Risky business: Eagles free-agent signings are no sure thing

Take those old records off the shelf and get Howie Roseman some sunglasses. While some NFL general managers (Jerry Jones) hope to cruise through the offseason, the Philadelphia Eagles are all about risky business.

Whether by free agency or trade, Roseman hasn’t been shy about adding big name, big money players to the team’s roster. Each offers tremendous upside but also substantial risk. 

Here’s why Eagles fans should be wary of the team’s latest moves:

RB Saquon Barkley: Injuries

When healthy, Barkley may be the NFL’s most talented running back. Taken second overall by the Giants in the 2018 NFL Draft, his 15 touchdowns and 2,028 total yards earned him Offensive Rookie of the Year honors.

In six seasons, Barkley has 5,211 yards rushing and 2,100 yards receiving along with a pair of Pro Bowl appearances. Just imagine what he could have done had he stayed healthy.

Thanks to a variety of injuries, the Pennsylvania native has missed 25 games in the past six years. He’s fared much better since an ACL injury cost him all but two games in 2020 but at 27 years old, Barkley’s injury history could come back to bite him.

By handing Barkley a three-year, $37.5M contract with $26M guaranteed, the Eagles are risking a lot for a running back with one 1,000-yard season in the past four years.

LB Bryce Huff: Inexperience   

Huff had one good season for the Jets after arriving in New York as an undrafted free agent in 2020. Last year, he had 29 tackles and 10 sacks after posting 36 tackles and 7.5 sacks in his first three years.

For $51M with $34.4 guaranteed, those numbers should be Huff’s floor and his snap count needs to be higher.  Even with a career-high 480 snaps in 2023, Huff played just 42% of the team’s defensive plays. 

By comparison, Haason Reddick had 11 sacks but was on the field in 74% of Philadelphia’s defensive plays but may not be with the team next year.

S C.J. Gardner Johnson: Hurt feelings

Johnson led the Eagles with six interceptions in 2022 but signed a one-year, $6.5M contract with Detroit last season. He missed five games with a lacerated kidney while in Philly but didn't miss the opportunity to rip the city and its fans on his way out. 

The Eagles brought him back anyway, even though he missed 14 games for the Lions with a torn pectoral muscle. Altogether, Johnson has 25 missed games in five NFL seasons.

LB Devin White: Poor Play

White may have a Pro Bowl and Super Bowl championship under his belt, but the former Buccaneer is coming off a terrible season. His 83 tackles and 2.5 sacks in 2023 were both career-lows but that didn’t stop Roseman from giving him a one-year, $7.5M deal.

Tampa stopped putting White on the field in Week 15, benching their captain in a critical game against the Packers. Philadelphia needs an off-ball linebacker but they’ll need better results from White to improve a defense that gave up 26.8 points per game, second-most in the league last season.