. He is of smaller stature: measuring 5’11” & 207 lbs. He is a guy to keep an eye on if bigger name free agents—like those listed below— make their way to other franchises. Hairston is a backup OT that can play both sides well & could be valuable depth behind an aging Jason Peters. It should be noted that teams undergoing regime changes often have more roster turnover than others. Rex Ryan, however, has competitive knowledge of the guys on this roster & will want to keep defensive talent around.
Miami Dolphins
Matt Moore, Louis Delmas, Knowshon Moreno, Daryn Colledge, Jimmy Wilson, Kelvin Sheppard
Moore would make a serviceable backup QB is you work under the assumption that Sanchez will head for greener pastures. He isn’t the long term answer for the Birds under center but would make a fine backup. Delmas would have been in line for significant pay bump this offseason had he not torn his ACL in December. Even still, he’d be an improvement over Nate Allen with just one fully functioning leg. Jimmy Wilson came in to replace Delmas and did a fine job but will likely be resigned by Miami. Moreno is another RB that is going to help someone’s offense next year. He is injury prone and will be overpaid…just not by the Eagles. Sheppard is a 27 year old MLB who was once traded from the Bills to the Colts for, interestingly, Jerry Hughes. The LSU product has some talent but would likely be roster-filling on this team. Still, with DeMeco Ryans’ aging & injured, you can never have enough guys competing for a starting gig.
New England Patriots
Darrelle Revis, Devin McCourty, Shane Vereen, Stevan Ridley
Revis & McCourty. McCourty & Revis. How much better would they look with Wings on their helmets? How much better would this defense look with Revis & McCourty lining up in spots formerly occupied by Bradley Fletcher & Nate Allen? Those two guys instantly turn this defense into the Seahawks…said every sports radio caller the day after these signings happen. No, these signings won’t make this defense THAT good. But they will be able to end drives on 3rd & long: instead of surrendering the big play or drive-extending flag. They will be able to get off the field without having surrendered 6 points in the process. Something has got to change in the Eagles secondary and either (or, preferably, both) of these guys would make the Eagles better: period. The RBs can be summed up together. They are both injury prone. Vereen missed parts of two of the last four seasons to injury. Ridley, on the other hand, played in only six games this season.
New York Jets
Damon Harrison, David Harris, Dawan Landry
The Jets have money to spend this year: with ~$40M available to spend under the cap, according to overthecap.com. Like the Bills, the Jets have will start 2015 with a new head coach & general manager in Todd Bowles & Mike Maccagnan, respectively. Bowles—all too familiar to Eagles fans—will do everything he can to retain quality defensive talent but the guys listed above may shake loose if 1) they don’t fit Bowles scheme, or 2) if they’re tired of playing for the dumpster-fire Jets. Harrison is a solid nose tackle but is also a restricted free agent & Chip Kelly seems to have nose tackles he likes in Bennie Logan & Beau Allen. David Harris is another ILB candidate that could replace DeMeco Ryans, if the Eagles end up going that way, but is likely to stay in New York and get paid far to much. Dawan Landry—brother to Laron Landry—is a safety that could be had cheap while younger talent develops. At 32 years old, his best playing days are behind him & he would be a thumb-in-a-dyke kind of rental. Hopefully, a drafted rookie lines up alongside Malcolm Jenkins in 2015.
