Philadelphia Eagles running back Miles Sanders. Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports

Three players who may not be with Eagles next season

By Bruce Ewing | Last updated 2/8/23

The Philadelphia Eagles have 20 impending free agents and just $4,361,666 in available cap space. QB Jalen Hurts isn’t a free agent, but the Eagles will need to pay him soon. He's still on his rookie deal. Add it all up and you get three talented Eagles who likely won’t return to the nest in 2023.

T.J. Edwards, LB

Edwards led the team with 159 tackles (99 solo) in 2022, the seventh most in the league and second most in franchise history behind Byron Evans (175). Since joining the Eagles as an undrafted free agent in 2019, Edwards has 389 tackles, five sacks and two forced fumbles.

The Eagles like Edwards but not enough to give him a long-term deal. Alex Singleton led the team in tackles the previous two seasons, and they let him sign with Denver.

Edwards made just over $2 million in 2022, but according to overthecap.com, he should expect around $15 million next season. The Eagles won’t meet that number, especially with Nakobe Dean waiting in the wings.

TJ Edwards stands out against the run and the pass on a weekly basis for the #Eagles defense. Has taken a huge jump in Year 2 in this scheme - defeats blocks extremely well, sound tackler and executes their zone schemes at a high level #FlyEaglesFly pic.twitter.com/3y8Ug3sTTy
— Fran Duffy (@EaglesXOs) January 2, 2023

Fletcher Cox, DT

Cox has done it all during an 11-year career that includes 486 tackles, 65 sacks and 15 forced fumbles. He has made six Pro Bowls and was named to the 2010’s All-Decade team. He has also been critical of defensive coordinator Jonathan Gannon’s scheme, and Philadelphia released him after the 2021 season.

Philadelphia re-signed him to a one-year, $14 million contract two days later, but he shouldn’t expect another contract this time. Cox is unsigned for 2023, so look for the Eagles to draft his replacement in April.

Miles Sanders, RB

Sanders picked a great time to have a career year, but it won’t be enough to keep him in Philly. His 1,269 rushing yards, 11 touchdowns and 259 attempts were all career highs, but his 20 receptions for 78 yards were career lows. He's rarely a factor as a receiver.

The four-year veteran has made little on his rookie deal but could be a hot commodity in free agency, perhaps at a little more than $7 million per year. The team that gives him that money won't be the Eagles.

Some mock drafts have the Eagles taking Texas running back Bijan Robinson in the first round. That won’t happen, but with two first-round picks, the team could replace Sanders in the second round.

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