The Philadelphia Eagles were quite aggressive early in the offseason. They finished last NFL season strong before falling to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the playoffs, and believe they have what it takes to be even better in 2022.
But if that's the case, then the front office needs to continue giving Nick Sirianni more pieces. With that in mind, Bleacher Report's Allex Ballantine predicts they could be in the mix for star Jessie Bates III.
Bates has been one of the most consistent players on a team that's fresh off a trip to the Super Bowl, so it's natural to see multiple teams interested in his services:
"It's an interesting situation to monitor. On one hand, the 25-year-old safety has been instrumental in the culture shift that has taken place in Cincinnati over the past few seasons," wrote Ballantine. "In 2020, he was named to PFF's All-Pro team, and while his numbers were down in 2021, he still provided stability and continuity in the secondary."
However, Bates and the Bengals couldn't reach an agreement on a new deal, and he reportedly threatened to sit out instead of playing under the franchise tag:
"While the Bengals could let Bates play out the season and wait for the compensatory-pick formula to help them out, it also stands to reason they would listen to trade offers," Ballantine added.
The Eagles were in the mix for Tyrann Mathieu before he headed back home to sign with the Saints, so it's clear they feel they could do better at the S spot:
"If that's the case, it wouldn't be surprising to see the Eagles pursue the safety. Philadelphia had been linked to Tyrann Mathieu before he signed with the New Orleans Saints, and it has an obvious need at safety," Ballantine added. "The Eagles should be competitive in the NFC East, and by the middle of the season they might feel that adding a safety of Bates' caliber would make them a lock for the playoffs."
The Eagles have put together a competitive, young, promising roster. They're in a winnable division and should have no trouble making the playoffs again.
They've made a big commitment in Jalen Hurts and gave him more weapons to thrive, but their defense will be key to keeping up with the rest of the NFC, so adding Bates should be a no-brainer for them.
