Greatest Eagles Free Agent Signings of All-Time
Philadelphia Eagles general manager Howie Roseman isn’t afraid to make a big splash in free agency. He made two phenomenal signings last offseason, yet the Eagles have had plenty of hits (and misses) with free agent acquisitions throughout the history of the franchise.
In the second installment of my G.O.A.T series for The Philly Special Show, I’m going to rank the top five greatest free agent signings in franchise history. While it’s easy to get excited about the big name signings in free agency, those players don’t always live up to the hype on the field.
There is a lot that goes into what makes a free agent signing successful. Players should exceed the value of the contract that they sign, make a lasting impact on the team and perform at an elite level among their peers at the position. Here are my top five greatest Eagles free agent signings of all-time:
5) Troy Vincent
Vincent entered the league with high expectations after being selected No. 7 overall by the Miami Dolphins in the 1992 NFL Draft. He started 55 regular season games for the Dolphins, as he hauled in 14 interceptions. Yet once his rookie contract ended, Vincent decided to return home as an unrestricted free agent.
Vincent was born in Trenton, New Jersey and went to high school in Fairless Hills, Pennsylvania. He signed with the Eagles in 1996 and became a pivotal piece to Philadelphia’s dominant defense. Vincent grew to be one of the best cornerbacks in the NFL during his eight-year tenure in the City of Brotherly Love.
He received several accolades with the Eagles — named to the Pro Bowl five times, an All-Pro twice, and also named the Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year in 2002. While Vincent didn’t start his NFL career with the Eagles, he’s remembered as one of the best cornerbacks in franchise history.
4) Malcolm Jenkins
Jenkins began his NFL career with the New Orleans saints after being selected No. 14 overall in 2009. He primarily played slot cornerback at Ohio State and cornerback during his rookie season with the Saints. In his second season, Jenkins switched to safety and excelled.
When Jenkins his unrestricted free agency in 2014, he decided to be closer to home, similar to Vincent. Jenkins received interest from several teams but as an East Orange, New Jersey native, he elected to sign with the Eagles. While many fans wanted Philadelphia to sign Jairus Byrd, Jenkins proved to be the right choice.
Jenkins proved to be a game changer both on and off the field in the City of Brotherly Love. He played a key role in the Eagles winning their first Super Bowl in 2017. During his six seasons in Philadelphia, Jenkins was named to the Pro Bowl three times and left a lasting impact on the franchise.
3) Zack Baun
Baun was selected by the Saints with the No. 74 overall pick in the 2020 NFL Draft. After primarily playing special teams in New Orleans, Baun signed a one-year deal with the Eagles in 2024. Yet little did he know, the move would exceed everyone’s expectations, even his own.
Eagles defensive coordinator Vic Fangio moved Baun from edge rusher to inside linebacker and it completely changed his career. Baun recorded 151 total tackles, 11 tackles for loss, five forced fumbles and 3.5 sacks during his first season in Philadelphia. He was a key cog in Fangio’s dominant defense that helped power the franchise to another Super Bowl victory.
Baun received several accolades during his debut season with the Eagles — First-Team All-Pro, Pro Bowl and a finalist for Defensive Player of the Year. While Baun initially laughed at the Pro Bowl incentive in his contract, it’s clear that he proved to be worth it and one of the best free agent signings in franchise history.
2) Nick Foles
Foles was originally drafted by the Eagles in the third round of the 2012 NFL Draft. After starting his career in Philadelphia as the backup QB behind Michael Vick, he made the most of his opportunities when called upon. Foles put together a historic performance with 27 passing touchdowns and just two interceptions during his second season in Philadelphia.
Yet Foles wasn’t consistent enough to keep the starting job and was eventually traded to the St. Louis Rams in 2025. After spending time with the Rams and the Kansas City Chiefs, Foles returned to the Eagles in 2017. Yet some fans were uninspired by his return to Philadelphia after he struggled elsewhere.
After Eagles starting QB Carson Wentz suffered a season-ending knee injury, it seemed like all hope was lost. Yet, Foles came off the bench and led the Eagles on a historic run. Which was capped off by his MVP performance against Tom Brady and the New England Patriots in Super Bowl 52. Foles played the game of his life and led the Eagles to the first Super Bowl victory in franchise history.
1) Saquon Barkley
Barkley entered the NFL with plenty of hype as the New York Giants selected him with the No. 2 overall pick in the 2018 NFL Draft. While he initially lived up to the hype, Barkley’s production was inconsistent as he battled both injuries and an awful supporting cast in New York. Therefore, he knew it was time for a change in 2024.
While I personally thought that there was a 0.0% chance that Barkley would sign with the Eagles, he proved me wrong. Barkley signed a three-year deal with Philadelphia and immediately made an impact in the City of Brotherly Love. He would prove to be the missing piece on a team that fell just short in Super Bowl 57.
Barkley recorded 2,005 rushing yards and 13 rushing touchdowns as he powered Philadelphia’s dominant ground game to victory in Super Bowl 59. He was named the NFL’s Offensive Player of the Year, a First-Team All-Pro and was an MVP Finalist. In his first season with the Eagles, Barkley established himself as the greatest free agent signing in franchise history.