Three big names the Philadelphia Eagles should avoid in free agency

With more than $40M available under the NFL's new salary cap, the Eagles can afford to add some big-name talent to their 2024 roster. Just not these guys.

RB Austin Ekeler

Ekeler’s Chargers career got off to a slow start after he went undrafted out of Western Colorado in 2017. Ekeler tallied just 1,901 yards and nine touchdowns in his first four seasons. But things changed in 2021 when he ran for 911 yards and 12 touchdowns, followed by 915 yards and 13 scores in 2022.

Unfortunately, Ekeler’s carries dropped from 204 to 179  with a career-low 3.5 yards per carry under new offensive coordinator Kellen Moore last season. He has 30 career touchdowns as a receiver but only one in 2023.

Factor in three fumbles in each of the past two seasons and it’s no wonder backup running back Joshua Kelley had a career-high 107 carries last year. Moore is now Philadelphia’s offensive coordinator, calling plays for a team that typically doesn’t run the ball very often.

According to spotrac.com, Ekeler should expect to sign a three-year deal with a $7.2M average annual salary. At that price, the Eagles would be better off bringing back D’Andre Swift for slightly less money.

RB Tony Pollard

Before joining the Chargers, Moore spent five years as an assistant with the Cowboys where he coached Pollard from 2019-2022. Pollard was a backup then but still managed 2,626 yards and 17 touchdowns behind Ezekiel Elliott. He played well enough to earn the starting job in 2023, finishing as the NFL’s 12th-leading rusher with 1,005 yards and six scores.

Pollard said he’s open to re-signing with Dallas and may even take a hometown discount. The Eagles should let him. Pollard’s numbers look good on paper, but his 4.0 yards per carry in 2023 were a career-low, down 1.2 yards from the year before, ranking him 28th among running backs. Swift finished 11th with 4.6 yards per attempt.

Pollard didn’t miss a start after suffering a high ankle sprain and broken fibula at the end of the 2022 season but did seem a step slower. Currently, his market value is $6.5M per year which would rank him seventh at the position and would be more than the combined average salaries of all four of Philadelphia’s running backs in 2023.

DE Chase Young

The Eagles led the league with 70 sacks in 2022 but had just 43 last season. Young tied his career-high with 7.5 combined sacks from Washington and San Francisco but Philadelphia should avoid him at all costs.