Eagles’ pending free agents could reunite with former coach
The Eagles could lose some important pieces to an old friend.
It is no secret that the Eagles have a ton of important players heading for free agency in 2023.
Fletcher Cox, Brandon Graham, and Javon Hargrave highlight the list of players without contracts. As it currently stands, the team has just over $5 million in cap space, so it's inevitable that some of these players will be gone.
Where could they go? NFL insider Tony Grossi thinks these players will be linked to the Cleveland Browns due to Jim Schwartz being hired as the new defensive coordinator for the team.
Before taking the Cleveland gig, Schwartz spent two seasons with the Titans as a defensive assistant. Before that, Schwartz was the DC in Philadelphia from 2016-2020, where he coached Cox, Graham, and Hargrave.
In addition to Schwartz, the Philadelphia-Cleveland pipeline is also strengthened by Browns' executives Andrew Berry and Catherine Raiche.
Raiche served as the vice president of football operations for the Eagles from 2021-2022, and Berry served in that same position for the Eagles in 2019. Thus, all three have familiarity with this batch of players.
An additional factor to consider is that the Browns have a major need along the defensive line. The team finished ranked 25th in rushing defense in 2022, allowing opponents to gain 135 yards per game on the ground.
The Browns' defensive line in 2022 left much to be desired. Jordan Elliott, Perrion Winfrey, and Tommy Togiai were among the lowest-rated defensive tackles in the league in 2022, according to PFF. Adding just one of Hargrave, Cox, or Graham would immediately transform the Cleveland defensive front.
It is worth noting that the Browns are in an even worse cap position than the Eagles currently. As it stands, the Browns are 23rd in cap space, with -$13,224,002. We've seen teams get increasingly creative with restructuring recently, so it is still not impossible for the Browns to add a big name.
Losing Cox, Graham, or Hargrave would be a brutal blow to the most proficient pass-rushing team in the league in 2022. Graham and Cox have spent their entire careers with the Birds, and are fourth and fifth, respectively, in Eagles' all-time sack leaders.
