Breaking: Eagles’ Stalwart Makes a Sad Departure: Starter Leaves Philly for $18.8 Million Annual Deal with Raiders
After hearing from Philadelphia Eagles GM Howie Roseman at the NFL Scouting Combine this week, we can start to piece together the team’s plans for the start of free agency, which is now less than two weeks away.
Roseman seemed to warn fans to temper their expectations this offseason. After making a flurry of moves during the 2024 signing period, the Eagles will largely be looking to retain as many of their own free agents as possible this time around, with an eye on competing for back-to-back Super Bowl titles.
The consensus entering the combine seems to be that All-Pro linebacker Zack Baun will be back with the team for 2025 and beyond. The outlook is more uncertain for guard Mekhi Becton and defensive tackle Milton Williams.
As for EDGE Josh Sweat, the feeling is that he’s leaving for greener pastures. After hiring Drew Rosenhaus as his agent and dominating in Super Bowl LIX, Sweat is expected to end his seven-year tenure with Philadelphia for a new deal worth around $18.8 million in average annual value.
Kris Knox of Bleacher Report predicts Sweat will leave Philly to form an elite EDGE rushing duo with Maxx Crosby with the Las Vegas Raiders.
Sweat’s impending departure will create a major need for Philadelphia, which will likely lose Brandon Graham to retirement and could seek to move on from free-agent bust Bryce Huff. The Eagles do have a pair of young rising stars in Nolan Smith Jr. and Jalyx Hunt, and most expect Roseman to bolster the group in the 2025 NFL Draft.
Given his positional value at inside linebacker, Baun’s next contract will be cheaper than Sweat’s, and you can argue that Baun’s the more important player given his dominant production in the middle of Philly’s defense. Roseman has spoken publicly about a desire to bring Baun back, so Eagles fans can at least bank on that deal (hopefully) getting done.
Sweat landing with the Raiders makes all kinds of sense. For starters, it’s Las Vegas, and the Raiders have the cap space to meet Sweat’s contract demands. The chance to line up opposite one of the league’s premier pass rushers in Crosby only enhances this hypothetical move even more.
Eagles fans will hate to see Sweat go, especially after his dominant playoff run. But he deserves to get paid, and potentially adding to a new-look Raiders defense with Pete Carroll pulling the strings feels like a good fit.