PFF: Eagles’ No. 1 free agent need should be cornerback

After going 11-6 and getting bounced in the Wild Card round of the NFL playoffs, there’s a lot of work to be done for the Philadelphia Eagles.

Philadelphia does have a decent amount of draft capital and $28.5 million in cap space, according to Spotrac, to try and fix some of their issues.

Looking at many of the early mock drafts, it seems that many feel the Eagles need help on the defensive side of the ball. However, don't count out the Eagles making a move in the free-agent market to help make some upgrades.

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Pro Football Focus’ Gordon McGuinness has the Eagles targeting cornerback L'Jarius Sneed, who has played for the Kansas City Chiefs since being drafted in the fourth-round of the 2020 NFL draft.

No Eagles cornerback earned a PFF coverage grade of 70.0 or better in 2023. If the team wants to get back to contending after a disappointing final stretch to the 2023 season, they will have to invest in the position again. Sneed would be a big splash in that regard. He is a capable, physical cornerback from either the inside or the outside, earning PFF coverage grades of 70.0 or better in three of his four NFL seasons.

The Eagles’ secondary showed its age last season and resulted in poor play over the final town months of the season. The cornerback room also includes younger players like Kelee Ringo, Eli Ricks, Josh Jobe, and Mekhi Garner, all of whom might get a longer look in training camp in 2024.

Snead could also be an option to replace Avonte Maddox in the slot. Maddox has dealt with various injuries and struggled to stay on the field during his time with the Eagles.

Snead is one of a solid group of corners that will be available on the free-agent market with Jaylon Johnson, Kendall Fuller, and Chidobe Awuzie as potential options at the position.

Linebacker and safety will also need to be addressed. With Sydney Brown's ACL injury, the Eagles will need to find another option at the position.

Antonie Winfield Jr. headlines a deep free-agent class that includes Kyle Dugger, Kamren Curl, Xavier McKinney, and Geno Stone as the top-rated free agents on the safety market.

However, look for the Eagles to replace one if not both of their corners in 2024.