Grading the 2024 Philadelphia Eagles' Pre-Draft Moves

 Fletcher Cox #91 of the Philadelphia Eagles tackles Saquon Barkley #26 of the New York Giants during their game at MetLife Stadium on December 11, 2022 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. | Retrieved from Gettyimages.

Grading the 2024 Philadelphia Eagles' Pre-Draft Moves

The NFL off-season is always an exciting time for NFL fans. No matter the city, color scheme, or Madden rating of an NFL franchise, every team welcomes new players to their team annually in March and April. Historically, the Philadelphia Eagles have made their noise through trading with other teams and drafting college prospects. After a disappointing 2023 season, though, the Eagles wasted no time and opted to start adding talent the day that the 2024 NFL free agency window opened. 

The following is a list of grades and analysis on the pre-draft signings that the Eagles made ahead of the 2024 NFL Draft. There are no analytics behind these grades; each letter grade is solely based on the opinion of a lifelong Eagles fan who has never graded anything beyond a high school student's essay.

Saquon Barkley: A-

Prying away a superstar from a division rival is almost always viewed as a success. Not only did the Eagles add a superstar running back in Saquon Barkley, but they also stole the player that is responsible for the New York Giants' only playoff appearance in the last seven years.

In 2022, Barkley played in 16 games, rushed for 1,312 yards, and scored ten touchdowns; the Giants went 9-7-1 and made the playoffs that year. If you exclude his 2018 rookie season, the Giants had not made the playoffs without Barkley scoring double-digit touchdowns during his tenure there. 

On paper, Barkley makes the Eagles one of the scariest offense in the NFL. Philadelphia's offensive line is amongst the best in the NFL and their skill position players stack up with any other team's. Adding one of the NFL's most elusive running backs to that offense makes it extremely difficult for the Eagles' offense not to be successful in terms of scoring points and winning games.

Jeffrey Lurie, the Eagles' current owner, revealed his excitement about Barkley by saying, "For us, it’s gotta be multi-functional. And he exhibited very special skill sets, both in the running and passing game, that we think certainly can be maximized by being on a team with better skill positions, quarterback, offensive line. So it was a strategy to go.”

The only reason this signing is not an A is because there is a chance that Barkley will not remain healthy; however, this signing at least deserves an A- due to the wonders it could do for a team with Super Bowl aspirations.

C.J. Gardner-Johnson: A

During his first stint as a Philadelphia Eagle, Chauncey Gardner-Johnson was a fan-favorite. In 2022, he recorded six interceptions in 12 games for the Birds. 

As a whole, the Eagles' defense took a step back in 2023; they allowed over 1,000 more passing yards and 12 more passing touchdowns than they did the season prior. While most of the blame can be put on the coaching staff, not having a talent of Gardner-Johnson's level in the secondary was noticeable. 

This is a homerun signing for the Eagles. Gardner-Johnson has already proven that he can be a playmaker in Philadelphia. In addition, he is only 26 years old and will be playing on a contract that is satisfactory to both parties. 

Bryce Huff: B+

From the financial aspect of things, Howie Roseman faced a dilemma this off-season: keep Haasan Reddick or acquire Bryce Huff while simultaneously retaining Josh Sweat. Many fans would find it difficult to imagine any move that requires a parting of ways from a multi-time Pro Bowler would warrant a good grade. In hindsight, though, this was a move that the Eagles had to make.

Reddick is nearing the age of 30, while Huff and Sweat are both in their mid-twenties. There is no denying that Reddick is the most talented of the bunch, but Huff and Sweat are both double-digit sack guys in their own right. Most marketing majors would agree that selling two medium sized burgers at the same price as one deluxe sandwich will almost always garner more profit for the business.

Yes, the Eagles will miss Haasan Reddick. And yes, Bryce Huff still needs to prove he can produce sacks on a year-to-year basis. Those two elements are why this signing can only get a B+ on the report card; in time, though, it is possible that Huff could end up making this B+ look silly.

DeVante Parker & Parris Campbell: C

Most of the time, adding veteran receivers as depth pieces to a locker room pays off for teams; they can lead the younger guys while contributing on the field in spurts. DeVante Parker and Parris Campbell have each had respectable careers up until this point, and they each actually fit well alongside A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith. The only reason they collectively get a C is because the Eagles signed both of them.

The Eagles were in need of a third and fourth wide receiver heading into this off-season, and the NFL draft is loaded with quality prospects at that position. The Eagles also have the luxury of having two second-round picks. Choosing Parker and Campbell, who are coming off down years, over a rookie wide receiver in the second round will feel like a wet fart for many fans. Most people would have preferred Parker or Campbell along with a rookie. 

There is the possibility that the Eagles still draft a wide receiver. This would mean that Campbell or Parker would likely be cut after training camp; however, these two signings do not indicate the Eagles will go that route. Unless Parker or Campbell end up making a huge play for the Birds at some point during their one-year tenures, these signings will remain with a bland C.