NFL free company doesn’t formally begin till Wednesday, however that didn’t cease the remainder of the league from poaching members of the Philadelphia Eagles’ protection throughout Monday’s “authorized tampering” interval. Right here’s who they’re about to lose.
Milton Williams
Williams had 4 tackles, two sacks and a compelled fumble (which he recovered) in Philadelphia’s 40-22 victory over Kansas Metropolis in Tremendous Bowl LIX. A 3rd-round decide in 2021, Williams entered the offseason because the top-rated free agent on NFL.com
The 25-year-old deal with had a personal-best 5 sacks whereas taking part in a career-high 48% of defensive snaps in 2024 and though he posted a career-low 24 tackles final season, New England had no downside providing him a four-year, $104M contract.
As soon as official, Williams’ deal will make him the NFL’s third-highest-paid inside defender behind Kansas Metropolis’s Chris Jones ($31.7M per yr) and the Raiders’ Christian Wilkins ($27.5M).
Josh Sweat
The 27-year-old edge-rusher led Philadelphia with eight sacks within the common season with 2.5 extra within the Tremendous Bowl. Sweat joined the group as a fourth-round decide in 2018 and put up 43 sacks in seven years with the group.
Sweat posted profession marks in tackles (48) and sacks (11) whereas Cardinals head coach Jonathan Gannon served because the group’s defensive coordinator in 2022, so it’s no shock to see the pair reunite in Arizona.
Per ESPN’s Adam Schefter, Sweat can anticipate to signal a four-year, $76M take care of $41M in assured cash on Wednesday, a cut price in comparison with latest offers for the Raiders Maxx Crosby (three years, $106.5M) and the Browns’ Myles Garrett (4 years, $160M).
Isaiah Rodgers
The Eagles thought sufficient of Rodgers to signal him to a contract in 2023, figuring out he’d miss the whole season whereas suspended for playing violations dedicated whereas a member of the Colts.
Enjoying behind a Professional Bowler like Darius Slay and standout rookies like DeJean and Quinyon Mitchell in 2024, Rodgers performed solely 36% of the group’s defensive snaps, however now that Slay has been launched, the group is dangerously skinny at cornerback.
The previous sixth-round decide agreed to a two-year, $15M contract with the Vikings on Monday, leaving the group with little-used gamers like Eli Ricks, Kelee Ringo and Tariq Castro-Fields behind Mitchell and DeJean.
Rodgers had a single go defended with no tackles in final month’s Tremendous Bowl however that didn’t cease him from commemorating the occasion with a large tattoo that includes the Lombardi trophy, the Tremendous Bowl LIX emblem, the sport’s remaining rating and his jersey quantity on his calf.
He did cease wanting including the Eagles emblem, one thing his new Vikings teammates ought to admire.