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Philadelphia Eagles news and links for 3/12/25.
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“I think they are more likely to shed more salary than acquire more salary. That’s how I feel right now. So, you’re asking if there’s a trick up their sleeve? No, again, I think they are more likely to shed – shed – more salaries, make more moves the other way, more outgoing than…
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— 97.5 The Fanatic (@975TheFanatic)
March 12, 2025
How the Eagles’ new-look defense is shaping up for 2025 - BGN
Still, the departure of these role players creates both an opening for young players, and the uncertainty that goes along with it. The good news is, the core of the world champions is very much intact. Virtually everyone on offense will be back, with only Dallas Goedert’s and Mekhi Becton’s futures up in the air. Defensively, the bedrock of Jalen Carter, Zack Baun, Nolan Smith, Jordan Davis, Quinyon Mitchell, Cooper DeJean and Reed Blankenship remain in place. If you’re fretting about relying so much on young players and recent draft picks to make the leap and become impact contributors, take heart. The core of the Eagles’ No. 1-ranked defense was mostly a question mark heading into 2024, filled with draft picks who had not yet lived up to their potential. This time last year, there were serious questions about Smith’s viability as a pass rusher, Carter’s conditioning and ability to stay on the field, Davis’ overall effectiveness and Dean’s ability to stay healthy and productive. Roseman’s recent drafts were not celebrated as the slam dunks we see them as now, because those players had yet to prove they could make an impact. But Roseman and the Eagles stuck with them, added two Defensive Rookie of the Year finalists in the draft, and decided to believe those previous picks would pan out. It happened. Now, they’re hoping it will happen again. And don’t sleep on the developmental aspect of all this. The Eagles’ coaching staff has done a wonderful job helping players continue to improve after arriving in the NFL. That’s not always the case. Some coaching staffs look at college players as finished products that either fit their system or don’t. The Eagles coaching staff makes players better.
Expect trade market, draft to make up for Eagles’ free-agency wipeout, amid Howie Roseman’s plea for ‘patience’ - Inquirer
Point is, the Eagles did exactly what they should have done over the last week. They realized that Zack Baun would give them the best bang for their buck and focused on re-signing him. They realized that it wasn’t worth $24 million a year to maintain their embarrassment of riches at defensive tackle. Instead, they wished Williams well. They realized that they had given Sweat’s money to Bryce Huff and that they would just have to live with it. They realized that Slay would be 35 years old by the end of next season and that Mitchell and DeJean were good bets to be better than they were in 2024. They are worse now than they were a week ago. That’s how it works this time of year for elite teams. The salary cap is in place for a reason. Nobody wants to see a team like the Eagles win 10 straight Super Bowls. Well, almost nobody.
Why the Eagles traded C.J. Gardner-Johnson: 5 thoughts on the trade, what’s next at safety, how Kenyon Green fits with Jeff Stoutland - PHLY
1. The Eagles were likely trying to get ahead of a contract situation with Gardner-Johnson while recognizing they have some big contracts upcoming. This has more to do with the business of football as the on-field product. Gardner-Johnson, who only has $2 million guaranteed on his contract, was soon to be in line for a new deal. The Eagles can pay big money to only so many players. And with contract extensions expected in the next two years for young players such as Cam Jurgens, Jalen Carter, Nolan Smith — and Quinyon Mitchell and Cooper DeJean eligible in 2027 — the Eagles try to get ahead of these decisions. It’s not just cap considerations — the cap savings are not significant in this case — but also the cash savings. By making this move, the Eagles do not need to pay Gardner-Johnson $8.5 million in cash this year. From the 10-year period leading into the 2024 season, the Eagles had more cash spending than any team in the NFL. Their strategy includes cash-heavy deals that allow them to spread the cap hit over the course of multiple years. They paid heavy cash in recent contract extensions, and they’ll need that cash for some of these upcoming deals.
Why Howie Roseman believes a painful offseason was essential for Eagles - NBCSP
And he’s convinced that you can’t sustain success without constantly infusing the roster with young players. That means you have to keep drafting well and that means you have to have a lot of starters on rookie contracts and that means you can pay market value to keep your superstars. That’s the formula. That’s the plan. And it works. Roseman’s plan for this offseason was a simple one. Stock up on draft picks. Don’t even try to sign any free agents. Get younger. Trust the kids. Put the compensatory pick formula to work. It was partly necessitated by the Eagles’ less-than-ideal cap situation but also by Roseman’s understanding that the only way to remain competitive is to make painful decisions when it comes to roster construction. So while it hurts to see all these players leave, Roseman believes it had to happen if the Eagles are going to continue to compete for championships. So this offseason has been about getting younger and letting guys like Kelee Ringo, Jeremiah Trotter Jr., Jalyx Hunt, Sydney Brown, Tyler Steen and Moro Ojomo compete for more prominent roles while they’re on cheap rookie deals.
Money Matters - Iggles Blitz
The Eagles gave up a good starting safety for a disappointing OG who got benched last year. Why on earth would they do this?Apparently this is about business. Money. CJGJ is a good player making good money. The Eagles would like to save some of that money. They are going to pay Jalen Carter megabucks next year. Cam Jurgens should get an extension this year. Reed Blankenship will need an extension. Where do you want to spend your money? You want to focus on great players and younger players. The Eagles wanted to save some money for the upcoming deals.
2025 NFL free agency: Best, worst, most surprising moves - ESPN+
The Annual ‘Howie Szn’ Award: The Eagles trade QB Kenny Pickett to the Browns. There isn’t a general manager in the league with half as fervent a cult following as the Eagles’ Howie Roseman. The mastermind behind two Super Bowl champions is known for overinvesting in the quarterback position, employing more talented offensive and defensive linemen than any other team and always fleecing opposing front offices in trades. As such, every year, there’s at least one Eagles move — a signing, a trade, whatever — that has the entire Philadelphia fan base cheering its GM’s name. This offseason, that move is the trading of Kenny Pickett. The Eagles, in classic Howie fashion, traded for Pickett last offseason solely for his status as an ex-first-round quarterback. After one season of unspectacular QB2 play, they’ve shipped Pickett away to Cleveland, a team grasping at quarterback straws for the 2025 season. The trade return (a fifth-rounder and QB Dorian Thompson-Robinson) is about as unremarkable as what Roseman originally sent to Pittsburgh for Pickett (a third-rounder and two seventh-rounders for Pickett and a fourth-rounder). That isn’t the point, though. The point is Roseman continues to cycle through QB2 options even with a Super Bowl-winning QB1 in hand. He continues to wheel and deal for picks in a never-ending string of small but likely plus-expected value moves. That’s what makes this a classic Howie move. Masterful gambit.
Eagles still plan to release Darius Slay on Wednesday - PFT
Cornerback Darius Slay continues to be a member of the Eagles’ roster. He will be until Wednesday. The Eagles, we’re told, still plan to cut him when the new league year begins. Waiting until 4:00 p.m. ET on Wednesday, March 12 allows the Eagles to make Slay a post-June 1 release, spreading more than $13.7 million in dead money over two seasons. Slay, in the interim, has permission to speak to other teams. And he apparently has been speaking to the Steelers. But no deal can be done until he’s released.
Texans trading OG Kenyon Green to Eagles for S CJ Gardner-Johnson - Battle Red Blog
With this move, the Texans move on from Greene who unfortunately has been one of the worst guards in the NFL during his three years as a pro. He ended the 2024 season with a Pro Football Focus grade of 38.6. For context, an “average” grade from PFF is 60.0, which shows just how below average he’s been when on the field.
Steelers finalizing deal with RB Kenneth Gainwell - Behind The Steel Curtain
Gainwell was a third-down, change of pace back with the Eagles, who also returned 18 kickoffs in 2024. He could fill a similar role with the Steelers, and the signing could mark the end of Cordarrelle Patterson’s stint in the black and gold.
Browns Kenny Pickett trade: Deep dive into the why and what it might mean - Dawgs By Nature
Pickett is in the final year of his rookie deal, which will pay him $2.6 million. His fifth-year option will need to be addressed at some point. He is just 26 years old and can continue to grow into a starting QB in this league. With the Browns, he does perhaps get a shot to start again, which he would never do with Philadelphia who love Hurts as their starter, plus the development of backup QB Tanner McKee. Before free agency began, the Browns’ quarterback room had more questions than answers. Now, suddenly, there is some clarity. The backup quarterback role is solved.
Miles Sanders has been released - Cat Scratch Reader
The Carolina Panthers have announced that they have released running back Miles Sanders. The former Philadelphia Eagles standout was signed to a four-year, $25M contract in 2023. In two disappointing seasons with the Panthers, Sanders only started seven games and never truly competed with Chuba Hubbard for the starting role. Sanders only played in 27 games for the Panthers, totalling 184 carries for 637 yards and three touchdowns. That was a far cry from the 3708 yards he amassed in four years with the Eagles.
Vikings to Sign DL Javon Hargrave Following His Release - Daily Norseman
Tom Pelissero of the NFL Network is reporting that the Vikings are closing in on a deal with another two-time Pro Bowl player in defensive lineman Javon Hargrave. The San Francisco 49ers are expected to release him on Wednesday when the new league year starts, and the Vikings are expected to sign him after that happens. Hargrave has been in the league for a while, as he was drafted in the third round of the 2016 NFL Draft by the Pittsburgh Steelers. He spent his first four seasons in Pittsburgh, and then signed with the Philadelphia Eagles in free agency. He then played for the Eagles for three seasons before moving on to the Niners in 2023. Hargrave only played in three games in 2024 before suffering a torn right bicep in a game against the Los Angeles Rams, an injury that caused him to miss the remainder of the season.
Washington Commanders Free Agency: Jonathan Allen agrees to 3-year, $60 million deal with the Vikings - Hogs Haven
The Washington Commanders attempted to trade Jonathan Allen, but there were no takers, so he was released. This allowed him to get a head start on free agency before the legal tampering began, and teams started spending big money. Allen reportedly visited the Minnesota Vikings, and has agreed to a 3-year, $60 million contract per Adam Schefter.
Cowboys re-signing WR/PR KaVontae Turpin to 3-year deal - Blogging The Boys
The Dallas Cowboys have been pretty active on Tuesday in the midst of the NFL free agency frenzy. After adding veteran defensive lineman Solomon Thomas on a two-year deal, the Cowboys are bringing back wide receiver/kick returner KaVontae Turpin on a three-year deal worth $18 million, making him the highest paid special teams player in the league, although he logs significant time on offense, too.
New York Giants, Pittsburgh Steelers appear to be waiting on Aaron Rodgers - Big Blue View
The wildly-spinning NFL quarterback carousel has stopped for the moment, with the New York Giants and Pittsburgh Steelers waiting on a decision from future Hall of Famer Aaron Rodgers. Geno Smith has moved from Seattle to Las Vegas. Sam Darnold from Minnesota to Seattle. Justin Fields from Pittsburgh to the New York Jets. Daniel Jones from Minnesota to Indianapolis. A Rodgers decision appears to be next. What will it be? Will Rodgers choose to stay in New York to try and erase the stain left on his legacy by his failed two-year tenure with the Jets? That might help Brian Daboll keep his job with the Giants. Will he join future Hall of Fame coach Mike Tomlin in Pittsburgh, where the Steelers are perennially a playoff contender?
NFL’s 10 best free agents still available on 2025 market, ranked - SB Nation
The first day of the NFL’s legal tampering period has come and gone, and day two is upon us. After Monday’s flurry of moves, who are the best available players? While the opening of the tampering period generates the most buzz, the days that follow are where rosters are truly built, and games can be won. For teams — and their fans — still looking for moves, here are some names to watch.
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