Eagles to add former first-round pick to defense

The Eagles have re-signed a few of their many free agents on defense, bringing back Brandon Graham, Fletcher Cox and James Bradberry. Others (Javon Hargrave, Kyzir White, T.J. Edwards and safeties Marcus Epps and C.J. Gardner-Johnson) have left. Edmunds, 26, figures to be an affordable stopgap in the wake of Epps and Gardner-Johnson’s free agency defections.

It cost Pittsburgh just $2.5M to retain Edmunds last year. Terrell Edmunds, who joins brother Tremaine Edmunds in leaving for an NFC destination this month, served as a five-year Steelers starter. Most of Terrell’s run came alongside Minkah Fitzpatrick. The Steelers have Fitzpatrick attached to a top-market safety deal, which will limit their interest in spending much to replace Edmunds. Pittsburgh did bring back former starter Damontae Kazee in free agency, however, he signed a two-year, $6M deal. Given those terms, it was not difficult to predict Edmunds would need to relocate.

Although Gardner-Johnson joined Justin Simmons with an NFL-high six interceptions last season, Pro Football Focus graded Edmunds as a superior safety. PFF graded Edmunds as slightly superior in coverage compared to CJGJ and has slotted the former as a top-40 safety twice in the past three seasons. Edmunds graded as the advanced metrics site’s 22nd-ranked safety in 2020.

The Eagles wanted to re-sign Gardner-Johnson and offered him a multiyear deal early in free agency. But the converted cornerback turned the deal down, aiming for more. It turned out, his market was not quite as strong as anticipated. The Lions ended up signing Gardner-Johnson on an incentive-laden deal that checked in at $6.5M in base value.

Evans may have a chance to push for a starting spot, but it should be expected the Eagles add at least one more starter-caliber safety to the equation. After they waited until roster-cutdown day to do so last year, the team standing pat in the draft will not automatically mean Evans will be ticketed to return to a starting role after several seasons removed from his last such opportunity. Edmunds will be a better bet to be a Philly first-stringer in 2023.