PHILADELPHIA -- The NFL's waiver wire has been buzzing, creating a kind of pre-free agency market for veteran players.
The Philadelphia Eagles prefer to sign younger, up-and-coming players when possible. Still, there are interesting names at areas where the Eagles have needs. Will the waiver wire provide help?
Here's a look at suddenly-available players, in the order in which they might catch the Eagles' attention.
The Oakland Raiders are expected to release safety Tyvon Branch on Monday. Branch is only 28. He played in just five games the last two seasons because of injuries. Before that, Branch started 62 of a possible 64 games over four seasons with the Raiders.
Branch has four career interceptions and eight career sacks. He is listed as a strong safety, so he may not be the best complement to Eagles safety Malcolm Jenkins.
A couple of offensive guards have been released, providing new candidates to replace Todd Herremans.
Atlanta's Justin Blalock is 31. He has played in all but three games over his eight seasons with the Falcons. A former second-round draft pick, the 6-foot-3, 320-pound Blalock was set to count $7.9 million against the salary cap for 2015. He wouldn't be a long-term solution, but he could be a solid addition.
Minnesota's Charlie Johnson probably isn't as good a fit. The 30-year-old gave up five sacks during the 2014 season.
With Jeremy Maclin's situation still unsettled, the Eagles could look to add a wide receiver or two for depth.
Miami's Brian Hartline, 28, caught 39 passes for 474 yards in 2014. The two previous seasons, however, Hartline averaged 75 catches and over 1,000 yards.
Atlanta released wide receiver Harry Douglas, who caught 51 passes for 556 yards in 2014. Douglas also had a better year in 2013, catching 85 passes for 1,067 yards. Douglas, 30, has been a complementary player alongside Julio Jones and Roddy White.
