The Eagles haven't been in this situation heading into free agency since 2016. They have money to spend and holes to fill.

Back then, they struck quickly, adding right guard Brandon Brooks and safety Rodney McLeod, among others. Those two became the cornerstone of the 2017 Super Bowl team.

They've done it again so far, signing star running back Saquon Barkley from the Giants and defensive end Bryce Huff from the Jets, laying out as much as $89 million for the two players. They also added safety Chauncey Gardner-Johnson and wide receiver DeVante Parker.

The Eagles entered free agency with $43 million in salary cap space, according to overthecap.com. They can still use help all across the defense, whether it's on the defensive line, linebacker or secondary. But they can also add players on offense, particularly depth on the offensive line after Jason Kelce's retirement.

So follow along as we keep you updated on all the Eagles moves and rumors into free agency and beyond.

Jake Elliott gets 4-year extension

The Eagles held on to all of their specialists, signing kicker Jake Elliott to a four-year deal worth as much as $24 million. ESPN reported that the average annual value of $6 million per year ties Elliott with Baltimore's Justin Tucker as the highest-paid kickers in NFL history.

Earlier this week, the Eagles re-signed punter Braden Mann and long snapper Rick Lovato.

Eagles bring back Chauncey Gardner-Johnson on 3-year deal

The Eagles are bringing back a safety they didn't want to leave in the first place after agreeing to terms with Chauncey Gardner-Johnson on a three-year contract.

The NFL Network was the first to report the news, saying the deal is worth up to $33 million for Gardner-Johnson, who played last season for Detroit.

Gardner-Johnson, 26, played for the Eagles in 2022 after they acquired him in a trade from New Orleans just before the season started. Gardner-Johnson tied for the NFL lead in interceptions that season with 6 despite missing 5 games at the end of the regular season with a lacerated kidney.

Eagles signing DeVante Parker as 3rd wide receiver

The Eagles added their third player on offense by signing wide receiver DeVante Parker to a one-year contract. ESPN is reporting the deal is worth $4.69 million, but the Eagles are paying $1.2 million of it, the Patriots the rest.

Parker is entering his 10th season. He spent his first eight with the Dolphins and last two with New England. He had 33 catches for 394 yards last season. Parker is expected to slot in behind A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith.

The Eagles got little production behind Brown and Smith last season. Quez Watkins, Julio Jones and Olamide Zaccheaus combined for 36 catches for 380 yards in 2023. All are free agents.

Marcus Mariota staying in NFC East, signing with Commanders

The Eagles are losing their backup quarterback Marcus Mariota to NFC East rival the Washington Commanders, ESPN is reporting. Mariota is signing for one year and $6 million, with incentives that could make it $10 million.

That's more than the $5 million Mariota got from the Eagles last season. Mariota got into only three games last season, in mop-up duty during lopsided losses to the 49ers, Cowboys and Giants late in the season. He went 15 of 23 for 164 yards with a touchdown and interception.

Mariota's departure leaves Tanner McKee as the only other QB on the roster behind Jalen Hurts. McKee was the Eagles' sixth-round pick last spring. Mariota will join Sam Howell as Commanders' QBs. But Washington has the No. 2 pick in the draft, and it's likely they'll take one a QB there.

Eagles add depth on offensive line with Matt Hennessey

The Eagles are signing offensive lineman Matt Hennessy to a one-year contract, according to Zach Berman of allphly.com.

Hennessy has both guard and center experience, having started all 17 games there in 2021. He played both positions in 2022, but as a backup, before missing all of last season with a knee injury.

With Jason Kelce retiring, it's expected that Cam Jurgens will move from right guard to replace him (center is Jurgens' natural position). In that scenario, Hennessy, a 2020 third-round pick of the Atlanta Falcons out of Temple, could compete with Tyler Steen to start at right guard. Steen is a natural tackle.

Or the Eagles could keep Jurgens at right guard and put Hennessy at center. The Eagles also have two free agents on the offensive line in Sua Opeta and Jack Driscoll.

Eagles keeping punter Braden Mann

The Eagles are re-signing punter Braden Mann to a two-year contract worth as much as $5 million, according to Adam Caplan, reporting for PFN365. Mann, signed Week 2 to replace Arryn Siposs, set single-season franchise records in gross punting average (49.8 yards per punt) and net punting average (43.9) last season.

The Eagles confirmed Mann's signing, as well as long snapper Rick Lovato to a one-year deal. Lovato has been the Eagles' long snapper since late in the 2016 season.

Saquon Barkley signing with Eagles

In a stunning development, the Eagles are breaking tradition and paying big money for a running back. They're signing Giants star Saquon Barkley to a three-year deal worth as much as $37.75 million, according to the NFL Network.

Barkley has surpassed 1,000 yards three times in his six seasons after the Giants made him the No. 2 overall pick in the 2018 draft. Barkley had a career-high 1,312 yards in 2022. He had 962 yards last season in 14 games.

Barkley is also a good receiver out of the backfield, ensuring that he'll be a three-down back with the Eagles.

Eagles signing a linebacker (no, not a star)

The Eagles are reportedly signing linebacker Zack Baun to a one-year contract, as reported by ESPN. Baun was the Saints' third-round pick in 2020 at No. 74 overall. It's the same round the Eagles picked linebacker Davion Taylor at No. 103 overall. Taylor was waived before the 2022 season.

Baun started 6 games for the Saints last season. He had an interception, two sacks and 30 total tackles. It's not known yet if he'll start next to Nakobe Dean in the fall.

UPDATE March 12: Nicholas Morrow, one of the Eagles' starting linebackers last season, is signing with the Buffalo Bills.

Eagles signing Jets DE Bryce Huff

The Eagles are signing Jets defensive end Bryce Huff to a three-year deal worth as much as $51.1 million, ESPN reported Monday afternoon.

Huff, who turns 26 next month, had 10 sacks last season for the Jets after originally signing with them as an undrafted free agent in 2020. He becomes the highest-paid undrafted free agent who's not a quarterback in NFL history.

Huff's signing makes Haason Reddick and Josh Sweat that much more expendable. The Eagles are reportedly looking to trade both. Reddick had 11 sacks last season and Sweat 6.5. Both are entering the final year of their contracts.

D'Andre Swift going to the Bears

It didn't take long for the Eagles to lose their first free agent as running back D'Andre Swift is reportedly signing with the Chicago Bears, according to the NFL Network. The move was reported a few minutes after the start of the negotiating period.

Swift had a career-high 1,049 yards rushing last season, his first with the Eagles. The Eagles had traded for him last spring with the Detroit Lions, who had made him their second-round pick in 2020.

Swift is reportedly signing a three-year deal worth as much as $24.5 million. For the second straight year, the Eagles are losing a 1,000-yard rusher in free agency. Miles Sanders, who had 1,269 yards rushing in 2022, signed the next spring with the Carolina Panthers.

But the Eagles more than made up for his departure by signing Barkley.

Landon Dickerson gets 4-year extension

The Eagles began free agency by giving an extension to a player who was a year away from free agency by signing guard Landon Dickerson to a four-year contract Monday morning.

The NFL Network reported that the deal is for four years for as much as $84 million with $50 million guaranteed, making him the highest-paid guard in the NFL.

Dickerson, the Eagles' second-round pick in 2021, had been selected to the Pro Bowl in each of the last two seasons after originally being drafted as Jason Kelce's successor at center. But early in the 2021 season, he replaced an injured Isaac Seumalo at left guard and has started there ever since.

Dickerson is the first player from the Eagles' 2021 draft class to get a second contract. First-round pick DeVonta Smith will likely get his fifth-year option picked up, keeping him under contract through 2025. He should get an extension at some point, too.

Are Eagles looking to trade top 2 edge rushers?

We already knew the Eagles were looking to trade Haason Reddick, who led the Eagles with 11 sacks last season, in essence telling him to seek a trade partner a few weeks ago.

But the NFL Network is also reporting that the Eagles will be taking offers for Josh Sweat, who was second on the team with 6.5 sacks.

The reason is simple: Both are entering the final years of their contracts, with Reddick counting $21.9 million on the cap and Sweat counting $9.1 million on the cap. If the Eagles want to lower their cap hits, they would have to sign them to extensions, committing to at least two more years.

For Sweat, that wouldn't be as much of an issue as he's 26 years old, although he did have a major knee injury in high school. But Sweat's sack total was down from 11 in 2022, and he went the final eight regular-season games without a sack. A new contract could put Sweat, who's currently at $13.3 million in average annual value, in the $20 million range in AAV.

Reddick turns 30 in September, and he would most likely want a new contract in the $20-$30 million range in average value (his current deal is $15 million).

As for replacing them, Eagles GM Howie Roseman has always prioritized the defensive line. The Eagles announced Saturday that they're bringing back Brandon Graham for one more season (see below).

Plus, Roseman could go after a big-money free agent (see below) and an early-round draft pick. In addition, the Eagles could be relying on Nolan Smith to make a big leap this season. The 2023 first-round pick (No. 30 overall) had 1 sack in limited playing time last season.

Fletcher Cox calls it a career

Eagles defensive tackle Fletcher Cox announced his retirement Sunday, becoming the second star player to retire in less than a week, joining center Jason Kelce, who retired March 4.

Cox had a storied 12-year career, all with the Eagles, who made him their first-round pick in 2012. He was selected to the Pro Bowl in six straight seasons from 2016-21, and was named All Pro four times (2014, 2015, 2017 and 2018). Cox is tied for third in team history in games played at 188, and he's fifth in sacks behind with 70, three behind Brandon Graham.

Cox's retirement turns defensive tackle over to three young players in Jordan Davis, Jalen Carter and Milton Williams, all drafted in the past three years. Cox had 5 sacks last season, and he led the Eagles' defensive tackles by playing 59% of the snaps.

Brandon Graham returning on 1-year deal

Brandon Graham will get that farewell season that he was hoping for after all.

The Eagles announced March 9 that they are re-signing him for one more season. Graham, who turns 36 next month, will return for a franchise-record 15th season, breaking a tie with Chuck Bednarik, who played 14 seasons.

Graham, the Eagles' first-round pick in 2010, also holds the team record for games played at 195, two ahead of Jason Kelce, who retired last week.

Eagles release Avonte Maddox, Kevin Byard for big cap savings

The Eagles created about $15 million in salary cap space by releasing two of their five starting defensive backs in safety Kevin Byard ($13 million savings) and nickel Avonte Maddox ($2 million savings).

Update: Byard signed a two-year contract worth as much as $15 million with the Chicago Bears on March 10.

It's possible that a third starter in cornerback James Bradberry could go, too, after a disappointing season.

The Eagles still have starting cornerback Darius Slay and safety Reed Blankenship returning. It's clear that the Eagles are rebuilding the secondary under defensive coordinator Vic Fangio.

Eagles free agents

The Eagles have 21 unrestricted free agents of their own.

Quarterback: Marcus Mariota

Running back: D'Andre Swift, Rashaad Penny, Boston Scott

Tight end: Jack Stoll (restricted)

Offensive line: Jack Driscoll, Sua Opeta, Roderick Johnson

Wide receiver: Julio Jones, Quez Watkins, Olamide Zaccheaus

Linebacker: Shaun Bradley, Zach Cunningham, Nicholas Morrow, Shaquille Leonard

Defensive back: Avonte Maddox, Kevin Byard, Justin Evans, Bradley Roby

Specialists: Braden Mann (punter), Rick Lovato (long snapper).

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

This article originally appeared on Delaware News Journal: Eagles, NFL free agency tracker: Saquon Barkley signing, Mariota leaving