ESPN news: Eagles cut ties with Pro Bowl edge rusher worth $40 million.
The Philadelphia Eagles’ defense is the kind that will be excellent both now and in the future and probably only requires minor adjustments to stay that way.
The probable departure of edge rusher Josh Sweat, who is nearly expected to demand the kind of salary in free agency that would force him out of the Eagles’ price range, is one of those changes that may be a bit more difficult to manage than others.
With an 8-game winning streak and a 10-2 record going into a Week 14 home game against the Carolina Panthers, Sweat leads the Eagles with 7.0 sacks and is enjoying one of his greatest seasons to date.
The Philadelphia Eagles’ defense is the kind that will be excellent both now and in the future and probably only requires minor adjustments to stay that way.
The probable departure of edge rusher Josh Sweat, who is nearly expected to demand the kind of salary in free agency that would force him out of the Eagles’ price range, is one of those changes that may be a bit more difficult to manage than others.
With an 8-game winning streak and a 10-2 record going into a Week 14 home game against the Carolina Panthers, Sweat leads the Eagles with 7.0 sacks and is enjoying one of his greatest seasons to date.
Sweat has lived in Philadelphia his entire career.
After being taken by the Eagles in the fourth round (at No. 130 overall) of the 2018 NFL draft out of Florida State, Sweat has lived in Philadelphia his whole career.
It wasn’t until 2021 that Sweat established himself as a regular starter, recording 7.5 sacks and earning his only Pro Bowl. He then went on to have a career-high 11.0 sacks in 2022, helping the Eagles win Super Bowl LVII
Additionally, sweat has shown to be quite resilient. The only time he was put on injured reserve was during his first season in 2018, when he missed seven games. He has only missed four games in the six seasons that have followed, and he has never missed more than two games in one season.
In 2025, the Eagles are expected to choose an edge rusher.
With Sweat most certainly leaving, it would only make sense for the Eagles to choose an edge rusher in the 2025 NFL draft. The average yearly pay of the top 20 best paid edge rushers in the NFL in 2024 is $24.5 million, but the Eagles have just $34.9 million in salary cap room in 2025, according to Over the Cap. It would be reasonable for Sweat to want and get that kind of money.
According to Trevor Sikkema’s most recent 2025 mock draft, the Eagles will select an edge rusher in the first round, selecting Georgia’s Mykel Williams at No. 29 overall.
Sikkema commented, “Even in December, this pick feels almost inevitable.” The Eagles will require edge reinforcements as Josh Sweat enters free agency and Brandon Graham is scheduled to retire. Even though Jalyx Hunt was added last season and Nolan Smith is getting more playing time, it seems appropriate to add another Georgia Bulldog to this defense. At worst, Williams is a strong and dependable run defender who fits in well with the Eagles’ defensive line philosophy, but he hasn’t yet reached his full pass-rush potential despite his remarkable athletic attributes and long arms.
