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The Eagles lost several key starters and contributors in free agency but bounced back and made several efficient signings to complete the first wave.
On offense, the backup running back and starting right guard departed, leaving an explosive offense with two holes that need to be filled. All wasn't lost, as the Eagles added a running back, three pass-rushing linebackers, two tight ends, a cornerback, and a new long snapper.
With the second wave of free agency underway, we're handing out grades for each move.
Saquon Barkley led the charge for running backs to be paid more, and the Eagles running back just reset the market entirely, becoming the highest-paid ball carrier in NFL history. According to Adam Schefter, the two-year, $41.2 million deal makes Barkley the NFL's first $20+ million a year running back and the highest paid at the position in league history. According to Over The Cap, the extension creates $1,332,000 in salary cap space.
Barkley had a chance to take down Eric Dickerson's regular-season rushing title as well; the Eagles decided to rest their starters in the finale against Barkley's former team, the New York Giants, leaving him 101 yards shy of Dickerson's mark of 2,105 yards.
Grade: A+
A finalist for AP NFL Defensive Player of the Year, Zack Baun was the highest-graded LB (90.1) by PFF in the regular season, producing 150 tackles and 5 FFs (2nd in the NFL, behind T.J. Watt – 6). In the playoffs, Baun became the second NFL LB since 1991 to generate takeaways in each of their first four career postseason starts (Devin White in 2020), which included an INT of Patrick Mahomes in Super Bowl LIX.
Grade: A+
VanSumeren had carved out a role as the Eagles' fullback, reserve linebacker, and special teams standout. Still, his season ended after the second-year sensation suffered a knee injury during a Friday practice.
VanSumeren did not play a single snap on defense last season; he has carved out a role as a fullback on the offensive side of the ball. He’s also a major special teams contributor, having played 12 offensive snaps last season and 153 on special teams.
Grade: B
Pickett was traded for Dorian Thompson-Robinson and a 2024 fifth-round pick. Last season, Pickett played in five regular-season contests for the team and finished with 291 yards, two touchdowns, and a pick.
With the move set to be official, here's an instant analysis of the deal. With Pickett traded, Tanner McKee is the backup quarterback with a cap hit of just over $1,000,000. Pickett carried a $2,623,350 cap hit, and the trade created $2,623,350 in cap space with no dead cap.
Grade: A
C.J. Gardner-Johnson is headed to the Houston Texans for star offensive guard Kenyon Green. The teams are also swapping fifth—and sixth-round picks in 2026. Gardner-Johnson returned to Philadelphia after one season in Detroit and signed a three-year deal. He is due $8.5 million and $11.5 million over the next two seasons from Houston. Green, like Mekhi Becton before him, had an up-and-dowup-and-down Houston. Most importantly, he's entering the last year of his rookie deal at a $2.88 million salary.
Grade: B
Dillon and Aaron Jones teamed up in Green Bay for a dynamic one-two punch, and that could happen in Philadelphia with the Eagles looking to take some of the load off of Saquon Barkley following a season in which he led the league with 2,0005 yards. Last summer, Dillon was set to enter a contract year in 2024, but he was placed on injured reserve with a neck injury and missed the entire season. Dillon was selected 62nd overall (second round) in the 2020 NFL Draft. The six-foot, 247-pound back, known as "Quadzilla" by Packers fans, has been cleared for action. Dillon averaged 15 games played per campaign in his time in Green Bay -- excluding the missed 2024 season -- but only started 11. Dillon recorded 2,186 rushing yards between 2021-2023.
Grade: B
The Philadelphia Eagles landed their second outside free agent, agreeing to a deal with former Patriots and Chiefs pass rusher Josh Uche. The young pass rusher struggled over the past two seasons but was named an underrated pass rusher by PFF entering 2025 NFL free agency. The former Patriots draft pick ranked second in pressure rate in 2022 among edge defenders. That season, he had had 11.5 sacks, two forced fumbles, and 27 total tackles—easily the best season of his five-year career. He'll now look to rekindle that magic under Vic Fangio and a stout Eagles defense.
Grade: B
Bryant finishes his 2024 campaign with nine receptions for 86 yards on 12 targets across 13 games with the Raiders, primarily providing depth at tight end behind All-Pro rookie Brock Bowers and Michael Mayer.
Grade: C
The veteran cornerback was a reserve for most of last season but has big-game experience and is familiar with the NFC East. Jackson, 29, was a first-round pick of the Titans out of USC in 2017. Jackson played in 14 games (five starts) during the 2024 regular season, logging 28 tackles (18 solo), five passes defended and one forced fumble.
Jackson spent his first three years in New York as a starter, but last season, he didn't make his first start until Week 12. He'll compete with Kelee Ringo for the cornerback spot opposite Quinyon Mitchell.
Grade: B+
Hughlett joined the Browns in 2014 and served as the team's long snapper for 152 games.
Grade: A
The Philadelphia Eagles selected Johnson in the seventh round, with the 234th overall pick, of the 2021 NFL draft. The fourth-year linebacker totaled four tackles while serving as a core special-teamer in 12 games with the Giants.
Grade: B
With the team moving on from Britain Covey, the Eagles signed return man Avery Williams to a one-year deal. Last season with Atlanta, Williams saw action in all 17 games, logging 22 rushing attempts for 109 yards, one touchdown, and 13 receptions for 61 yards. Williams is most efficient as a return man. In 2024, he returned 20 punts for 185 yards and 15 kickoffs for 408 yards.
Grade: B
With the team potentially moving on from Dallas Goedert, Philadelphia signed a second tight end in free agency, inking Kylen Granson to a one-year deal.
In the season finale, Granson caught one of four targets for seven yards in the Colts 26-23 win over the Jaguars.
The 26-year-old tight end finished the season with 14 catches on 31 targets for 182 yards and no touchdowns. Selected by the Colts with the 127th Pick In the 2021 NFL Draft, Granson has 86 career receptions on 136 targets for 958 yards and one touchdown.
Grade: C
Looking to replace Josh Sweat and Brandon Graham, the Eagles added another pass rusher, signing Azeez Ojulari to a one-year deal. Ojulari made a list of pass rushers the Eagles could be interested in, and Howie Roseman is signing the former Giants pass rusher for a one-year deal.
The 25-year-old pass rusher lost some luster with the Giants trading for Brian Burns to join 2022 first-round pick Kayvon Thibodeaux on edge; Ojulari was the odd man out to start last season, playing just 37 percent of the defensive snaps and logging only one sack in the first five games.
Grade: A
This article originally appeared on Eagles Wire: Grading every Eagles' move from the first wave of NFL free agency
Continue reading...
On offense, the backup running back and starting right guard departed, leaving an explosive offense with two holes that need to be filled. All wasn't lost, as the Eagles added a running back, three pass-rushing linebackers, two tight ends, a cornerback, and a new long snapper.
With the second wave of free agency underway, we're handing out grades for each move.
Agreed to terms on a two-year contract extension with RB Saquon Barkley through the 2028 season
Saquon Barkley led the charge for running backs to be paid more, and the Eagles running back just reset the market entirely, becoming the highest-paid ball carrier in NFL history. According to Adam Schefter, the two-year, $41.2 million deal makes Barkley the NFL's first $20+ million a year running back and the highest paid at the position in league history. According to Over The Cap, the extension creates $1,332,000 in salary cap space.
Barkley had a chance to take down Eric Dickerson's regular-season rushing title as well; the Eagles decided to rest their starters in the finale against Barkley's former team, the New York Giants, leaving him 101 yards shy of Dickerson's mark of 2,105 yards.
Grade: A+
Agreed to terms on a three-year contract with LB Zack Baun through the 2027 season
A finalist for AP NFL Defensive Player of the Year, Zack Baun was the highest-graded LB (90.1) by PFF in the regular season, producing 150 tackles and 5 FFs (2nd in the NFL, behind T.J. Watt – 6). In the playoffs, Baun became the second NFL LB since 1991 to generate takeaways in each of their first four career postseason starts (Devin White in 2020), which included an INT of Patrick Mahomes in Super Bowl LIX.
Grade: A+
Agreed to terms on a one-year deal with FB Ben VanSumeren through the 2025 season
VanSumeren had carved out a role as the Eagles' fullback, reserve linebacker, and special teams standout. Still, his season ended after the second-year sensation suffered a knee injury during a Friday practice.
VanSumeren did not play a single snap on defense last season; he has carved out a role as a fullback on the offensive side of the ball. He’s also a major special teams contributor, having played 12 offensive snaps last season and 153 on special teams.
Grade: B
Agreed to trade QB Kenny Pickett to the Cleveland Browns in exchange for QB Dorian Thompson-Robinson and a 2025 fifth-round pick (No. 164 overall)
Pickett was traded for Dorian Thompson-Robinson and a 2024 fifth-round pick. Last season, Pickett played in five regular-season contests for the team and finished with 291 yards, two touchdowns, and a pick.
With the move set to be official, here's an instant analysis of the deal. With Pickett traded, Tanner McKee is the backup quarterback with a cap hit of just over $1,000,000. Pickett carried a $2,623,350 cap hit, and the trade created $2,623,350 in cap space with no dead cap.
Grade: A
Agreed to trade S C.J. Gardner-Johnson a 2026 sixth-round pick to the Houston Texans in exchange for OL Kenyon Green and a 2026 fifth-round pick
C.J. Gardner-Johnson is headed to the Houston Texans for star offensive guard Kenyon Green. The teams are also swapping fifth—and sixth-round picks in 2026. Gardner-Johnson returned to Philadelphia after one season in Detroit and signed a three-year deal. He is due $8.5 million and $11.5 million over the next two seasons from Houston. Green, like Mekhi Becton before him, had an up-and-dowup-and-down Houston. Most importantly, he's entering the last year of his rookie deal at a $2.88 million salary.
Grade: B
Agreed to terms on a one-year deal with RB A.J. Dillon
Dillon and Aaron Jones teamed up in Green Bay for a dynamic one-two punch, and that could happen in Philadelphia with the Eagles looking to take some of the load off of Saquon Barkley following a season in which he led the league with 2,0005 yards. Last summer, Dillon was set to enter a contract year in 2024, but he was placed on injured reserve with a neck injury and missed the entire season. Dillon was selected 62nd overall (second round) in the 2020 NFL Draft. The six-foot, 247-pound back, known as "Quadzilla" by Packers fans, has been cleared for action. Dillon averaged 15 games played per campaign in his time in Green Bay -- excluding the missed 2024 season -- but only started 11. Dillon recorded 2,186 rushing yards between 2021-2023.
Grade: B
Agreed to terms on a one-year deal with OLB Joshua Uche
The Philadelphia Eagles landed their second outside free agent, agreeing to a deal with former Patriots and Chiefs pass rusher Josh Uche. The young pass rusher struggled over the past two seasons but was named an underrated pass rusher by PFF entering 2025 NFL free agency. The former Patriots draft pick ranked second in pressure rate in 2022 among edge defenders. That season, he had had 11.5 sacks, two forced fumbles, and 27 total tackles—easily the best season of his five-year career. He'll now look to rekindle that magic under Vic Fangio and a stout Eagles defense.
Grade: B
Agreed to terms on a one-year deal with TE Harrison Bryant
Bryant finishes his 2024 campaign with nine receptions for 86 yards on 12 targets across 13 games with the Raiders, primarily providing depth at tight end behind All-Pro rookie Brock Bowers and Michael Mayer.
Grade: C
Agreed to terms with CB Adoree' Jackson on a one-year deal
The veteran cornerback was a reserve for most of last season but has big-game experience and is familiar with the NFC East. Jackson, 29, was a first-round pick of the Titans out of USC in 2017. Jackson played in 14 games (five starts) during the 2024 regular season, logging 28 tackles (18 solo), five passes defended and one forced fumble.
Jackson spent his first three years in New York as a starter, but last season, he didn't make his first start until Week 12. He'll compete with Kelee Ringo for the cornerback spot opposite Quinyon Mitchell.
Grade: B+
Agreed to terms with LS Charley Hughlett on a one-year deal
Hughlett joined the Browns in 2014 and served as the team's long snapper for 152 games.
Grade: A
Agreed to terms on a one-year deal with OLB Patrick Johnson
The Philadelphia Eagles selected Johnson in the seventh round, with the 234th overall pick, of the 2021 NFL draft. The fourth-year linebacker totaled four tackles while serving as a core special-teamer in 12 games with the Giants.
Grade: B
Agreed to terms with KR/PR Avery Williams on a one-year deal
With the team moving on from Britain Covey, the Eagles signed return man Avery Williams to a one-year deal. Last season with Atlanta, Williams saw action in all 17 games, logging 22 rushing attempts for 109 yards, one touchdown, and 13 receptions for 61 yards. Williams is most efficient as a return man. In 2024, he returned 20 punts for 185 yards and 15 kickoffs for 408 yards.
Grade: B
Agreed to terms with TE Kylen Granson on a one-year deal
With the team potentially moving on from Dallas Goedert, Philadelphia signed a second tight end in free agency, inking Kylen Granson to a one-year deal.
In the season finale, Granson caught one of four targets for seven yards in the Colts 26-23 win over the Jaguars.
The 26-year-old tight end finished the season with 14 catches on 31 targets for 182 yards and no touchdowns. Selected by the Colts with the 127th Pick In the 2021 NFL Draft, Granson has 86 career receptions on 136 targets for 958 yards and one touchdown.
Grade: C
Agreed to terms with OLB Azeez Ojulari on a one-year deal
Looking to replace Josh Sweat and Brandon Graham, the Eagles added another pass rusher, signing Azeez Ojulari to a one-year deal. Ojulari made a list of pass rushers the Eagles could be interested in, and Howie Roseman is signing the former Giants pass rusher for a one-year deal.
The 25-year-old pass rusher lost some luster with the Giants trading for Brian Burns to join 2022 first-round pick Kayvon Thibodeaux on edge; Ojulari was the odd man out to start last season, playing just 37 percent of the defensive snaps and logging only one sack in the first five games.
Grade: A
This article originally appeared on Eagles Wire: Grading every Eagles' move from the first wave of NFL free agency
Continue reading...
