Winning games en route to a Super Bowl appearance can make you a fan favorite, but once the season concludes and free agency looms, you learn how the league truly values you.
This is the case for Philadelphia Eagles safety Marcus Epps, who despite making crucial plays for the NFC champions, faces skepticism from some analysts. ESPN’s Seth Walder, for instance, has labeled Epps as “overrated.”
Safety is notoriously difficult to evaluate with metrics, which makes any assessment of Epps particularly challenging. Although Epps excelled in run defense, ranking among the top 10 defensive backs in run stop win rate, his performance in pass coverage raised concerns.
According to NFL Next Gen Stats, Epps was targeted 10% of the time last season and allowed 1.0 yards per coverage snap, both metrics being above the average for his position. However, his plus-26 EPA allowed was the second worst among safeties.
Despite some variability in safety statistics, Epps’ numbers have consistently pointed to these issues over the last two seasons, which could be seen as a warning sign.
As the Eagles face an offseason with 20 potential free agents, including key players like running back Miles Sanders and defensive tackle Fletcher Cox, the team must pass tough decisions.
Even with a rising salary cap and general manager Howie Roseman’s financial maneuvering, retaining all top contributors will be difficult, especially with a serious contract extension for quarterback Jalen Hurts on the horizon. Prioritizing stars like Gardner-Johnson, Hargrave, and Bradberry will be essential, though Bradberry’s market value might push him out of reach.