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As they wade through free agency and prepare to evaluate draft prospects at the Indianapolis Scouting Combine (March 1-6), the Philadelphia Eagles must decide which players to keep and seek if they want to improve their 7-9 record from last season. The Sports Xchange and NFLDraftScout.com evaluated the Eagles' roster and created a shopping list to use in free agency and reference during the Combine.
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Most important this offseason is the quest to surround quarterback Carson Wentz with more playmakers as running back Ryan Mathews is not expected to return. They do like the upside of Wendell Smallwood. Expect the Eagles to pursue receivers, while also seeking to upgrade at cornerback where Leodis McKelvin was released and Nolan Carroll will be a free agent.
THE BREAKDOWN
2016 finish: 4th NFC East (7-9)
2016 STATISTICS
TOTAL OFFENSE: 337.4 (22nd)
RUSHING: 113.3 (11th)
PASSING: 224.1 (24th)
TOTAL DEFENSE: 342.8 (13th)
RUSHING: 103.3 (15th)
PASSING: 239.5 (13th)
NEEDS, SHOPPING LIST
&=Released
TOP THREE NEEDS
WIDE RECEIVER
Jordan Matthews is one of the league's better slot receivers, but the Eagles got no production from their outside receivers, particularly 2015 first-round pick Nelson Agholor.
UFA TARGETS (Age, previous contract's average annual salary)
DeSean Jackson, Washington (31 in December, $6M)
Alshon Jeffery, Chicago (27, $14.6M)
Pierre Garcon, Washington (31 in August, $8.5M)
Terrelle Pryor, Cleveland (28 in June, $1.67M)
Anquan Boldin, Detroit (37 in October, $2.75M)
Cordarrelle Patterson, Minnesota (26 in March, $1.8M)
DRAFT TARGETS (Rating pos/overall, Player, School, Ht., Wt., Proj. Rd.)
1/8 Mike Williams, Clemson, 6-3, 225, 4.50, 1 (underclassman)
2/16 Corey Davis, Western Michigan, 6-3, 213, 4.48, 1
3/19 John Ross, Washington, 5-11, 190, 4.35, 1 (underclassman)
4/37 Curtis Samuel, Ohio State, 5-11, 200, 4.48, 1-2 (underclassman)
5/42 Dede Westbrook, Oklahoma, 5-11, 175, 4.39, 2
CORNERBACK
The Eagles have been trying to upgrade this area for the last four years. They gave up the most 30-yards-plus pass plays in the league in 2016.
UFA TARGETS (Age, previous contract's average annual salary)
A.J. Bouye, Houston (26 in August, $1.67M)
Trumaine Johnson, L.A. Rams (27, $13.95M)
Logan Ryan, New England (26, $693K)
Stephon Gilmore, Buffalo (27 in September, $3.02M)
Brandon Carr, Dallas (31 in May, $10M)
Prince Amukamara, Jacksonville (28 in June, $5.5M)
DRAFT TARGETS (Rating pos/overall, Player, School, Ht., Wt., Proj. Rd.)
1/10 Marshon Lattimore, Ohio State, 6-0, 195, 4.47, 1 (underclassman)
2/15 Teez Tabor, Florida, 6-0, 201, 4.50, 1 (underclassman)
3/21 Marlon Humphrey, Alabama, 6-1, 196, 4.49, 1 (underclassman)
4/23 Sidney Jones, Washington, 6-0, 181, 4.49, 1 (underclassman)
5/34 Desmond King, Iowa, 5-11, 206, 4.53, 1-2
EDGE RUSHER
The only impactful outside pass rusher they have is Brandon Graham. They need someone who can slide protections toward him and free up Graham and defensive tackle Fletcher Cox.
UFA TARGETS (Age, previous contract's average annual salary)
Jason Pierre-Paul, N.Y. Giants (28, $10M)
Calais Campbell, Arizona (DT; 31 in September, $11M)
Jabaal Sheard, New England (28 in May, $5.5M)
Mario Williams, Miami (32, $8.5M)
Charles Johnson, Carolina (31 in July, $3M)
DRAFT TARGETS (Rating pos/overall, Player, School, Ht., Wt., Proj. Rd.)
1/1 Myles Garrett, Texas AM, 6-4, 268, 4.57, 1 (underclassman)
2/3 Solomon Thomas, Stanford, 6-2, 275, 4.84, 1 (underclassman)
3/17 Derek Barnett, Tennessee, 6-3, 265, 4.76, 1 (underclassman)
4/28 Taco Charlton, Michigan, 6-5, 272, 4.87, 1
5/32 Charles Harris, Missouri, 6-3, 255, 4.74, 1-2 (underclassman)
6/39 Carl Lawson, Auburn, 6-2, 253, 4.67, 1-2 (underclassman)
UFA KEEPERS
DT Bennie Logan (28 in December, $758K)
CB Nolan Carroll (30, $2.36M)
ROSTER REVIEW:
DEPTH CHART
Starters and backups are listed according to their status at the end of the season, but players who were starters before being injured are included.
* Indicates player who ended 2016 season on reserve.
& Indicates player released since the Super Bowl.
QUARTERBACKS: Starter -- Carson Wentz. Backups -- Chase Daniel.
RUNNING BACKS: Starter -- *Ryan Mathews. Backups -- Darren Sproles, *Kenjon Barner, *Wendell Smallwood, Byron Marshall, Terrell Watson.
TIGHT ENDS: Starter -- Zach Ertz. Backups -- Trey Burton, Brent Celek.
WIDE RECEIVERS: Starters -- Jordan Matthews, Nelson Agholor. Backups -- Dorial Green-Beckham, Bryce Treggs, Paul Turner.
OFFENSIVE LINEMEN: Starters -- LT Jason Peters, LG Allen Barbre, C Jason Kelce, RG Brandon Brooks, RT Lane Johnson. Backups -- G Isaac Seumalo, C/G Stefen Wisniewski, T Halapoulivaati Vaitai, C Josh Andrews, G/T Dillon Gordon, *T Matt Tobin.
DEFENSIVE LINEMEN: Starters -- DE Brandon Graham, DT Fletcher Cox, DT Bennie Logan (UFA), DE Connor Barwin. Backups -- DT Beau Allen, DT Destiny Vaeao, DE Vinny Curry, DE Marcus Smith, DE Bryan Braman (UFA), DT Taylor Hart, *DE Alex McCalister.
LINEBACKERS: Starters -- OLB Nigel Bradham, MLB Jordan Hicks, OLB Mychal Kendricks. Backups -- OLB Najee Goode (UFA), MLB Stephen Tulloch (UFA), OLB Kamu Grugier-Hill, *MLB Joe Walker.
DEFENSIVE BACKS: Starters -- &CB Leodis McKelvin, CB Nolan Carroll (UFA), S Rodney McLeod, S Malcolm Jenkins. Backups -- *CB Ron Brooks, CB Jalen Mills, S Jaylen Watkins, CB C.J. Smith, S Terrence Brooks, CB Dwayne Gratz (UFA).
SPECIAL TEAMS: K Caleb Sturgis, P Donnie Jones, KR Wendell Smallwood, PR Darren Sproles, *LS Jon Dorenbos.
