9 pending free agents the Eagles should not re-sign

The Eagles have undergone wholesale changes. GM Howie Roseman and head coach Nick Sirianni shook up the coaching staff following Philadelphia’s historic collapse. The team finished the season 1-6 after a 10-1 start.

The first domino to fall is All-Pro center Jason Kelce, 36, retiring after 13 seasons with the Eagles.

Brandon Graham, who turns 36 in April, is negotiating with the Eagles for one more final season, his 15th, and he’s one of the few guys on the roster deserving of writing his final script.

Fletcher Cox could also retire, while several pending free agents will depart.

With the fans and media awaiting the legal tampering period, we’re looking at nine free agents who shouldn’t return.

RB Rashaad Penny

Aug 17, 2023; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Philadelphia Eagles running back Rashaad Penny (23) breaks the tackle attempt of Cleveland Browns safety Ronnie Hickman Jr. (33) during the first quarter at Lincoln Financial Field. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports

Penny signed a one-year deal with the Eagles last offseason but spent most of the season inactive after D’Andre Swift was acquired via trade.

WR Quez Watkins

Jan 7, 2024; East Rutherford, New Jersey, USA; Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver Quez Watkins (16) catches a touchdown pass in front of New York Giants safety Dane Belton (24) during the second half at MetLife Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports

A 2020 sixth-round pick out of Southern Miss, Watkins has played four seasons for the Eagles, logging 98 catches for 1,249 yards and six touchdowns.

His best season came in 2021, logging 43 catches for 647 yards and one touchdown.

WR Julio Jones

Dec 31, 2023; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver Julio Jones (80) catches 22-yard touchdown pass against the Arizona Cardinals during the second quarter at Lincoln Financial Field. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports

Jones, 34, was Philadelphia’s in-season signing. During the regular season, he had 11 catches for 74 yards and three touchdowns in 11 games.

LB Nicholas Morrow

Dec 31, 2023; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver DeVonta Smith (6) makes a touchdown catch past Philadelphia Eagles linebacker Nicholas Morrow (41) during the third quarter at Lincoln Financial Field. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports

Morrow played 15 regular-season games (12 starts) and finished second on the Eagles in both tackles (95) and solo tackles (66) as well as fumble recoveries (two).

Morrow couldn’t match his 116 tackles and 83 solo efforts from his previous season in Chicago, and he became a liability in the passing game.

LB Shaquille Leonard

PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA – DECEMBER 25: Shaquille Leonard #53 of the Philadelphia Eagles reacts after a tackle during the first quarter against the New York Giants at Lincoln Financial Field on December 25, 2023 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Adam Hunger/Getty Images)

Leonard was released by the Colts earlier this season after multiple back surgeries (including two in five months) along with a broken nose and concussion limited Leonard to just three games in 2022 and limited snaps this season.

Leonard has 23 tackles and a sack in five games with the Eagles.

CB Bradley Roby

TAMPA, FLORIDA – JANUARY 15: Bradley Roby #33 of the Philadelphia Eagles tackles Rachaad White #1 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during the second quarter in the NFC Wild Card Playoffs at Raymond James Stadium on January 15, 2024 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)

Roby finished with 22 tackles, one forced fumble and zero interceptions in nine regular-season games for the Eagles.

RB Boston Scott

Dec 25, 2023; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Philadelphia Eagles running back Boston Scott (35) and New York Giants safety Xavier McKinney (29) in action during the first quarter at Lincoln Financial Field. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports

Scott has been a nice underdog story, but he saw his role diminish even more for the Eagles this season, finishing with 20 carries for 86 yards and adding four catches for 52 yards through the air over 15 regular-season games.

Scott failed to reach the end zone for the first time since his two-game debut back in 2018.

QB Marcus Mariota

Jan 7, 2024; East Rutherford, New Jersey, USA; New York Giants linebacker Jihad Ward (55) tackles Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Marcus Mariota (8) during the second half at MetLife Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports

The Eagles could let Mariota walk if the organization believes Tanner McKee is a capable backup.

Marcus Mariota appeared in just three regular-season games as the Eagles’ backup quarterback this season, completing 15 of 23 passes for 164 yards, one touchdown and one interception.

All but three of Mariota’s passes came in Week 18.

LB Zach Cunningham

Jan 15, 2024; Tampa, Florida, USA; Philadelphia Eagles linebacker Zach Cunningham (52) tackles Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Mike Evans (13) after a catch during the first half of a 2024 NFC wild card game at Raymond James Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement Neitzel-USA TODAY Sports

Cunningham ended the year with 85 tackles (54 solo) and a pair of fumble recoveries in 13 regular-season games.

Hamstring and knee issues held Cunningham out of four of the season’s final six weeks.