2022 was a season to remember for the Philadelphia Eagles. They exceeded all expectations as one of the best teams in the NFL from Week 1 through the Super Bowl. While they fell just short of the ultimate goal of bringing the Lombardi Trophy back to Philadelphia, there were plenty of positives to take away from the season.
The only real downside to having that kind of success is that other franchises around the league want a piece of it. The Eagles’ coaching staff was raided this offseason as they will have a new offensive and defensive coordinator in 2023. OC Shane Steichen was hired by the Indianapolis Colts to become head coach and DC Jonathan Gannon was hired by the Arizona Cardinals as their head man.
The team could also see a mass exodus in free agency. Nearly their entire starting defense and key contributors on both sides of the ball are hitting the market this offseason. Depending on how things shake out, there could be multiple holes to fill.
While general manager Howie Roseman would love to bring back everyone, that just isn’t a feasible reality. Players will leave for more money or larger roles elsewhere and someone will have to step into their place.
The Eagles are under the salary cap, but there is some work to do so that they can be buyers on the open market. One player who could be a good fit for them is linebacker Bobby Wagner. Wagner was released by the Los Angeles Rams in a mutually agreed-upon decision earlier this offseason.
It wasn’t for a lack of production as he was probably the Rams’ best player in 2022. He recorded 100+ tackles for the 11th straight season with a career-high 6.0 sacks. Wagner added 10 tackles for loss, 10 quarterback hits, five passes defended and two interceptions for a well-rounded stat line.
With Kyzir White and T.J. Edwards hitting free agency, the Eagles could be in the market for an impact linebacker. Wagner would certainly fit the bill as he can perform in any defensive scheme given his skill set. Whether you need him to rush the passer, drop into coverage or play the run, he can succeed in doing it.
From Wagner’s perspective, there would certainly be an appeal in playing for a contender. He thought that was what he was signing up for last year when he joined the Rams, but they fell woefully short of expectations. The Eagles are set up to contend for years to come and would benefit greatly from adding the still uber-productive Wagner to the middle of their defense.
