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The Eagles underwent a mini overhaul this offseason, as a mass exodus of free agents left the defense with holes, but 11 new additions—7 on defense—could have this team back in the Super Bowl.
During the first wave of free agency, Philadelphia saw Josh Sweat (Cardinals), Milton Williams (Patriots), Kenneth Gainwell (Steelers), Mekhi Becton (Chargers), Isaiah Rodgers (Vikings), Fred Johnson (Jaguars), Parris Campbell (Cowboys), Darius Slay (CB) and Oren Burks (Bengals) all depart.
Still, they rebounded to make several key signings, including A.J. Dillon (RB), Joshua Uche (LB), Adoree' Jackson (CB), Charley Hughlett (LS), Patrick Johnson (LB), Avery Williams (KR/PR), Kylen Granson (TE), and Azeez Ojulari (OLB) to name a few.
With the NFL draft fast approaching, we’re examining the fits for nine free-agent signings and two players acquired via trade.
Fit: Third-string quarterback.
Thompson-Robinson, a 2023 fifth-round draft pick, started five games in two seasons with the Browns, completing 121-of-230 passes for 880 yards and one touchdown. He added 187 yards on 35 carries as a dual-threat quarterback.
In his final season at UCLA, Thompson-Robinson finished sixth in the nation in completion percentage (.696), setting a school single-season record. He was one of two FBS quarterbacks to throw for as many as 27 touchdown passes and add 12 rushing touchdowns in 2022.
The 25-year-old finished his collegiate career as UCLA's all-time leader in total offense (12,536 – only UCLA player ever to record more than 12,000 yards), completions (860), total touchdowns (116), touchdown passes (88), and passing yards (10,710).
Fit: Starting right guard.
Green was the 15th overall pick of the 2022 NFL Draft out of Texas A&M. He will enter his fourth NFL season. The 6-foot-4, 325-pound Green turned 24 years old on Saturday, March 15. In his final season at Texas A&M, he was a first-team AP All-America selection. He was named the team's Offensive MVP and received the Aggies' Leadership Award as well. He played four of the five offensive line positions at A&M.
Fit: Backup running back
Dillon missed the 2024 season with a neck injury. Still, at 26 years old, he brings some extra power to the Philadelphia running back room, which currently consists of Saquon Barkley, Tyrion Davis-Price, Lew Nichols, and Will Shipley. He is a 6-foot, 247-pound back who ranked second on the Packers with 2,928 yards from scrimmage from 2021-23 and posted 50+ yards from scrimmage in 30 games.
Fit: Rotational pass rusher.
The 26-year-old has 20.5 career sacks and 34 quarterback hits throughout his NFL career. A 2020 second-round pick out of Michigan, Uche spent the first four and a half years in New England and has been used as an edge rusher throughout his career. Uche had a career-high 11.5 sacks in 2022 while in New England, stacking up 49 pressures at a rate of 18.5 percent.
The versatile linebacker logged two sacks while on the Patriots in 2024 and finished the year with 23 tackles (17 solo) in 13 games.
According to Pro Football Focus, Uche's pressure rate has been 16.7 percent since 2022, which ranks sixth among edge defenders in the NFL.
Fit: 3rd string TE
Bryant joins Dallas Goedert, Grant Calcaterra, E.J. Jenkins, Nick Muse, and Cameron Latu in the room. Bryant last played for the Las Vegas Raiders, appearing in 13 games and making nine catches for 86 yards. Before his time in Las Vegas, the 6-foot-5 tight end spent four years with the Cleveland Browns, where he was a fourth-round draft pick in 2020. During his five-year career, Bryant has accumulated 98 catches for 877 yards and 10 touchdowns.
Fit: 2nd team CB, Slot CB depth
Jackson was the No. 18 overall pick in the 2017 NFL Draft by the Titans, where he spent his first four seasons before joining the Giants in 2021. The former USC Trojan played in 14 games in 2024, making 28 tackles (18 solo), one forced fumble, and a recovery. In his eight-year NFL career, Jackson has collected 404 tackles (330 solo), 61 pass breakups, six forced fumbles, three fumble recoveries, and four interceptions in 82 starts.
Fit: Starting long snapper.
Hughlett spent the last 10 seasons with the Browns and was tied as the longest-tenured member, playing in 152 career games, the 15th-most in franchise history.
Fit: Special teams standout
After Johnson was drafted in the seventh round of the 2021 draft, he played in 49 regular-season and five playoff games, accumulating 20 tackles, one for loss, three QB hits, and 11 QB pressures. He also authored 15 special teams tackles. In 2024, he played in 12 games for the Giants, mainly on special teams.
Fit: Special teams standout
The 26-year-old led the NFL in punt returns in 2022, averaging 16.2 yards per return. He's averaged 22.4 yards per kickoff return and 10.9 yards per punt return.
Fit: Reserve tight end.
Granson, a former fourth-round draft pick of the Indianapolis Colts, has compiled 86 receptions for 958 yards and a touchdown in 62 regular-season games (17 starts) in his four NFL seasons.
Fit: Starting pass rusher.
Jalyx Hunt is going to be a really good player, but we predict Azeez Ojulari will start opposite Nolan Smith in Week 1.
In his first year in the league, he broke the Giants' record for sacks by a rookie with eight. In four years in the NFL, Ojulari has compiled 37 QB hits, 22 sacks, and 21 tackles for loss in 46 games. At just 24 years old, the savvy edge rusher has a chance to make an impact for Philadelphia within Defensive Coordinator Vic Fangio's scheme. The 6-foot-3, 250-pound player posted six sacks in 11 games in the 2024 season.
This article originally appeared on Eagles Wire: Looking at the positional and scheme fits for Eagles 11 new additions
Continue reading...
During the first wave of free agency, Philadelphia saw Josh Sweat (Cardinals), Milton Williams (Patriots), Kenneth Gainwell (Steelers), Mekhi Becton (Chargers), Isaiah Rodgers (Vikings), Fred Johnson (Jaguars), Parris Campbell (Cowboys), Darius Slay (CB) and Oren Burks (Bengals) all depart.
Still, they rebounded to make several key signings, including A.J. Dillon (RB), Joshua Uche (LB), Adoree' Jackson (CB), Charley Hughlett (LS), Patrick Johnson (LB), Avery Williams (KR/PR), Kylen Granson (TE), and Azeez Ojulari (OLB) to name a few.
With the NFL draft fast approaching, we’re examining the fits for nine free-agent signings and two players acquired via trade.
QB Dorian Thompson-Robinson
Fit: Third-string quarterback.
Thompson-Robinson, a 2023 fifth-round draft pick, started five games in two seasons with the Browns, completing 121-of-230 passes for 880 yards and one touchdown. He added 187 yards on 35 carries as a dual-threat quarterback.
In his final season at UCLA, Thompson-Robinson finished sixth in the nation in completion percentage (.696), setting a school single-season record. He was one of two FBS quarterbacks to throw for as many as 27 touchdown passes and add 12 rushing touchdowns in 2022.
The 25-year-old finished his collegiate career as UCLA's all-time leader in total offense (12,536 – only UCLA player ever to record more than 12,000 yards), completions (860), total touchdowns (116), touchdown passes (88), and passing yards (10,710).
OL Kenyon Green
Fit: Starting right guard.
Green was the 15th overall pick of the 2022 NFL Draft out of Texas A&M. He will enter his fourth NFL season. The 6-foot-4, 325-pound Green turned 24 years old on Saturday, March 15. In his final season at Texas A&M, he was a first-team AP All-America selection. He was named the team's Offensive MVP and received the Aggies' Leadership Award as well. He played four of the five offensive line positions at A&M.
RB A.J. Dillon
Fit: Backup running back
Dillon missed the 2024 season with a neck injury. Still, at 26 years old, he brings some extra power to the Philadelphia running back room, which currently consists of Saquon Barkley, Tyrion Davis-Price, Lew Nichols, and Will Shipley. He is a 6-foot, 247-pound back who ranked second on the Packers with 2,928 yards from scrimmage from 2021-23 and posted 50+ yards from scrimmage in 30 games.
OLB Joshua Uche
Fit: Rotational pass rusher.
The 26-year-old has 20.5 career sacks and 34 quarterback hits throughout his NFL career. A 2020 second-round pick out of Michigan, Uche spent the first four and a half years in New England and has been used as an edge rusher throughout his career. Uche had a career-high 11.5 sacks in 2022 while in New England, stacking up 49 pressures at a rate of 18.5 percent.
The versatile linebacker logged two sacks while on the Patriots in 2024 and finished the year with 23 tackles (17 solo) in 13 games.
According to Pro Football Focus, Uche's pressure rate has been 16.7 percent since 2022, which ranks sixth among edge defenders in the NFL.
TE Harrison Bryant
Fit: 3rd string TE
Bryant joins Dallas Goedert, Grant Calcaterra, E.J. Jenkins, Nick Muse, and Cameron Latu in the room. Bryant last played for the Las Vegas Raiders, appearing in 13 games and making nine catches for 86 yards. Before his time in Las Vegas, the 6-foot-5 tight end spent four years with the Cleveland Browns, where he was a fourth-round draft pick in 2020. During his five-year career, Bryant has accumulated 98 catches for 877 yards and 10 touchdowns.
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CB Adoree' Jackson
Fit: 2nd team CB, Slot CB depth
Jackson was the No. 18 overall pick in the 2017 NFL Draft by the Titans, where he spent his first four seasons before joining the Giants in 2021. The former USC Trojan played in 14 games in 2024, making 28 tackles (18 solo), one forced fumble, and a recovery. In his eight-year NFL career, Jackson has collected 404 tackles (330 solo), 61 pass breakups, six forced fumbles, three fumble recoveries, and four interceptions in 82 starts.
LS Charley Hughlett
Fit: Starting long snapper.
Hughlett spent the last 10 seasons with the Browns and was tied as the longest-tenured member, playing in 152 career games, the 15th-most in franchise history.
OLB Patrick Johnson
Fit: Special teams standout
After Johnson was drafted in the seventh round of the 2021 draft, he played in 49 regular-season and five playoff games, accumulating 20 tackles, one for loss, three QB hits, and 11 QB pressures. He also authored 15 special teams tackles. In 2024, he played in 12 games for the Giants, mainly on special teams.
KR/PR Avery Williams
Fit: Special teams standout
The 26-year-old led the NFL in punt returns in 2022, averaging 16.2 yards per return. He's averaged 22.4 yards per kickoff return and 10.9 yards per punt return.
TE Kylen Granson
Fit: Reserve tight end.
Granson, a former fourth-round draft pick of the Indianapolis Colts, has compiled 86 receptions for 958 yards and a touchdown in 62 regular-season games (17 starts) in his four NFL seasons.
OLB Azeez Ojulari
Fit: Starting pass rusher.
Jalyx Hunt is going to be a really good player, but we predict Azeez Ojulari will start opposite Nolan Smith in Week 1.
In his first year in the league, he broke the Giants' record for sacks by a rookie with eight. In four years in the NFL, Ojulari has compiled 37 QB hits, 22 sacks, and 21 tackles for loss in 46 games. At just 24 years old, the savvy edge rusher has a chance to make an impact for Philadelphia within Defensive Coordinator Vic Fangio's scheme. The 6-foot-3, 250-pound player posted six sacks in 11 games in the 2024 season.
This article originally appeared on Eagles Wire: Looking at the positional and scheme fits for Eagles 11 new additions
Continue reading...
