Free Agency
Even the Super Bowl champion Eagles don’t get that much time to celebrate. For the Eagles and the rest of the NFL, it’s head-first into preparing for the 2025 season.
The NFL Combine concluded on Monday, with all the NFL teams getting a look at many of the top college prospects.
Now comes the next phase: free agency. The NFL allows legal tampering to begin on March 10 and then March 12 is the first date that free agents can be signed.
This is important for the Eagles, who could face some key losses to free agency due to the salary cap. For 2025, the salary cap has been set at $279.5 million.
According to OverTheCap.com, the Eagles have $22,075,816 in salary cap space, so they won’t be able to re-sign everybody.
Here are some of the key unrestricted free agents for the Eagles.
1. Zack Baun, LB - This was another great signing by GM Howie Roseman. Baun was signed to a one-year $3.5 million free agent contract after playing for New Orleans and he turned in an All-Pro Season. After recording 151 tackles in the regular season, the 28-year-old Baun had 33 tackles and two interceptions in the four playoff games. He is due a huge raise and should be the Eagles No. 1 priority to resign.
2. Milton Williams, DT - Williams made himself a lot of money, especially in the Super Bowl, when he had four tackles, two sacks and one forced fumble. He had a $3.38 million cap hit last season according to Spotrac. Williams, who turns 26 in April, may be priced out of the Eagles range.
3. Josh Sweat, Edge - Sweat is another player coming off a great Super Bowl with six tackles and 2.5 sacks. He turns 28 on March 29 and had an $8 million cap hit, per Spotrac. During the regular season he had eight sacks. When the Eagles went to the Super Bowl following the 2022 season, he had a career-high 11 sacks. He is an effective rusher and could also be priced out of the Eagles’ range.
4. Mekhi Becton OG - The Eagles revived the career of the former first round pick of the New York Jets, who struggled at tackle, but excelled in Philadelphia at guard. He is due a raise after playing for a $2.75 million salary (per Spotrac). Eagles offensive line coach Jeff Stoutland turned his career around, and maybe that will help the Eagles in their bid to re-sign him. Becton turns 26 in April and after this past year, his best football appears ahead of him, which means he should earn plenty of free agent interest.
5. Kenneth Gainwell, RB - Gainwell, who turns 26 on March 14, was among the top reserve running back in the NFL. He also averaged 25.3 yards on 18 kickoff returns this past season, but with Saquon Barkley carrying the load, Gainwell only had 75 carries. The Eagles loved the depth he provided, but he may look for a team with both greater opportunity and a bigger paycheck.
6. Oren Burks, LB - When Nakobe Dean was injured in the postseason, Burks, who was a strong special teams player, stepped in and did an outstanding job. In four playoff games, including three starts, he had 25 tackles, two forced fumbles and a sack. He turns 30 later this month, and played for $1.125 million this past season (per Spotrac). Burks is due a raise and whether it is the Eagles or another team, he is unlikely to break the bank with a massive deal. The Eagles, no doubt would like to keep him. In seven NFL seasons, he has been to the postseason six times, three with Green Bay, two with San Francisco and this past season with the Eagles.
7. Rick Lovato, LS - Lovato has been part of both Super Bowl winning teams for the Eagles. He is somebody who receives little publicity, but has excelled in his spot as a long snapper. In his eight full seasons with the Eagles, Lovato has never missed a game. It would be surprising if he departed.
Photo: Zack Baun / Courtesy of the Philadelphia Eagles
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Author: Marc Narducci
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