Grading every Eagles' move from the first wave of NFL free agency

Philadelphia saw Nakobe Dean (Raiders), Reed Blankenship (Texans), Jaelan Phillips (Panthers), and Adoree' Jackson (free agency) depart. Marcus Epps is back, and the Birds added longtime veteran J.T. Gray to the backend after trading Sydney Brown. The Eagles then recovered and added 12 quality free agents to a roster seeking a Super Bowl return.

This roster isn't perfect, and there are plenty of pieces to add, but there are key building blocks in place and the infrastructure to reload on defense while enhancing a once-dominant offense.

The Eagles were active in free agency, adding several new faces to a roster looking to return to the Super Bowl. But which additions have the highest ceiling and the most potential to make an impact in 2026? We rank every Eagles free agent signing by the role they're expected to play and the difference they could make on a team looking to repeat.

Riq Woolen, CB: A+

Riq Woolen #27 (Photo by Jane Gershovich/Getty Images)

Woolen possesses unmatched measurables for a cornerback as he's tall, athletic, physical, fast, and has top-flight ball skills. Woolen is 6-4 with long arms and ran a 4.26 in the 40-yard dash at the 2022 NFL Scouting Combine. Even more impressive, he produced the second-highest lockdown percentage (65%) in the NFL this past season. Although reckless at times, since entering the league in 2022, Woolen's 8 interceptions in man coverage rank 3rd according to ESPN Analytics / NFL Next Gen Stats.

Arnold Ebiketie, OLB: A

Oct 13, 2024; Charlotte, North Carolina, USA; Carolina Panthers quarterback Andy Dalton (14) gets off a pass pressured by Atlanta Falcons linebacker Arnold Ebiketie (17) during the second quarter at Bank of America Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jim Dedmon-Imagn Images

This pass-rushing linebacker has recorded 16.5 sacks over the past four years in Atlanta. Despite limited snaps, Ebiketie's 74.9 overall grade was 28th out of 115 edge rushers in the NFL, while his 73.4 pass rusher grade was 30th in the NFL last season.

Hollywood Brown, WR: B

Dec 7, 2025; Kansas City, Missouri, USA; Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Hollywood Brown (5) celebrates after catching a pass during the third quarter against the Houston Texans at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-Imagn Images

A former Ravens first-round pick, Brown caught 49 passes for 587 yards and five touchdowns last season and still separates from coverage. The Eagles will be Brown's third team in four seasons, but he has an opportunity to post huge numbers.

Joe Tryon-Shoyinka: B

BEREA, OHIO - JUNE 04: Joe Tryon-Shoyinka #90 of the Cleveland Browns rushes against Jason Ivey #72 during Cleveland Browns OTA offseason workouts at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on June 04, 2025 in Berea, Ohio. (Photo by Nick Cammett/Getty Images)

The pass rusher spent his first four seasons in Tampa with the Buccaneers. Last season with the Bears and Browns, Tryon-Shoyinka earned a 72.2 overall PFF defensive grade, and a pass-rush grade of 67.6, with a run-defense grade of 66.2. Tryon-Shoyinka generated 8 total pressures, 0 sacks, 6 hurries, and 2 QB hits. Against the run, he recorded 10 solo tackles.

Elijah Moore, WR: C

Elijah Moore #18, Buffalo Bills (Photo by Bryan Bennett/Getty Images)

Denver was the fourth stop of Moore's five-year NFL career, after the 25-year-old wideout previously had stints with the Jets, Browns, and Bills since entering the league as a second-round pick in 2021. close friend of A.J. Brown, Moore had his most productive seasons in 2023 and 2024 with Cleveland, when he had 100+ targets and 1,178 total yards.

Johnny Mundt, TE: C

Jan 4, 2026; Jacksonville, Florida, USA; Jacksonville Jaguars tight end Johnny Mundt (86) runs after a catch against the Tennessee Titans at EverBank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Travis Register-Imagn Images

Before joining the Jaguars, Mundt spent three seasons with the Vikings. Last season, he caught nine passes (on 19 targets) for 111 yards across 16 regular-season games in 2025, when he served mostly as a run blocker and backup to Brenton Strange.

Stone Smartt, TE: B

EAST RUTHERFORD, NEW JERSEY - AUGUST 16: Stone Smartt #84 of the New York Jets gets tackled by Chris Board #49 of the New York Giants during a NFL Preseason 2025 game between New York Jets and New York Giants at MetLife Stadium on August 16, 2025 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. The Giants won 31-12. (Photo by Ishika Samant/Getty Images)

In a reduced role behind Mason Taylor, Smartt caught seven of nine targets for 52 yards while appearing in 15 games for the Jets in the 2025 season.

Smartt played mostly on special teams and drew at least one target in only three of his 15 appearances for the Jets. He spent the previous three seasons with the Chargers and has just one touchdown catch in 53 regular-season NFL games.

Andy Dalton, QB: A

Oct 26, 2025; Charlotte, North Carolina, USA; Carolina Panthers quarterback Andy Dalton (14) calls a play in the fourth quarter against the Buffalo Bills at Bank of America Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-Imagn Images

Dalton has a year left on his current contract, and the move comes after Carolina GM Dan Morgan indicated that Dalton would have to compete for the backup job (behind Bryce Young) with a younger QB to be added through free agency or the draft. Dalton had just one start during four regular-season appearances with the Panthers in 2025, and the 38-year-old second-round pick by the Bengals in 2011 has 169 regular-season starts to his credit. Dalton would be a solid backup and would be a huge addition for Jalen Hurts.

Jonathan Jones, CB: C

Jonathan Jones (Photo by Patrick McDermott/Getty Images)

Jones, 32, has been in the NFL for ten seasons and has played 144 career games with 78 starts. Jones (5-9, 185) went undrafted and signed with the New England Patriots in 2016. Jones spent his first nine NFL seasons in New England before signing with Washington last offseason.

Dameon Pierce, RB: C

Dameon Pierce #31, Texans vs. Philadelphia Eagles (Photo by Bob Levey/Getty Images)

A fourth-round pick by the Texans in 2022 out of Florida, Pierce finished the 2025 campaign with Kansas City after spending his first three and a half seasons in Houston.

Pierce's most productive season came as a rookie when he rushed for 939 yards and four touchdowns in 13 games. He also added 30 receptions for 165 yards and a score.

J.T. Gray, S: C

Jan 7, 2024; New Orleans, Louisiana, USA; New Orleans Saints safety J.T. Gray (48) looks on against the Atlanta Falcons during the first half at Caesars Superdome. Mandatory Credit: Stephen Lew-USA TODAY Sports

Undrafted out of Mississippi State in 2018, Gray was one of the Saints' longest-tenured players and a captain, and his release came as a surprise last summer. Gray, 30, is a three-time All-Pro and was a special teams Pro Bowler in 2021, but spent last season with the Bucs, Broncos, and Ravens.

Chandler Martin, LB: A

Chandler Martin #48 and T.J. Tampa #27 (Photo by Greg Fiume/Getty Images)

Martin, 23, was an undrafted rookie who appeared in three games for Baltimore in 2025 as a practice-squad elevation, with 34 snaps and five special-teams tackles, yet still offers enough potential for the Eagles to offer a two-year deal. He'll join a crowded linebacker group that includes Zack Baun and Jihaad Campbell, who are the unquestioned starters. With Campbell out until training camp, this battle will heat up early in the next few weeks ahead of the start of the off-season workout program.

This article originally appeared on Eagles Wire: Eagles free agency grades: breaking down every early move