5 targets for Eagles in 2022 NFL free agency
By John Buhler
The Philadelphia Eagles may look to upgrade their roster by adding some pieces in free agency.
While the Philadelphia Eagles are not swimming in money, they have enough to make a big play or two in 2022 NFL free agency.
In a year where many people thought the 2021 Eagles would be a bottom-four team in the league, the Birds made the NFC playoffs. Though that was only as the No. 7 seed and they got shellacked by Tom Brady and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Super Wild Card Weekend, this team is way ahead of schedule in Nick Sirianni’s early Philadelphia coaching tenure. The pressure is now on.
Here are five free agents the Eagles could target with their nearly $21 million of salary cap space.
Philadelphia Eagles: 5 players to target in 2022 NFL free agency
Pick Analysis. Atlanta Falcons. Cordarrelle Patterson. 5. player. Scouting Report. RB/WR. 44
This is all about getting the ball in Cordarrelle Patterson’s hands above all else
It is hard to argue a better free-agent acquisition last year league-wide than Cordarrelle Patterson to the Atlanta Falcons. The former first-round pick out of Tennessee had been a Pro Bowl special teams player, but no team prior to Atlanta had figured out how to best use him offensively. Is he a wide receiver? Is he a running back? The answer is yes, because he is a football player! What a get!
While Patterson may want to return to the Dirty Birds for another year, the Falcons continue to be in a terrible situation with with the salary cap. Franchise quarterback Matt Ryan’s cap hit for 2022 will be record-setting. All the while, it may be gargantuan enough to let a Pro Bowl-level player like Patterson slip through the cracks. Can you imagine what he could do in this Eagles offense?
The idea behind getting Patterson would be to offset losing Jordan Howard in free agency. Since Patterson is a veteran and can do a lot of things at this point of his career, his inherent versatility will allow Sirianni to get even more funky with his play-calling in an offense built for Jalen Hurts. Patterson does not fit everywhere, but he could fit in nicely if he wants to go play for the Eagles.
However, for Philadelphia to land Patterson, the Birds will have to pay a gross premium to get him.