Eagles Notes: Fletcher Cox 'will probably retire' this offseason

The Philadelphia Eagles could be pretty busy this offseason.

The free agent period begins on March 11, when teams can start talking to free agents, they can officially sign them on Wednesday, March 13.

But the Eagles' blueprint might not be clear when the free-agent period begins.

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Will Jason Kelce return to the team? What about Fletcher Cox?

Both players are technically free agents and can sign with any of the league's 32 teams. However, the thought isn't if they will fly from the Eagles' nest, but if they will elect to even play in 2024.

There have been rumblings that Kelce will hang up the cleats, but now it seems like Cox could join him in retirement.

According to ESPN's Jeremey Fowler both could end up retiring this offseason.

ESPN's Adam Schefter reported last month that Eagles center Jason Kelce told teammates he is retiring, and I've talked to multiple sources who believe defensive tackle Fletcher Cox will probably retire at some point this offseason, too. Now, retirements are tricky -- plans are malleable as players emerge from the haze of the season -- but there's a real possibility the Eagles will be replacing two legends at once.

When I asked Cox at the Super Bowl if he was planning on returning for the 2024 season, he was non-committal about playing this upcoming season.

If both end up in retirement, the Eagles do have some in-house candidates to replace them. 2023 starting right guard Cam Jurgens will slide over to play center to replace Kelce, leaving right guard up for grabs.

As for replacing Cox, who had a solid 2023 season, the team could see more reps from Jalen Carter, Jordan Davis, and Milton Williams.

One other thing to keep an eye on according to Fowler is a possible reunion between the team and former safety C.J. Gardner-Johnson.

A C.J. Gardner-Johnson reunion in Philadelphia is on my radar. The Eagles realized they missed the talented safety in the secondary.

Gardner-Johnson excelled in the Eagles secondary under Jonathan Gannon and could have a similar role in new defensive coordinator Vic Fangios's scheme.

During his one season with the Eagles, he racked up 67 total tackles, eight passes defended, a sack, and an NFL leading six interceptions in 12 games. The 26-year-old signed with Detroit as a free agent last offseason, inking a one-year, $8 million contract with $6.5 million in guarantees with the Lions.

Gardner-Johnson suffered a torn pectoral muscle during training camp,, which forced him to miss all but three Lions games last season, and both playoff games.

Overall he made 25 tackles in the five games, breaking up three passes and picking off two.

The Eagles released safety Kevin Byard on Friday, opening the door for the team to add a safety or maybe even two this offseason. Reed Blankenship is the only healthy safety on the roster with Sydney Brown recovering from an ACL injury.