The NFL’s free-agent tampering period is a dozen days away, which means the Eagles and every other team is running out of time to retain exclusive negotiating rights with their own players who are set to hit the open market.
Can general manager Howie Roseman get some deals done before the March 10 deadline that will open the window for free-agent players to start agreeing to new contracts with other teams?
The clock is ticking.
Before it expires, let’s take a look at each of the Eagles' pending free agents and how difficult it might be to replace some of them if they sign elsewhere.
- Zach Baun, LB: He tops our list because he was such a relentless playmaker for the best defense in the NFL. It was truly amazing that he had never been a full-time starter in the NFL before last season and was still considered by many to be more of a line-of-scrimmage edge rusher when he joined the Eagles. Defensive coordinator Vic Fangio did an amazing job of putting Baun in a position to succeed and Baun did an even better job of taking advantage. Baun will play most of next season at the age of 28 and before joining the Eagles had only played 660 career defensive snaps. He should have plenty left in the tank. The fact that fellow starting linebacker Nakobe Dean will be returning from a serious knee injury and on the last year of his rookie contract makes signing Baun even more important.
- Josh Sweat, Edge rusher: It was a tough call between Sweat and defensive tackle Milton Williams for the No. 2 spot on this list, but I went with Sweat because he has been more important to the Eagles over a greater amount of time. Sweat, with the trade of Haason Reddick, stepped up and became the Eagles' best edge rusher in 2024 and had the best performance of his career in the Super Bowl win over the Chiefs. Factor in that Nolan Smith will be recovering from a torn triceps injury at the start of next season and that Brandon Graham might retire and the need to keep Sweat is obvious. Pro Football Focus has him ranked as the No. 2 edge rusher among free agents, but I’d put him ahead of 34-year-old Khalil Mack. The big question for the Eagles is this: How must trust do they really have in Bryce Huff?
- Milton Williams, DT: It would be really difficult to see Williams leave after watching him steadily improve during his four seasons with the team to the point where he became one of the best interior pass rushers in the NFL. His 91.7 PFF pass-rushing grade was the best among interior defenders in 2024. Baun and Sweat, however, were still more important to the Eagles' defensive success because they were on the field more often. It should also be noted that Jordan Davis finished the season strong, playing some of his best football in the postseason and Moro Ojomo is quite capable of being part of the rotation.
- Mekhi Becton, OG: This was clearly among Roseman’s best free-agent signings during the offseason and credit to offensive line coach Jeff Stoutland that he was able to turn him into a very good guard in one season. With the 6-foot-7, 363-pound Becton joining the 6-8, 365 pound Jordan Mailata, the 6-6, 325-pound Lane Johnson and the 6-6, 332-pound Landon Dickerson up front, the Eagles were scary big and nearly impossible to stop up front. But with so many other great players on the offensive line, the Eagles can probably handle the loss of Becton should he get a deal elsewhere that’s too rich for their taste.
- Isaiah Rodgers, CB: In a season filled with great player stories, Rodgers' was certainly among the top 10. After sitting out a season because of a gambling suspension, he became a terrific depth piece for the league’s best secondary. He started three games and played 20 snaps or more in seven games. His PFF coverage grade was 60 or higher in 13 of the 17 games he played on defense and 80 or higher in four of those games. If the Eagles decide they want to move on from veteran Darius Slay to create cap space (a move they shouldn’t be in a hurry to make), Rodgers would be an outstanding choice to fill that role.
- Brandon Graham, Edge rusher: Thanks to how much the trio of Sweat, Smith and rookie Jalyx Hunt stepped up after Graham’s torn triceps injury in Week 12, it’s easy to forget how well the 15-year veteran was playing in 2024. He was still a presence as a pass rusher and one of the best run stoppers at the position. This decision, of course, is entirely up to Graham. If he wants to play another season, the Eagles will welcome back. And if he doesn’t, I can’t wait for the retirement news conference.
- Oren Burks, LB: This space has already been used to detail how valuable Burks was for the Eagles in his first season with the team. He’s never been a full-time starter in the league and he’ll be 30 next season. If the Eagles can find a way to keep him, they should. But if he gets a chance to be a starter elsewhere he should take it.
- Fred Johnson, OT: Coach Nick Sirianni declared Johnson the team’s most improved player during the preseason and they needed him to start five games (four for Mailata and one for Johnson). Add in the last regular-season game and Johnson started a total of six games and played 54 snaps in another. He had some rough moments, but proved to be a capable backup. If he’s willing to stay at a similar salary to the $1.225 million he played for in 2024 then Johnson could stick around.
- Kenneth Gainwell, RB: He was a solid backup to Saquon Barkley and a popular teammate, but the Eagles are likely to move on and draft his potential replacement.
- Avonte Maddox, CB: Considered among the best slot cornerbacks in the league when the Eagles went to the Super Bowl during the 2022 season, Maddox lost his starting job to rookie Cooper DeJean. He did still get some playing time whenever the Eagles used six defensive backs and he even made a huge fourth-down stop that led to the Eagles' final touchdown in the Super Bowl. It would be surprising if he returned in 2025, but he should be remembered as an outstanding player for the franchise.
- Britain Covey, WR: After a terrific season as one of the NFL’s best punt returners in 2023, Covey earned some playing time as part of the receiver rotation coming out of training camp. But a Week 3 shoulder injury kept him out of seven games and after returning for just two games, he suffered a season-ending neck injury. Covey is a restricted free agent, so if his health allows it, the Eagles will be able to bring him back at minimal cost.
- Ben VanSumeren, LB/FB: A valuable member of the Eagles' special teams, he had found a niche as a blocking fullback for Saquon Barkley before his season was ended by a knee injury that he suffered during a late November practice. He’s an exclusive rights free agent so it’s likely he returns.
- Rick Lovato, LS: The Middletown native has been the Eagles' long snapper since late in the 2016 season and now is one of four team members with two Super Bowl rings, joining Lane Johnson, Graham and kicker Jake Elliott. He actually had some shaky moments late in the season, so it will be interesting to see if the Eagles go in search of a replacement. They’ve had just three long snappers (Lovato, Jon Dorenbos and Mike Bartrum) in this century.
- Parris Campbell, WR: The veteran floated back and forth between the active roster and practice squad and finished with six catches for 30 yards and a touchdown. It’s unlikely he returns in 2025.
- C.J. Uzomah, TE: The veteran tight end got on the field quite a bit while Dallas Goedert was out with a knee injury, then ended up on IR himself during the playoffs with an abdominal injury. It’s doubtful the 32-year-old veteran returns in 2025.
- Jack Driscoll, OL: The reserve offensive lineman signed with the Dolphins as a free agent last March, but rejoined the Eagles as a member of the practice squad before the start of the year. He was signed to the active roster in late October, then ended up on IR during the postseason with an ankle injury. He could be back as an offensive line depth piece.
- Le’Raven Clark, OL: He was on IR the entire season and hasn’t played in a game since 2022.
Thank you for relying on us to provide the journalism you can trust. Please consider supporting us with a subscription. Bob Brookover can be reached at rbrookover@njadvancemedia.com