With the NFL season over for all but two teams, it’s scouting season for most of the league. Both the Kansas City Chiefs and Philadelphia Eagles have built incredible rosters, but between the issues that come with cap space on the team’s side and playing opportunity and money on the player’s side, there are sure to be several free agents from each squad that will make waves in the open market.
Milton Williams, Defensive Tackle, Eagles
The 25-year-old Milton Williams will likely end up the highest paid out of any single player on the list, given the profile of player he is: young, ascending, and very likely to hit the market given the Eagles’s plethora of young stud defensive lineman. Williams recorded a career high six sacks on the year along with 40 pressures, which ranked him 19th in the league at his position. He ranked in the top 25 for his position in sacks, hurries, hits and total pressures, all while coming in 63rd in snaps. Javon Hargrave is a former Eagles defensive lineman that profited from his 11-sack season in 2022, in which he was 29 years old. Williams isn’t quite the pass rusher Hargrave is, but given his youth and recent ascension, he may still end up around the $84 million mark where his predecessor did two seasons ago should the Eagles let him walk.
Top Candidates: Arizona Cardinals, Chicago Bears
Justin Reid, Safety, Chiefs
Following a few solid years in Houston, Justin Reid came to Kansas City and became an even better player. For safety needy teams in free agency though, it seems very possible Reid would become a free agent. He played 90% of the snaps this year, but there is some interesting insurance behind him. Fourth round pick Jaden Hicks was very good in his role this year, and Bryan Cook holds the other deep spot, so they would make a capable duo should the Chiefs decide to save money. Cornerback Chamarri Conner also has the flexibility to move back, making the soon to be 28-year-old Reid a potentially expendable asset depending on the coaching staff’s confidence in their young pieces.
Top Candidates: Buffalo Bills, Kansas City Chiefs, New Orleans Saints
Zack Baun, Linebacker, Eagles
Zack Baun is one of the best stories in football this year. In four years with the Saints, Baun was a total non-factor, recording 88 tackles in four years as a rotational linebacker. He signed a $3.5 million contract with the Eagles in the offseason, and he thrived with a team best 151 tackles and is now a Defensive Player of the Year finalist. As a fan of a team that could use help at linebacker, Baun scares me. Playing his position behind the best defensive line in the game that sports Jalen Carter, Jordan Davis and Williams on the inside makes Baun’s one phenomenal season hard to judge. Is he truly a DPOY candidate, or is he vastly helped by an incredible defensive line? Baun’s production demands at least $10 million a year, but it would take a team confident enough in his own abilities rather than those of the Philly defensive line.
Top Candidates: Carolina Panthers, Tennessee Titans, New England Patriots
Trey Smith, Guard, Chiefs
Another fascinating story comes from Trey Smith, who was dominant at Tennessee and at one point a projected top 10 draft pick before slipping due to concerns surrounding blood clots in his lungs. He’s been able to manage to this point and played 1,100 snaps this regular season. Without health concerns, Smith could easily manage a $100 million deal, and that is what I expect to happen. The Chiefs are already paying big money to Joe Thuney, who they bumped outside to left tackle for the playoffs. If they consider this a legitimate long-term solution, they could opt to pay Smith to ensure no further changes. If not, expect Ben Johnson’s Bears to throw every last dollar they have at him.
Top Candidates: Chicago Bears, Kansas City Chiefs, San Francisco 49ers (longshot)
Josh Sweat, Edge Defender, Eagles
Another solid eight sack year from Josh Sweat is about what most people would have expected given the trajectory of his career to this point. Sweat has spent all seven years of his career thus far in Philadelphia, but for the second year in a row, that reality looks shaky. With the acquisition of Bryce Huff in free agency last year along with the emergence of Nolan Smith, bringing Sweat back on a long-term deal shouldn’t be much of a priority of Philadelphia’s. A 28-year-old in March, Sweat’s market will be interesting to monitor. Expect him to be a highly sought over three-year deal type of player – one that may see an overpay sooner rather than later.
Top Candidates: New England Patriots, Miami Dolphins, Washington Commanders (longshot)
DeAndre Hopkins, Wide Receiver, Chiefs
DeAndre Hopkins was a phenomenal player in his prime, but he’s averaging career lows per game this season in catches and yards. He’s been a nice compliment to Travis Kelce and Xavier Worthy, but it seems unlikely he’ll be much more than that going forward. Rashee Rice will return next season, and Isiah Pacheco should be back to 100%, meaning that some of the veteran offensive players for the Chiefs may take a smaller role. Most notably, Juju Smith-Schuster and Kareem Hunt have played important roles in addition to Hopkins. The issue for Hopkins is if not the Chiefs, then where? Any contract he would receive likely wouldn’t be much more than the minimum and I’d argue there isn’t a place that gives him a better chance to win than KC. The only stipulation I would add is if for nostalgia’s sake, he returned to Houston, but I’m inclined to give that the longshot tag. Should the Chiefs win the Super Bowl, there’s also a possibility he will ride off into the sunset.
Top Candidates: Kansas City Chiefs (very likely), Houston Texans (longshot), Retirement
All in all, the Super Bowl should serve not only as a fun event and great viewing for football fans, but additionally a way to open your eyes to some of the next potential big signings and stars of your team.