6 free agent targets for Philadelphia Eagles with ties to defensive coordinator Vic Fangio
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) - Vic Fangio will be running the defense for the Philadelphia Eagles in 2024.
After the team spiraled at the end of 2023, canned Sean Desai and let Matt Patricia go, the franchise tapped the longtime defensive coach to bring some competency to the team's defense.
With Fangio as the team's defensive coordinator, the Eagles could target some players in free agency who previously played in his scheme.
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Here are six players to watch before NFL free agency begins on March 13.
S Justin Simmons
Veteran safety Justin Simmons was released by the Denver Broncos on Thursday in a move to save cap space, joining a loaded safety class in free agency.
Simmons was set to account for $18.25 million against the cap until he was released. He played under Fangio when he was the head coach of the Broncos from 2019-21.
Simmons had his first of four Second-Team All-Pro seasons under Fangio in 2019. He was a Pro Bowler in 2020 and earned Second-Team All-Pro honors again in 2021.
Simmons is 30 years old, and the Eagles are looking to get younger on defense, but he's still been productive over the past few seasons.
In 2023, he was named Second-Team All Pro, earned a trip to the Pro Bowl and had 70 tackles, three interceptions, eight pass deflections, two forced fumbles and a fumble recovery.
Simmons is also a versatile piece for Fangio's defense and can play multiple positions. He's played over 1,000 career snaps in the slot, more than 2,000 in the box and over 3,800 as a deep free safety, according to Pro Football Focus.
With his release, Simmons becomes one of the top safeties and most sought after players on the market. Spotrac projects him to earn a two-year, $22 million contract in free agency.
LB Andrew Van Ginkel
Andrew Van Ginkel only played under Fangio for one season with the Miami Dolphins in 2023, but he had one of the better years of his career.
Van Ginkel recorded 69 total tackles, a career-high six sacks, one fumble recovery and returned one interception for a touchdown against the Washington Commanders.
Van Ginkel, who played on the edge and at linebacker for the Dolphins, was drafted in the fifth round by Miami in the 2019 NFL draft out of the University of Wisconsin.
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The Eagles will be losing Zach Cunningham, Shaq Leonard and Nicholas Morrow to free agency, so Van Ginkel could be a target for the Birds given his experience playing under Fangio.
Before last season, Fangio even called Van Ginkel and encouraged him to re-sign with the Dolphins because he was a good fit for the defense.
S Eddie Jackson
The Eagles' safety play left a lot to be desired in 2023. Outside of veteran Kevin Byard, the team's safeties were young and ravaged by injuries.
But that could change if they try to pair Reed Blankenship alongside veteran Eddie Jackson.
Jackson, who became a cap casualty for the Chicago Bears last week, played under Fangio when he was the team's defensive coordinator for the first two years of his career.
In 2018 under Fangio, Jackson was named First Team All-Pro and to the Pro Bowl for the first time in his career. His other Pro Bowl selection came the following season in 2019.
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But since 2019, Jackson hasn't been back to the Pro Bowl.
Jackson, 30, dealt with a foot injury throughout the 2023 season and only played in 12 games, which led to his numbers being down. He had 37 total tackles, one interception and five pass deflections.
S DeShon Elliott
Like Van Ginkel, safety DeShon Elliott played under Fangio with the Dolphins last season.
Elliott, 26, played and started 15 games for the Dolphins and recorded 82 tackles, one interception and seven pass deflections.
Before the 2023 season with the Dolphins, Elliott played with the Detroit Lions and Baltimore Ravens. He was drafted by the Ravens in the sixth round of the NFL draft in 2018.
Elliott does come with some injury concerns. He was placed on injured reserve three times throughout his career for season-ending injuries.
During his rookie year in 2018 with the Ravens, he fractured his forearm and missed the entire season. In 2019, a knee injury ended his season and in 2021, he suffered a season-ending biceps and pectoral injury.
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Elliott played on a one-year, $1.7 million contract with the Dolphins last season and could be signed on a similar deal for an Eagles team that needs help at safety.
DL Christian Wilkins
If there's one thing we know about the Eagles, they build through the trenches.
If defensive lineman Christian Wilkins isn't franchise-tagged by the Dolphins, the Eagles could have interest, especially if Fletcher Cox decides to leave in free agency or retire, but it would be costly.
Wilkins, a former first-round pick in the 2019 NFL draft, posted a career-high in sacks last season under Fangio in Miami.
Wilkins had 65 total tackles, nine sacks and a career-high 23 quarterback hits playing in Fangio's defense. He also had two fumble recoveries and started all 17 games.
Wilkins, 28, is projected to earn a four-year, $80.9 million contract in the offseason, according to Spotrac.com.
LB Josey Jewell
Josey Jewell was mostly a special teams player for the Denver Broncos through the first three years of his career, but he emerged over the past two years as a linebacker on their defense.
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Jewell, who played with the Broncos while Fangio was the head coach from 2019-21, has recorded at least 108 tackles each for the past two seasons with Denver. He started 15 of the 16 games last season for Denver's defense.
Jewell had 113 tackles, five quarterback hits, two sacks and four deflections under Fangio in 2020.
Sportrac.com is projecting Jewell to earn a two year, $15.3 million contract in free agency.
Matt Russell, who was the director of player personnel when the Broncos drafted Jewell in 2019, is currently a senior personnel executive with the Eagles. He's held the position since 2022.
Last season, the Eagles took a flier on one of Russell's former Broncos players and acquired tight end Albert Okwuegbunam in a trade.
ESPN reported the Birds signed Okwuegbunam to a one-year deal in February, so maybe the Eagles make Jewell an offer given his connection to Russell.
Editor's note: This story was updated after Justin Simmons was released by the Broncos.
