Here are the moves the Philadelphia Eagles should consider when free agency opens at 4 p.m. ET on Wednesday, March 14:
Re-sign Patrick Robinson: Cornerback might not be a pressing need with Jalen Mills, Ronald Darby and Sidney Jones all in the fold, but Robinson played a specific role as the team's slot corner and played it well. He paced the Eagles with four picks and 22 passes defensed in the regular season and came up with one of the biggest plays of their Super Bowl run, returning an interception for a touchdown against the Minnesota Vikings in the NFC Championship Game. Robinson proved to be a free-agent steal last offseason, signing a one-year contract with the Eagles for under $1 million. He'll command more this time around but should have a reasonable enough asking price to keep the Eagles in pursuit.
Figure out the linebacker situation: Nigel Bradham is a pending free agent. While he proved a valuable piece of the Eagles' defense the past two seasons, it's possible that his market value exceeds what the team is willing to pony up for him. Meanwhile, Mychal Kendricks has been the subject of trade speculation for years and asked out prior to the start of last season, and middle linebacker Jordan Hicks is coming off an Achilles rupture. Between free agency and the draft, they need to shore up this position. Bills free agent Preston Brown was coached by defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz in Buffalo his rookie year and has topped 100 tackles in each of his four seasons in the pros. He could be an attractive option, price allowing.
Find a replacement for Trey Burton: As the thrower of the "Philly Special," the tight end will always hold a dear place in Philadelphia sports history, but he appears to have a good number of suitors and will probably be moving on this offseason. Burton played only about 27 percent of the offensive snaps in 2017 but made an impact when he was on the field, catching 23 balls for 248 yards with five touchdowns. The Eagles also have to figure out what to do with veteran Brent Celek, who is scheduled to cost $5 million against the cap. If they release him, it heightens the urgency to find a tight end or two to add alongside Zach Ertz. Jimmy Graham, Tyler Eifert and Martellus Bennett -- brother of recently acquired defensive end Michael Bennett -- are among the top available tight ends.
Add a low-cost running back: The Eagles are in decent shape at running back with Jay Ajayi and Corey Clement, but they will need to add to the room between free agency and the draft. Veterans LeGarrette Blount and Darren Sproles are pending free agents. Will the Eagles bring either back? It likely depends on cost. Both were good for the locker room and have skill sets that Doug Pederson's offense could certainly use. But the Eagles are about $9 million over the cap and have to be judicious with their spending. It will have to be at the right price.