Seeing All of Rosman's Moves in Free Agency in Recent Years Originally Appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia
We are about to enter one of the busiest times of the year in the NFL.
The league's negotiating window opens at noon on Monday and the league year officially begins at 4 pm. on Wednesday. The Eagles, like every team, are going to make some moves and bring in some new faces.
I really consider this a new era of Eagles football from 2016—now because 2016 is when general manager Howie Rosman has regained his power in the front office.
With that in mind, look at every move the Eagles have made since 2016 to window players from the beginning of free agency through the draft:
2016
Leodis McKelvin: (2 years/$6.2 million) The Eagles hired Jim Schwartz and brought in McKelvin, who had previously played for them at Buffalo. In his one season with the Eagles, McKelvin played 13 games, making 12 starts. He had two interceptions but was not very good and was cut by the Eagles after the season. He hasn't played in the NFL since.
Rodney McLeod: (5 years / $35 million) It turned out to be a great signing for the Eagles. McLeod played for four years as a free agent for the St. Louis Rams and the Eagles saw something in him. McLeod became a high-level starter in safety for the Eagles and helped City deliver a Super Bowl. He has spent six years in Philly and has taken on a de facto leadership role. He is a free agent this off season.
Ron Brooks: (3 years, $5.55M) Another corner from his time at Buffalo with an acquaintance with Schwartz, Brooks played six games with five starts in 2016, actually suffering from a serious injury. He ruptured his right quadriceps tendon and never played in the NFL again.
Brandon Brooks: (5 years, $40M) Talk about a complete home run. Brooks was a solid starter in Houston but he became a three-time Pro Bowl right guard with the Eagles and helped them win the championship. While injuries plagued the last few seasons of his career, he played guard at a higher level than almost anyone in franchise history. He has just retired this offseason.
Chase Daniels: (3 years, $21 million) The Eagles initially signed Daniel to be the backup QB behind Sam Bradford. But then he drafted Carson Wentz at No. 2 and when he sent Bradford to Minnesota, the Eagles moved Wentz to No. 1 and Daniel remained the backup. Daniels saw action in just one game in his year with the Eagles, which cut him the following season. Daniels has started five games in his long NFL career and has amassed over $40 million.
Nigel Bradham: (2 Years, $7M) The Eagles really tried to recreate that 2014 Buffalo Bills defense. Bradham made a strong signing though. While his off-the-field activities made headlines, Bradham ended up playing four years in Philly and started 58 games in those four years. The veteran linebacker was a huge part of the Super Bowl team.
Chris Givens: (1 year, $840K) Without much of a WR position, the Eagles tried to find some really cheap pace, but it didn't work out. Givens was in the league in 2012, but did not make the team and has not played in the NFL since.
Ruben Randall: (1 year, $1.025M) There was actually some excitement when the Eagles brought Randall over from the Giants. After all, there were three very productive seasons before the former second-round receiver was signed. In four years with the Giants, Randall took 188 catches for 2,644 yards and 20 touchdowns. But it didn't take long to understand why the Giants were ready to leave him. By the time he met Philly, he seemed quite apathetic. He didn't make the team and hasn't taken another picture in the NFL since.
Ryan Mueller: (1 year, $495K) Eagles signed former Kansas State Edge rusher as fullback. But then Doug Pedersen realized he didn't want to use the fullback in his offense and that was it.
Stephan Wisniewski: (1 year, $1.51M) Certainly an under-the-radar signing, the Eagles brought in Wiz after five seasons as a starter for the Raiders and Jaguars. He ended up playing 46 games with 24 starts for the Eagles in three years and started on left guard in the Super Bowl. After leaving the Eagles, he took another Super Bowl ring with the Chiefs. Vij retired last offseason.
Ryan Quigley: (1 Year, $675K) Punter lasted just a month with the Eagles and didn't even make it to training camp.
TJ Graham: (1 year, $760K) The Eagles tried another faster and cheaper receiver in 2016. Graham had some good years as a third-round pick, but didn't make the Eagles' roster and hasn't played since 2015.
2017
Alshon Jeffery: (1 year, $9.5 million) Jeffrey didn't put down huge stats in 2017, but he was a big part of the Super Bowl team. He played through injury and was their No. 1 receiver during that magical season. Things didn't end too well here but it was initially a one-year deal hit.
Chance Warmack: (1 year, $1.51M) The Eagles hoped that Jeff Stoutland would be the career-changing man of the former first-round pick, but that didn't happen. Before the Eagles turned to Wisniewski after selling Isaac Semalo to left guard, he actually tried to start Warmack. It didn't go well.
Torrey Smith: (3 years, $15M) Smith's numbers (36/430/2) weren't great in 2017, but he was a starter on the Super Bowl team. His one year in Philly should be considered successful, but he traded receivers year after year to dump his salary.
Nick Foles: (2 years, $11M) The Eagles brought back an old friend to backup Carson Wentz. I'd say it worked pretty well.
Chris Long: (2 years, $4.5M) Fresh off a Super Bowl championship with the Patriots, repeated long runs with the Eagles in 2017. He was a very solid rotational pass rusher and found pressure on a huge pick-6 in the NFC Championship. Play. He spent just two years in Philly but was a clear fan favorite.
Patrick Robinson: (1 year, $775,00) Speaking of that pick-6, that pretend guy was Robinson, just one season here. After looking terrific in training camp as an outside CB, he finished very well in the slot and was redeemed the following season as a free agent.
Trade for Timmy Jernigan: In the third round, the Eagles got Jernigan from Baltimore for a pick-swap. The veteran DT received a four-year extension during the season, which still didn't really pay off due to a mysterious injury. But the initial business was good.
Matt McGloin: (1 Year, $800K) The former Penn State QB had a tough training camp and was released on the final cut.
2018
Trade for Michael Bennett: Eagles got a fifth from Bennett and the Seahawks and a 7th rounder for WR Marcus Johnson. Bennett played just one season in Philly and had 9 sacks but was not necessarily the best fit. The Eagles traded him the next offseason.
Trade for Daryl Varley: Worley was a comeback for Smith. At the time, it looked like the Eagles had found a young and talented cornerback, but Varley was arrested near the team's facility in April and hacked the next day.
Corey Nelson: (1 year, $1.6M) The Eagles signed Nelson with the hope that he would actually be able to help their linebacker Corps. It did not happen. He didn't even make it to the roster. A big disappointment.
Haloti Ngata: (1 Year, $3M) Ngata was once a great player in the NFL, but it wasn't until he met Philly. He could still eat a double-team, but at the end of the final year of his NFL career he couldn't do much.
Mike Wallace: (1 year, $1.915M) The Eagles thought they were actually getting an upgrade from Smith to the outside WR spot, but the former Steelers pro bowler lasted just two games. He ruptured his fibula in week 2 and his career was over.
Paul Varrillo: (1 year, $880K) The former Falcons and Lions linebacker should have at least helped the Eagles into special teams, but he tore his ACL on the first day of the OTA and never played a snap for them.
Richard Rodgers: (1 year, $880K) Rogers was signed by the Eagles for the first time. The veteran TE has always been only a phone call away in recent seasons.
2019
Malik Jackson: (3 years, $30M) The big free agent signing this offseason was adding Jackson to play alongside Fletcher Cox. But it didn't work well enough for planning. Jackson was injured in the first game of the season and missed most of 2019. In 2020, he played 15 games but managed just 2.5 sacks before the Eagles moved on.
Trade for Deason Jackson: The Eagles acquired Jackson from the Bucks with minimal late-round pick swaps and then signed him to a three-year contract until 2021. Over the next two seasons, Jackson was good at recovery but struggled to stay in the field, playing just eight games before the Eagles moved on.
lj Killa: (3 Years, $5.5M) Killa was buried on the bench for the first four games of the 2019 season before the Eagles cut him down. He went to Baltimore and went on to become an influential player for the Ravens throughout 2019 and the rest of 2020. He tore his ACL in the 2021 preseason.
Andrew Sandejo: (1 year, $1.3M) Eagles brought in veteran safety but released him after 9 games. In those 9 games, he made 28 tackles, one interception and two pass breaks.
Trade for Jordan Howard: The Bears got a sixth-round pick for Howard from the Eagles, a former Pro Bowl running back. Through the first seven games of the 2019 season, Howard split runs with Miles Sanders and was really good, averaging 4.4 yards per carry before a Stinger ruined his season. Howard cashed in the following season with Miami, but lasted just five games with the Dolphins in 2020 before returning to Philly.
2020
Javan Hargrave: (3 years, $39 million) Years after failing to sign Malik Jackson, the Eagles tried again. Hargrave's first year got off to a disappointing start due to a plan change and an injury. But he later played better in 2020 and was a pro bowler in 2021.
Trade for Darius Slay: Eagles send Detroit third-round pick and fifth-round pick for Pro Bowl corners. Then they signed him for a lucrative extension of three years. Slay had a good first year but he was a pro bowler in 2021 and that showed why he is nicknamed Big Play Slay.
Jatvis Browne: (1 year, $1.048M) The Eagles signed the veteran linebacker with the hope that he would help with special teams and battles for the opening gig. But he surprisingly retired that summer.
Will Parks: (1 year, $1.5M) This was supposed to be a happy Philadelphia homecoming for security veteran from Denver. He was known as one such player in the secondary, but the Eagles could not find a role for him and cut him during the season.
Nickel Robbie-Coleman: (1 Year, $1.35M) It looked like a steal at the time. The Eagles getting one of the best nickel corners in the NFL for that cheap? But it didn't work. The NRC was not nearly as good as advertised and it forced Avonte Maddox to take on a role as an outside corner that did not suit him.
2021
Andrew Adams: (1 year, $1.128M) A seasoned safety and special teamer, it's almost hard to remember that Adams was here in 2021. They had an OK camp and were on the bubble, but were released and went back to the Books.
Anthony Harris: (1 year, $4 million) The Eagles had a new coaching staff in 2021 and defensive coordinator Jonathan Gannon clearly wanted some people from Minnesota familiar with his action. Harris had a great eight-interception season a few years ago, but was fine in 2021. He suffered a few injuries during the year but started 14 games.
Joe Flacco: (1 year, $3.5M) Going into the season with Jalen Harts as starter, the Eagles paid more for backup, bringing in the veteran from South Jersey. Flacco was traded during the season to the Jets for a sixth-round pick back once Gardner was ready to assume the Minshaw backup role.
Eric Wilson: (1 year, $2.75M) Oops. Another person familiar with Gannon's plan, the Eagles plugged Wilson into the starting lineup for seven games. But once he was demoted and couldn't help out in the special teams, they released him.