While it is widely accepted that the path to building a successful NFL team is primarily through the NFL Draft, the importance of a successful free agency period cannot be overstated. Savvy, cost-effective signings have sent many a team to championship heights, and the Philadelphia Eagles are no exception.
Throughout Philadelphia’s history, there have been several key signings that have helped propel the team to a significantly higher level of play. Below are the five best signings the Eagles have ever made.
5. CB Troy Vincent
When the Eagles brought Troy Vincent onto the team in 1996, expectations were that he would provide borderline elite cornerback play for the entirety of his contract. Philadelphia was willing to give him five full seasons under contract, a somewhat surprising move given the fickle nature of the cornerback position.
The decision proved to be a good one, as Vincent continually improved throughout his career in the City of Brotherly Love. While the Eagles were not a great team during his first contract, Vincent steadily improved as a player, going to two Pro Bowls as his contract expired. Philadelphia gave him another three-year deal, and Vincent made three more Pro Bowls and two All-Pro teams. During this time, the Eagles vastly improved, making the postseason in Vincent’s last four years in uniform. He was a critical part of those defenses, making him a fantastic value signing by the front office.
4. WR Alshon Jeffery
Jeffery came to the Eagles to fill a hole at wide receiver that seemed to exist since the departure of DeSean Jackson. Philadelphia’s front office gave Jeffery a four-year, $52 million deal in the spring of 2017, and his presence immediately paid dividends.
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The giant wide receiver played in all 16 games in his first season with the Eagles, producing 783 yards and nine touchdowns. More importantly, Jeffery played a huge role in Philadelphia’s run to a Super Bowl victory, providing backup quarterback Nick Foles with a hard-to-miss, sure-handed target. He most notably caught three passes for 73 yards and a touchdown in a Super Bowl win over the Patriots.
While the rest of Jeffery’s tenure in midnight green was somewhat unremarkable, the fact that he was a critical part of a championship run makes his contract worth every penny.
3. S Malcolm Jenkins
After signing with the Eagles from the Saints, Jenkins embodied everything that Philadelphia football stands for: toughness, grit, and consistency. In his six seasons with the Eagles, Jenkins did not miss a single game. On the field, he provided exceptional leadership and embodied self-sacrifice, doing whatever the defense asked of him, from covering a slot receiver downfield to filling the hole against a bruising running back. That versatility earned three Pro Bowl berths. Without Jenkins, the Eagles may not have won the Super Bowl.
2. RB Saquon Barkley
When Saquon Barkley signed a two-year, $41.2 million deal with the Eagles, there were some question marks about his ability to stay healthy and consistently contribute. Barkley answered those questions by putting together one of the greatest running back seasons of all time.
He carried the ball a league-leading 345 times, amassing 2,005 rushing yards, 278 receiving yards, and 15 total touchdowns. Those numbers garnered Barkley a Pro Bowl appearance, an All-Pro selection, and the NFC Offensive Player of the Year award.
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All of those awards are great, but Barkley captured the most important trophy of them all in the same season. He was a critical part of the Eagles’ run to a win over the Chiefs in Super Bowl LIX. While he did not have a big game in the Super Bowl itself, Philadelphia would not have won the Lombardi without him. His mere presence forced the Chiefs to account for him, opening up space for Jalen Hurts and the Eagles passing game in a convincing win.
1. QB Nick Foles
Foles was never supposed to be a particularly important free agent signing for the Eagles, who had just drafted Carson Wentz with the second overall pick in the 2016 draft. However, an ACL injury to Wentz in the middle of the 2017 season thrust Foles into the spotlight. He answered in a way no one could have possibly expected, closing out the regular season with above-average quarterback play before embarking on what would become a legendary playoff run.
While his stat lines for his first two playoff games were not anything extraordinary, Foles provided the Eagles with a steady hand at the most important position in football, staying away from turnovers while keeping the offense on schedule.
To make things even better, he truly shined in the Super Bowl, when he shredded Bill Belichick’s Patriots defense for 373 passing yards and three touchdowns, while also managing to catch a TD as part of the famous “Philly Special” play. Even if the Eagles had shelled out their whole payroll, Foles would have been worth it for what he brought to the franchise.
Clutch Signings For Clutch Moments
These signings changed the course of Philadelphia’s history. Two of them were almost directly responsible for the Eagles’ Super Bowl trophies, while the others turned into major contributors to championship or deep playoff runs.