The Philadelphia Eagles have a tough decision to make this offseason when it comes to a pending free agent.

Defensive lineman Javon Hargrave is set to be a free agent when the new league year begins in March.

Hargrave, who signed a three-year deal with the Eagles ahead of the 2020 season, is coming off the best year of his career.

The former South Carolina State standout totaled 60 tackles and a career-high 11 sacks in 2022. It was the first time in his seven-year NFL career that he's finished the season with double-digit sacks.

Hargrave likely earned a nice payday with his play in 2022. But the Eagles will have to decide if it's worth bringing back the 30-year-old defensive lineman. Philly has a couple of big contract extensions coming up — Jalen Hurts this offseason and DeVonta Smith next offseason — so they have to be careful when it comes to cap space.

NFL Network analyst Brian Baldinger, a former NFL offensive lineman, gave his thoughts on the Hargrave situation on Thursday.

Baldinger thinks Hargrave is a "priority free agent for Philadelphia.

"So I think that's a priority free agent because if they allow him to enter free agency I know some teams that are like there's gonna be a bidding war for Javon Hargrave," said Baldinger. "And it might be that team that he came from in Pittsburgh that might be like, come on back home, we drafted you…he wouldn't be on the market long."

Those comments from Baldinger mean the Eagles either need to extend Hargrave before he gets to free agency or they need to let him walk. The last thing Philly needs to do is get into a bidding war while also trying to work out a contract extension with Hurts.

Spotrac has Hargrave's market value at around $20 million a year. They're projecting him to receive a three-year deal worth $60 million. That would be about a $7 million raise over what he made the last three years in Philly. And if a bidding war ensues, that number could climb a bit.

$20 million is probably too steep for the Eagles. If they can get him for around $16 or $17 million, then maybe it makes sense. Hargrave, however, is well aware of what's out there in free agency for him. And I'm betting he'll want to test the market instead of signing an extension.

With the Eagles needing to create cap space, they'd probably be best served to let Hargrave walk and try to replace him via the draft or with an under-radar-free agent.

Featured image via Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports