The confetti is still being cleaned up from the streets of Philadelphia following the Eagles’ second Super Bowl victory in franchise history. The organization successfully got its revenge on Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs by dominantly defeating them in the Super Bowl rematch. However, as was made clear in each of the speeches and the outlook carried by the organization, the journey to repeat has already begun. Howie Roseman and the rest of the organization have set themselves up for long-term success due to their impressive rate in the NFL Draft and they will look to add to that again this year.
Notable Potential Departures:
Mekhi Becton (OL)- The only member of the offensive starters not under contract for next season for the Eagles is Mekhi Becton. The former 11th-overall pick successfully revived his NFL career by coming to the Eagles this offseason and making the shift from tackle to guard. He played a huge part in Philadelphia’s dominant offensive line that paved the way for Saquon Barkley to run for 2,000+ yards in the regular season and help their team success. Becton already has the Super Bowl trophy tattooed on him and has been open about how meaningful this season was for him. However, Becton was initially viewed as more of a stopgap signing as Tyler Steen continued to develop. What his market value is and what Becton’s priorities are at this point in his career will decide his future. The opportunity will likely be there for the 25-year-old to sign a lucrative contract beyond what the Eagles will be willing to offer, but his desire to stay in Philadelphia and continue competing could lead to a hometown discount keeping him around.
Zack Baun (LB)- Most of the difficult decisions will need to be made on the defensive side of the ball for the Eagles. Zack Baun will headline this after significantly outplaying even the most optimistic expectations coming into the season. His All-Pro breakout at age 28 is one of the best stories in the NFL, with Baun playing as one of the best defenders in the league all season. He holds a similar outlook of likely having a contract opportunity the Eagles will not be willing to match. However, the postseason injury to Nakobe Dean that will keep him out at the start of next season could lead the Eagles to be more willing to spend even if they historically have undervalued the linebacker position.
Josh Sweat (EDGE)- After spending the past seven seasons in Philadelphia, Josh Sweat is set to hit the open market and will be looking to capitalize on the biggest contract of his career. Sweat switched agency representation over the past few weeks and has been open in his discussion of this being the best financial opportunity of his career. He has quietly developed into one of the better pass rushers in the NFL and is coming off a team-leading 8.0 sacks in the regular season and put an exclamation point on the season by sacking Patrick Mahomes 2.5 times in the Super Bowl. While there are some salary cap intricacies that Howie Roseman could lean on if he makes a full effort to bring back Sweat, the emergence of some of the other youthful members of the defensive line, such as Nolan Smith, Jalen Carter and Jalyx Hunt, make it seem more likely Sweat will be suiting up elsewhere next season.
Milton Williams (DT)- Another member of the Eagles set to see a massive payday this offseason is Milton Williams. He has also been pretty clear on his intentions of evaluating his contract options and was not shy about wearing his Klutch Sports shirt during some of the Super Bowl media availability. Williams has been effective across his four seasons in the NFL. He finished this season with a career-high 5.0 sacks and 24 total tackles and has tallied double-digit quarterback pressures in three of his four seasons as a pro. This is also a price-dependent conversation but with significant draft investments made at the DT position, Williams seems even more likely to leave than Sweat.
Eagles’ Team Needs:
Offensive Line: The Eagles have a strong case for the deepest roster in the league and it is difficult to find clear holes. But the offensive line has been such a significant point of strength for the organization and it is time to start planning for the future as Father Time continues its chase. This is most relevant for All-Pro tackle Lane Johnson, who is set to turn 35 years old this offseason. While Johnson made it clear he has no plans to retire just yet, adding his heir to learn behind the future Hall of Famer would be a wise move by this Eagles franchise.
Wide Reciever: A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith will continue to headline one of the most dynamic wide receiver duos in the NFL. However, the production beyond these two has left plenty to be desired for the Eagles. Philadelphia elected to trade for Jahan Dotson shortly before the season but he was held to just 19 total catches on the season, although he did add two receptions for 42 yards in the Super Bowl. No other Eagles wide receiver recorded more than seven receptions this season, with Dallas Goedert and Grant Calcaterra both outperforming this. Adding a legitimate third wide receiver alongside Brown and Smith could add another level to the dynamic Eagles offense.
Defensive End: The decision to prioritize the linebacker position or the defensive line will likely be decided on how the free agency conversations go. However, Bryce Huff struggled in a major way in his first season under contract with the Eagles. While this did not derail the team’s goals, having a player be a healthy scratch at the Super Bowl with a dead cap hit of over $29 million next season is far from ideal. Building through the trenches has been the identity for this Eagles team, so look for Philadelphia to fix their mistake by adding at least one additional edge rusher, especially if Josh Sweat does not return.
Potential Picks:
Tyler Warren (TE)- Penn State: While Tyler Warren will likely already be off the board when the Eagles make their selection for the final pick in the first round, stranger things have happened. The Penn State product is a weapon on offense that was moved around and used in a variety of ways. He finished last season with 104 receptions for 1,233 receiving yards and eight touchdowns through the air. Warren also added 218 rushing yards and four rushing touchdowns while completing three passes for 35 yards and a touchdown this past season. Dallas Goedert is now on the north side of 30 years old and if Warren lasts to the Eagles’ selection, it would be a nightmare for the rest of the NFL.
Shemar Stewart (DL) – Texas A&M: Weighing around 300 pounds and playing with a high motor on an every-play basis, Shemar Stewart has lined up all across the defensive line and could be an intriguing weapon for the Eagles. He was a five-star recruit coming out of high school and has gradually seen his role on the defense grow throughout his time at Texas A&M. He played on a crowded defensive line unit and would be a great fit alongside some of the versatile pass rushers Philadelphia already possesses.
Tyleik Williams (DT) – Ohio State: With Milton Williams seemingly having one foot in free agency, Tyleik Williams would be a clear replacement at the DT position. The Ohio State product finished his college career with 136 tackles, 28 of which were for a loss, and 11.5 sacks across his 51 career games. He was a big part of the National Championship run just last month and the Eagles have leaned on these high-level programs to pick from their pool of talent. Don’t be surprised if the tactic by the Eagles’ front office is to sit and select the best available defensive line talent on the board, with Williams having a place in the discussion at pick number 32.
Jihaad Campbell (LB) – Alabama: It would be uncharacteristic of the Eagles to use a first-round pick on a linebacker, but this season very well could have changed the organizational stance on the position. Zack Baun played at an All-Pro level with Nakobe Dean not far behind him, which helped set the tone for the entire defense. If Baun is to leave in free agency, drafting Jihaad Campbell would be a move to provide Dean with his long-term linebacker partner. The Alabama product is just 21 years old and has flashed some impressive ability in coverage, which is especially important in the Eagles system. Don’t be shocked if the Eagles go a different direction from what we have come to expect, with the status of Baun the first domino here.
