Philadelphia is headed to Tampa for a Monday night playoff matchup against a nemesis they know too well from playoff years past.
The Bucs and Eagles have met five previous times, including Tampa Bay’s NFC Championship Game win in Philadelphia in 2002 to close out Veteran’s Stadium. The most recent postseason meeting came just two years ago, in 2021, in Jalen Hurts’ first road playoff start; Tampa won 31-15.
Howie Roseman has put together one of the top rosters in the NFL, but a loss could mean the final bow for 20+ unrestricted free agents who could look elsewhere for greener pastures or more playing time.
With kickoff a little over 32 hours away, we’re looking at seven key free agents who could be playing their final game in an Eagles uniform.
DT Fletcher Cox
Cox wants to keep playing, but will he return on a discount?
The Eagles have Jordan Davis and Jalen Carter as the future at the position, and Howie Roseman has to figure out if bringing Cox back for a 14th season makes sense for both parties.
DE Brandon Graham
Graham has talked about playing 15 seasons and a return to Philadelphia in 2024 would accomplish that goal. Graham graded out as the Eagles’ highest-rated edge rusher in pressure, tackling and run defense according to PFF.
He’ll be 36 this spring, and there are moves to be made, including determining if Nolan Smith can be a high-value pass rusher.
RB D'Andre Swift
The Philadelphia native and former Georgia Bulldog will enter 2024 NFL free agency on a high after posting solid numbers.
Swift ranked 5th in the NFL with a career-high 1,049 rushing yards (first 1,000+ yard campaign), trailing only Christian McCaffrey (1,459), Derrick Henry (1,167), Kyren Williams (1,144) and James Cook (1,122). Philadelphia has featured 1,000+ yard rushers in back-to-back seasons for the first time since 2013-14 (LeSean McCoy).
P Braden Mann
After years of uncertainty at the position, punter Braden Mann set an Eagles records by averaging 49.8 yards per punt with a 43.9-yard net average.
An unrestricted free agent, Mann should be high on the list of players that need to return.
OL Sua Opeta
According to Pro Football Focus, since joining the Eagles as an undrafted lineman out of Weber State in 2019, Sua Opeta has logged over 400 career snaps at left guard and almost 500 at right guard. A large chunk of those right-guard snaps have occurred this season, including 69 snaps against Seattle, switching over to left guard against the Giants, and logging 65+ snaps.
In the eight games Opeta has played offensive snaps this season, he has allowed two sacks, one quarterback hit, and 19 pressures.
With Jason Kelce potentially set to retire, Opeta offers a valuable cross-trained player behind Landon Dickerson and Tyler Steen once Cam Jurgens moves over to center.
WR Quez Watkins
Watkins caught a touchdown in the Week 18 loss to the Giants and finished with 93 receiving yards, 64 of which came on passes from backup Marcus Mariota. His eight targets against the Giants were one more than he received all season.
Once thought of as a future building block at the wide receiver spot, Watkins has regressed since A.J. Brown arrived, and his production this season — 15 catches and 142 receiving yards — could signal the end of his four year stint in Philadelphia.
OL Jack Driscoll
Driscoll was originally selected by the Eagles in the fourth round (145th overall) of the 2020 NFL Draft. In that time, Driscoll has started 17 games while playing tackle and guard for injured regulars.
The hybrid offensive lineman offers versatility at offensive tackle and offensive guard as a reliable backup, and has to return with Jalen Kelce’s uncertain future, and Sua Opeta also in free agency.
