INDIANAPOLIS − You'll have to forgive Eagles general manager Howie Roseman for acting like a kid in a candy store when he found out last week that the NFL salary cap will increase by $30 million over last season.

But that doesn't give Roseman carte blanche to open up the Eagles' proverbial wallet and fix the defense's problems by signing top-caliber free agents across the board.

After all, Roseman is operating within the constraints of the NFL salary cap. And even Roseman knows that the Eagles have a lot of issues on a defense that ranked near the bottom in just about every category last season.

"I don't think there's an area that we wouldn't be open to addressing," Roseman said about the defense at the NFL scouting combine on Tuesday.

This is where Roseman has to get creative with a multi-pronged plan, perhaps more creative than any offseason since 2016. That was when Roseman spent big in free agency on right guard Brandon Brooks and safety Rodney McLeod, then made two trades to move up to pick quarterback Carson Wentz at No. 2 overall.

One year later, the Eagles won the Super Bowl.

Roseman is not seeking a franchise QB now that he has Jalen Hurts. But it's clear that a bold and patient strategy will be required during this offseason for the Eagles to get back to the Super Bowl in 2024 after a 1-6 meltdown to end last season.

That includes tweaking the offense, too. And here's where the Eagles could wind up with a top running back like the Giants' Saquon Barkley if things fall their way.

But that will take time and patience, and quite possibly belief in edge rusher Nolan Smith, who was mostly a disappointment as the second of the Eagles' two first-round draft picks last year.

Sure, the Eagles are better positioned to spend in free agency than they have been in recent years. They have $27 million of cap space, according to overthecap.com, with the start of free agency two weeks away. The Eagles can get an additional $13 million of cap space by releasing safety Kevin Byard, a virtual certainty even though the Eagles will have to find a replacement.

But even $40 million of cap space only goes so far. Currently, there are 11 teams with more cap space than that.

So while it would be great for the Eagles to get Chiefs star defensive lineman Chris Jones or cornerback L'Jarius Sneed, that seems unrealistic. The Chiefs are reportedly leaning towards using the franchise tag on Sneed, worth $19.8 million. And Jones could command more than $30 million in average annual value if he hits free agency.

Rather, Roseman can make the Eagles' available cap space work in many different ways.

"I think (the extra money) gives you some flexibility to not force things, to have the ability to walk away from a deal and understand that it may come about at another time," Roseman said.

"It's still the same amount of money. It's like, if you win $5, it's still your $5. You don't want to just throw that $5 out and pretend like it's not yours. This is our salary cap money. We've got to make sure we're still making good decisions with it because, at the end of the day, as we go forward, we do have a lot of guys making a lot of money."

So all of this can come in waves. Maybe the Eagles' splurge for a big free agent to start free agency, like they did in 2021 when they signed defensive tackle Javon Hargrave.

Then they can add a few lower-cost signings later in March, particularly at linebacker at safety, after the first wave of marquee players get snatched up. For example, the Eagles signed linebacker Kyzir White to a one-year deal in April 2022.

There's also the draft at the end of April. The Eagles have two second-round picks along with a first rounder. Perhaps two of those three players can contribute right away. And the Eagles will also need bigger contributions from their draft picks in the recent past.

OFFSEASON SHIFTING: Did Eagles give away plans for Haason Reddick, D'Andre Swift? Could Bradberry really return?

WHAT'S EATING AJ? Why AJ Brown's radio call-in to 'clear up BS' should worry Eagles. 5 more NFL combine goals

This is where Smith comes in.

The Eagles have reportedly told sacks leader Haason Reddick to seek a trade. By trading or releasing Reddick, the Eagles would open up another $16 million on the cap, but not until June 1.

For that to happen, the Eagles would have to believe that Smith could take a huge leap and replace some of Reddick's production of 11 sacks last season and 16 the season before.

The same could be true at defensive tackle with Jalen Carter and Jordan Davis replacing Fletcher Cox if he doesn't return. The emergence of those young players especially would enable the Eagles to plug holes at cornerback and safety assuming that Byard and James Bradberry are not returning.

And that could ultimately lead the Eagles to Barkley.

Let's say that Reddick is either traded or released after June 1, and the Eagles get that extra $16 million. The running back market is so devalued that no team is expected to offer a running back the franchise tag worth about $12 million.

That means someone like Barkley, Josh Jacobs, Derrick Henry or Austin Ekeler could still be available in June, perhaps in the $5-$8 million range.

Or heck, maybe the Eagles' D'Andre Swift is still available after rushing for 1,049 yards last season. Roseman did this before, too, in 2017, when he signed LeGarrette Blount in May.

"I think everyone will kind of have value on players just like any other position," Roseman said about the running backs. "Obviously, those guys handle the ball a lot, and they're important players."

And if Roseman spends the NFL's new-found wealth wisely, he can use that multi-pronged approach to fix the Eagles in many different ways.

Contact Martin Frank at mfrank@delawareonline.com. Follow on X @Mfranknfl.

This article originally appeared on Delaware News Journal: How Howie Roseman's offseason plan can lead Eagles to Saquon Barkley