NFL insider adds to Philadelphia Eagles fans' anxiety regarding critical free agents

An NFL insider adds to the anxiety regarding the loss of key Eagles defensive free agents.

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Jan 21, 2023; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Philadelphia Eagles safety C.J. Gardner-Johnson (23) against the New York Giants during an NFC divisional round game at Lincoln Financial Field.
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The anxiety is already bubbling to the surface for the Philadelphia Eagles, and NFL insider Adam Schefter isn't cooling the boil. 

Schefter joined 97.5 The Fanatic to discuss the upcoming NFL free agency window. And there, he didn't provide any calming words for the Philadelphia faithful, who are expecting to see key free agents walk out the door for more lucrative contracts. 

Specifically, Schefter gave some insight into the C.J. Gardner-Johnson situation, which involves a video that looks more like a goodbye than ever before. 

If anyone is going to know what is going on with the Eagles' key free agents, it will be NFL scoop master Schefter. 

Here's what Schefter had to say on two crucial Eagles free agents in Gardner-Johnson and defensive tackle Javon Hargrave:

"Hargrave is gonna get about $20 million a year, I think," he said. "That's my projection going into next week. We'll see if that turns out to be right or wrong. I think he's gonna get the most money of all these guys." 

When asked about the type of money Gardner-Johnson would command in the open market, Schefter predicted that he would earn somewhere in the ballpark of $13 million. And when asked if he thought Gardner-Johnson was leaving to find that money elsewhere, Schefter's answer was simple. 

"Yeah, that'd be my guess," he said. 

Uh oh. 

Many hoped after the season the Eagles put together in 2022 that the team would stay together past the 2023 season. But the bill always comes due. And when a team makes the Super Bowl, the disease of more sets in — more money, more playing time, more opportunities. That seems to be the case for the Eagles. And in free agency, the team probably won't be holding on to key players that made the special moments of 2022 happen. 

Schefter also went on to say that cornerback James Bradberry will also be out of the door, a move that many Eagles fans have already accepted.

Championship windows are minuscule. It requires an opportune time, opportune contracts, and a situation that produces ubiquitous success. Now the Eagles are looking at a team that will be drastically different on key fronts next season because keeping continuity is simply too expensive.