Eagles Agree to Terms With Justin Evans, Nicholas Morrow

Less than 48 hours after the Eagles lost CJ Gardner-Johnson, the Eagles are quickly filling the holes left by departing defensive free agents.

Late Monday night, it was reported that the Eagles signed Justin Evans to fill the hole left by Gardner-Johnson at safety. Evans, who like Gardner-Johnson comes to Philadelphia from New Orleans, had a combined 26 tackles over the regular season including two for loss and one forced fumble. The news was first reported by NFL Network and has since been confirmed by the team.

During the regular season, Evans was a part of a Saints defense that ranked third in the league in total yards per play, fifth in the league in yards per game, and second in the league in passing yards per game during the 2022 regular season. The run defense in New Orleans was much more mediocre, ranking 20th in rushing yards per play and 24th in rushing yards per game last season.

Multiple reports indicated that this is a depth signing and the Eagles will likely look to add additional talent to the safety position.

Adding further depth to the defense, earlier this morning, it was also reported that the Eagles agreed to terms with former Chicago Bears LB Nicholas Morrow. First reported by ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler, and later announced by the team, Morrow

Morrow was part of a defense in Chicago that was at the bottom of the pack in most key stats last season. They were 29th in the league in total yards allowed per game and 31st in the league in total yards allowed per play during the regular season. The team was also dead last in the league in passing yards per play.

Morrow, however, stood out among the pack. He combined for 116 tackles over the regular season, including 83 that were solely his and 11 that were for a loss. He also had one of the team’s 14 interceptions last season.

The Eagles are still expected to make some moves to fill holes on defense before the draft, but these two players will offer some depth at positions that have thinned in free agency. Morrow, for his part, will likely support sophomore linebacker Nakobe Dean in the defensive backfield.