HEADLINES

Philadelphia Eagles News & Rumors

Eagles To Release S Kevin Byard

March 1st, 2024 at 10:46am CST by Adam La Rose

Kevin Byard joined the Eagles as a trade acquisition in 2023, but his time with the franchise has proven to be quite short. The veteran safety is being released, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports.

Byard enjoyed a productive seven-plus seasons with the Titans, but his future in the organization faced questions entering the 2023 campaign. He wound up beginning the year in Tennessee, but he was dealt to the Eagles not long before the trade deadline. The move allowed the Titans to continue moving on from veteran contracts while providing Philadelphia an experienced option in the secondary. One year remained on Byard’s pact, but instead he will now hit the open market.

The 30-year-old was due $14.1MM in 2024, but very little of it was guaranteed. Today’s move will generate just over $13MM in cap savings for the Eagles and a dead cap charge of only $1.39MM. As the Eagles look to rebuild a defense which struggled down the stretch in particular last season, that added financial flexibility will be welcomed in advance of free agency.

Byard remained a full-time starter in the regular season with the Eagles, as was the case during the team’s wild-card loss. He recorded one interception, three pass deflections and 80 total tackles in that span, production which could allow him to land a short-term deal as a veteran contributor. The two-time All-Pro has nevertheless seen his ball production decline in recent years, something which will hurt his market value as he joins a number of veteran safeties in search of a new home.

Eddie Jackson, Tracy Walker and Marcus Maye have each been released by their respective teams in cost-shedding moves. The same is now true of Byard, meaning several experienced options will be available in free agency (compared to relatively few young producers at the safety spot, particularly if Antoine Winfield Jr. is franchise-tagged by the Buccaneers). After including Terrell Edmunds in the package to acquire Byard, meanwhile, the Eagles will be a team to watch with respect to an addition at the position.

Philadelphia only has Sydney Brown and Reed Blankenship under contract for 2024 at the moment. Justin Evans is a pending free agent, and he could join Byard in finding a new team in the near future. Today’s move will leave the Eagles with roughly $42MM in cap space, which will allow them the flexibility to pursue an upgrade on the backend. For Byard, it will be interesting to see how strong of a market develops as he prepares to likely join a third team in his career.

QB Rumors: Brady, 49ers, Purdy, Dalton, Eagles, Maye, Jones, Giants, Jackson, Ravens

February 28th, 2024 at 4:40pm CST by Sam Robinson

Kyle Shanahan confirmed Brock Purdy‘s account that provided one final Tom Brady–49ers connection. Shanahan alerted Purdy of his effort to lure Brady out of retirement during the younger QB’s rehab from UCL surgery. Brady passed, leading to the 49ers’ Sam Darnold signing.

“I actually thought it was giving Brock the biggest compliment,” Shanahan said, via NBC Sports’ Peter King. “I let him know he’s our guy long term. No question. And if Tom Brady wanted to come here and start for one year, that’s the only way you’re not starting when you’re healthy this year. That’s pretty cool. I wanted to assure him, ‘Don’t worry. You’re our guy. But how cool would it be if Tom Brady would be the quarterback here for one season? How cool would it be for you to learn from him?’

“I mean, if Brock never got hurt, this wouldn’t have been a consideration at all. I’d never have brought it up. But I’ve got to think about the team. What if he’s not ready in September?”

Brady’s re-retirement has stuck, with the 46-year-old legend not playing in 2023. The 49ers passed on making a serious pursuit of the Bay Area native in 2020, sticking with Jimmy Garoppolo. Brady was connected to the 49ers in 2022 as well, but when the Buccaneers would not trade his rights during retirement No. 1, he came back to Tampa. The seven-time Super Bowl winner is en route to becoming a Raiders minority owner and FOX’s No. 1 analyst. Purdy, who was back by training camp and showed last season his post-Garoppolo work as a rookie was no fluke, is signed through the 2025 season. The 49ers cannot give him an extension until after this year.

Here is the latest from the quarterback scene:

  • Drake Maye will join Caleb Williams and Jayden Daniels in not throwing at the Combine, according to CBS Sports’ Josina Anderson. Widely expected to be a top-five pick, Maye is only scheduled to meet with teams and go through physicals. A light Indianapolis schedule is mostly available only to surefire candidates to go off the board early, but such prospects are taking advantage of the limited participation option.
  • Not nearly on the level of the Brady-49ers what-if transaction, the Eagles made a strong pursuit for Andy Dalton during last year’s free agency, ProFootballNetwork.com’s Adam Caplan notes. A signing was close here, per Caplan, but Philadelphia pivoted to Marcus Mariota after Dalton chose Carolina’s two-year, $10MM ($8MM guaranteed) offer. The Eagles added Mariota on a one-year, $5MM deal. Barring a Mariota re-signing, Philly will need to add a new backup quarterback soon.
  • Daniel Jones‘ rehab continues to unfold smoothly. Giants GM Joe Schoen expects his starter to be ready for training camp and indicated the sixth-year veteran has begun throwing. Jones is not yet dropping back and throwing, but not yet four months after his ACL tear, the longtime New York starter is progressing toward his goal of a training camp return. Schoen reiterated (via Giants.com’s Michael Eisen) at the Combine that Jones will be the Giants’ starter if healthy. The Giants are still expected to add a quarterback, though one of this offseason’s central storylines is whether that passer will be a first-round pick or merely a veteran backup for Jones. The Giants can get out of Jones’ contract with a modest dead-money sum in 2025.
  • Lamar Jackson did not sign his Ravens extension until draft day last year, stalling his start in new OC Todd Monken‘s system. That did not exactly slow the dual-threat superstar, who won his second MVP award. But the Ravens are giving Jackson more autonomy into the offense’s design this year, per John Harbaugh. The 17th-year Baltimore HC said conversations with Jackson about new offensive dimensions began soon after the team’s AFC championship game loss.

Teams Inquiring On Eagles’ Haason Reddick

February 28th, 2024 at 11:30am CST by Sam Robinson

Granted permission to see what is out there in a trade, Haason Reddick attempted to make clear he did not make this request and wants to stay with his hometown team. But the Eagles are receiving interest in the accomplished pass rusher.

Tied to a deal he has outplayed, Reddick is going into a contract year. Teams have reached out to the Eagles about the standout edge defender, according to the Philadelphia Inquirer’s Jeff McLane. Reddick is tied to a $14.25MM base salary but a $21.88MM cap number for the 2024 season.

Reddick signed a three-year, $45MM Eagles deal in 2022. His dominant showing that season played a major role in the Eagles voyaging to Super Bowl LVII, and it showed the bargain the team landed by giving Reddick that contract. Once stationed as an off-ball linebacker in Arizona, Reddick has consistently shown his sack acumen in the years since.

He has led the Eagles in sacks in each of the past two seasons, ripping off 16 during the 2022 regular season — nearly helping the Eagles take down the 1984 Bears’ single-season sack record — and 3.5 more in the playoffs. Reddick totaled 11 sacks last season. Given the going rate for high-end pass rushers, Reddick being tied to this contract will seemingly force a resolution before the start of the 2024 campaign.

“This is home for me,” Reddick said earlier this month. “I was born and raised here. Two of the most fun years playing football in my life came here. I’ve cherished being an Eagle.”

The Eagles have Josh Sweat joining Reddick in a contract year and Nolan Smith, who drew Reddick comps in the pre-draft process, on a rookie deal. The team waived Derek Barnett last season, ending a seven-year partnership. Reddick, 29, obviously represents a major piece for the NFC power. He did not make his contract an issue going into last season, though McLane adds a belief exists he staged a hold-in of sorts while dealing with a minor groin injury early in camp. It would be understandable if he changed course regarding his contract now. Being set to turn 30 in September, Reddick is running out of time to cash in on the value he has displayed as an edge player.

At $15MM per year, Reddick is tied as the NFL’s 16th-highest-paid edge rusher. Once the likes of Danielle Hunter, Bryce Huff and Jonathan Greenard come off the board in free agency, Reddick’s financial standing will likely drop. Those players’ eventual deals will undoubtedly factor into Reddick’s extension drive.

“I don’t know how that will play out,” Nick Sirianni said, via McLane, regarding Reddick’s situation. “Haason’s been awesome for us these last two years. Big reason why we’ve been to the playoffs the last two years is the contributions of Haason. He’s played really, really outstanding football. We’ll see how that plays out, and hopefully he’s an Eagle.”

While the Eagles have some intriguing personnel who could conceivably replace Reddick, a coach closer to the hot seat will likely support retaining him. It will be interesting to see what is offered, should this process reach that stage, as the Eagles attempt to regroup after a disastrous finish to their NFC title defense. Darius Slay returned on an extension after being in trade and release rumors last year, while Barnett also returned to the fold after being given permission to seek a trade previously. Will the Reddick process conclude the same way?

2024 NFL Cap Space, By Team

February 24th, 2024 at 9:33pm CST by Adam La Rose

The NFL provided clarity to its teams on Friday by setting the salary cap ceiling ($255.4MM). Franchise tag figures have been locked in as well, and clubs can now proceed with their offseason planning knowing exactly where they stand with respect to financial flexibility. Courtesy of Over the Cap, here is the current landscape in terms of salary cap space:

  1. Washington Commanders: $79.61MM
  2. Tennessee Titans: $78.66MM
  3. Chicago Bears: $78.34MM
  4. New England Patriots: $77.96MM
  5. Indianapolis Colts: $72.34MM
  6. Houston Texans: $67.58MM
  7. Detroit Lions: $57.61MM
  8. Arizona Cardinals: $51.1MM
  9. Cincinnati Bengals: $50.67MM
  10. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: $43.68MM
  11. Los Angles Rams: $43.11MM
  12. Las Vegas Raiders: $42.94MM
  13. Minnesota Vikings: $35.81MM
  14. Carolina Panthers: $34.57MM
  15. Atlanta Falcons: $33MM
  16. New York Giants: $30.8MM
  17. Philadelphia Eagles: $27.35MM
  18. Jacksonville Jaguars: $24.68MM
  19. Kansas City Chiefs: $18.19MM
  20. Baltimore Ravens: $16.63MM
  21. Seattle Seahawks: $12.97MM
  22. New York Jets: $12.76MM
  23. Pittsburgh Steelers: $9MM
  24. Green Bay Packers: $2.3MM
  25. San Francisco 49ers: $5.07MM over the cap
  26. Cleveland Browns: $7.76MM over
  27. Dallas Cowboys: $9.86MM over
  28. Denver Broncos: $16.81MM over
  29. Los Angeles Chargers: $25.61MM over
  30. Miami Dolphins: $27.92MM over
  31. New Orleans Saints: $42.11MM over
  32. Buffalo Bills: $43.82MM over

All teams must be cap compliant by the start of the new league year, but it will of course be more than just those currently over the limit which will make cost-shedding moves in the near future. Cuts, restructures and extensions are available as tools to carve out space in advance of free agency. Several have already taken place around the league.

That includes the Dolphins’ release of defensive end Emmanuel Ogbah and the planned cut of Xavien Howard. The latter cannot be designated a post-June 1 release until free agency begins but once it happens, Miami will move much closer to cap compliance. The Saints have moved considerable commitments into the future via restructures (as usual), but more transactions on that front will be required even with the cap seeing an historic single-season jump.

The roughly $30MM spike from 2023 will provide unforeseen spending power for teams already set to lead the pack in cap space while also making the task of those at the bottom of the list easier. Spending more on backloaded contracts this offseason at the expense of future space obviously carries risk, however. Still, the news of a higher-than-expected ceiling will add further intrigue to each team’s financial planning.

With Dak Prescott and Deshaun Watson each set to carry record-breaking cap hits for 2024, the Cowboys and Browns will be among the teams most in need of working out a deal to lower those figures. In Dallas’ case in particular, an extension would provide immediate breathing room in addition to clarity on his future beyond the coming season. For Cleveland, Watson’s fully-guaranteed deal has already been restructured once and will need to be again to avoid consecutive years of a $64MM cap charge over its remaining term.

If the Commanders and Patriots add a quarterback with the second and third picks in this year’s draft, each team currently in the top six in space will enjoy the benefits of having a signal-caller on their rookie contracts. That would allow for an aggressive approach to free agency, although the Chiefs’ success after Patrick Mahomes signed (and re-worked) his monster extension has proven it is possible to win Super Bowl titles with a substantial QB investment on the books.

WR A.J. Brown On Eagles: “I Want To Be Here”

February 24th, 2024 at 11:26am CST by Ben Levine

After starting the season 10-1, the Eagles stumbled to an 1-5 finish before ultimately losing in the first round of the playoffs. Following the late-season collapse, there have been some questions surrounding some players’ commitment to the organization, particularly wideout A.J. Brown.

However, the receiver was quick to dismiss the notion that he wants out of Philly. Brown called into 94WIP Afternoon Show in Philadelphia on Friday to clear the air regarding his feelings for the Eagles organization.

“I have no problem. I want to be here, it’s as simple as that,” Brown said (via NFL.com’s Christian Gonzales). “I love where I’m at, it’s as simple as that. Next question.

“…Honestly, like I said the other day, I could have plans but also know it’s a business. But I can tell you that I want to be here. That’s all I can say.”

As the Eagles took a nosedive, so did Brown’s numbers. The receiver compiled 125-plus receiving yards in six straight games towards the beginning of the year, earning him the NFC Offensive Player of the Month award in October. However, from Week 9 through the end of the regular season, Brown only hauled in 46 catches for 517 yards and two touchdowns, and he was ultimately sidelined for the team’s Wild Card loss to the Buccaneers.

Thanks to that significant decline in production, many have questioned if Brown was upset with the team’s offense and quarterback Jalen Hurts. The receiver cited the duo’s previous success as reasoning for why their relationship won’t fracture.

“You know, I think that’s sort of BS. I’m not going to get into me and his relationship on the air,” Brown said. “But it’s total BS, you know what I’m saying. It wasn’t a problem when I was on my six-game streak. They weren’t talking about that then, so they only started talking about that when we started losing. Of course, you see friction from everybody, from the coaches, the players and from everybody. So, there you go.”

After getting traded to the Eagles in 2022, Brown inked a four-year, $100MM deal with the organization that featured $57MM in guaranteed money. The receiver is likely locked in for several more years (the organization has an out after the 2024 campaign), so if Brown truly wants out of Philly, he’d need the organization to acquiesce.

Eagles Re-Sign TE Albert Okwuegbunam

February 22nd, 2024 at 5:51pm CST by Ben Levine

Albert O. is staying in Philadelphia. According to ESPN’s Field Yates, tight end Albert Okwuegbunam has signed a one-year deal to stick with the Eagles. The 25-year-old was set to hit unrestricted free agency next month.

Following three seasons in Denver, Okwuegbunam was facing waivers at the end of the 2023 preseason. The Eagles swooped in and added him via trade, acquiring the tight end and a seventh-round pick for a sixth-round selection.

Despite the trade, Okwuegbunam barely came off the bench this past season, even with starter Dallas Goedert sidelined. He was limited to only four games in 2023, finishing the year fourth among Eagles tight ends in offensive snaps (behind Goedert, Jack Stoll, and Grant Calcaterra). The Eagles still valued Okwuegbunam enough to give him a chance at a 2024 roster spot, and the veteran could provide the organization with a bit of insurance with Stoll hitting restricted free agency.

Following a productive college career at Missouri, Okwuegbunam was a fourth-round pick by the Broncos in 2020. He was limited to only four games as a rookie thanks to a torn ACL, but he earned a significant offensive role during his second season. He finished the 2021 campaign with 33 catches for 330 yards and two touchdowns, starting six of his 14 appearances. With rookie Greg Dulcich added to the depth chart in 2022, Okwuegbunam saw a lesser role, finishing with only 10 catches for 95 yards.

Pro Football Focus gave Okwuegbunam solid reviews through his first two seasons in the NFL, but the website hasn’t been as favorable on his 2022 and 2023 performances. If the tight end is able to rediscover any of that previous talent, he could find himself with a larger role in 2024.

Eagles Add RB Tyrion Davis-Price On Futures Deal

February 20th, 2024 at 12:59pm CST by Adam La Rose

In 2022, Trey Sermon saw his brief 49ers tenure come to an end by joining the Eagles. The same is now true of fellow running back Tyrion Davis-Price.

The latter signed a reserve/futures contract with Philadelphia on Tuesday, his agency announced. Davis-Price was added in the third round of the 2022 draft, but he was unable to carve out a role in San Francisco. He was waived in December after playing in just one contest. The 23-year-old cleared waivers and finished the season on the 49ers’ practice squad.

The Eagles lost Miles Sanders in free agency last offseason when he joined the Panthers on a four-year, $25.4MM deal. His chief replacement was D’Andre Swift, acquired via trade from the Lions during the draft. Swift earned his first career Pro Bowl nod by rushing for 1,049 yards and five touchdowns. He did not have as large of a pass-catching role as some expected he would, however.

Swift is a pending free agent, as are Boston Scott and Rashaad Penny. Today’s move will thus give the Eagles a young depth option in the backfield as they sort out their direction at the position for the offseason. Davis-Price has logged only 40 carries across seven regular season games. He has yet to record a reception, and he was not used heavily on special teams by the 49ers. The LSU alum thus faces an uphill battle to earn a 53-man roster spot.

Philadelphia now has three backs under contract, including fellow reserve deal signee Lew Nichols and returnee Kenneth Gainwell. Unless one or more of Swift, Scott and Penny are re-signed, the Eagles will no doubt be in the market for an addition at the RB spot. Regardless, Davis-Price will turn his attention to his new home as he looks to establish himself as a full-time contributor.

AFC South Notes: Texans, Colts, Anderson

February 18th, 2024 at 7:22pm CST by Ely Allen

The Texans were one of the NFL’s best surprises of the 2023 season, winning 10 games and making the playoffs with a rookie quarterback and head coach. DeMeco Ryans actually put together quite an impressive staff that would end up drawing lots of interest in from teams looking to fill vacant roles after the season came to an end. Luckily, though, Houston was able to beat off the suitors for two assistants.

Assistant offensive line coach Cole Popovich received interest from a few other teams, at one point interviewing for the offensive line coach job at Washington under new head coach Dan Quinn. Despite the outside interest, Popovich will remain in Houston “under a revamped contract,” per Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2.

Wilson also reported that safeties coach Stephen Adegoke was set to depart for the defensive backs coaching job at the University of Michigan. The next day, though, he issued a second report that Adegoke would instead return to Houston. Adegoke had reportedly accepted the Michigan job before finalizing a contract, so he will be able to come back for his second year with the Texans.

Here are a few other staff updates from around the AFC South:

  • Colts head coach Shane Steichen has had to do some shuffling for his 2024 staff. With the team’s decision not to retain assistant defensive backs coach Mike Mitchell, they have made the move to hire Titans defensive quality control coach Justin Hamilton in his place, according to Mike Chappell of FOX59. Indianapolis will also bring in Eagles quarterbacks coach Alex Tanney to serve as its passing game coordinator. Remaining in Philadelphia after Steichen’s departure, Tanney will now reunite with his former boss in Indianapolis.
  • The Titans have now completed the hiring of their new coordinators. Joining first-time coordinators Nick Holz on offense and Dennard Wilson on defense will be first-time special teams coordinator Colt Anderson, according to Tom Pelissero of NFL Network. Anderson, a former undrafted defensive back, saw plenty of time on special teams over his nine-year career in the NFL. After spending the last four seasons as an assistant special teams coach for the Bengals, Anderson will follow new Titans head coach Brian Callahan to Nashville for his first coordinator position.

Jason Kelce Exploring Media Opportunities

February 18th, 2024 at 9:21am CST by Rory Parks

It is presently unclear whether Jason Kelce will return to the Eagles for another season. In the wake of the team’s playoff loss in January, we heard that Kelce would call it a career, but several weeks later, the future Hall of Famer himself suggested he was still undecided on his future.

“I don’t know what’s going to happen for me,” Kelce said. “But I do know I still want to be involved in the organization and still want to be a part of it, regardless of what the decision is.”

Now 36, the six-time First Team All-Pro center is at least exploring his post-playing career, as Michael McCarthy of Front Office Sports details. Per McCarthy, Kelce recently met with ESPN and Fox to discuss the possibility of some sort of on-air role, though those talks were described as preliminary in nature. McCarthy adds that Kelce has met with Amazon Prime Video about a spot on its Thursday Night Football crew.

McCarthy’s sources say that NBC and CBS are also expected to have interest when Kelce officially hangs up the cleats, so it sounds as if he will have no shortage of television options if he chooses to go that route. Although he has long been one of the best pivots in the game, the relentless media coverage of brother Travis Kelce‘s relationship with Taylor Swift, along with Jason’s memeable antics during the Chiefs’ divisional round victory over the Bills this year, have made Jason a recognizable face among the public at large. And the New Heights podcast that Jason and Travis co-host is, as McCarthy observes, one of the most popular sports podcasts in the country.

Jason, who has contemplated retirement for several years now, is out of contract, having just finished the one-year, $14.25MM deal he signed last March (one day after he announced he would return to the Eagles). If he decides to continue playing in 2024, he and the Eagles will need to work out a new pact, but negotations between the two sides would likely be quick and painless.

If he instead opts to leverage his newfound visibility into a full-time media career, Philadelphia would presumably shift 2022 draftee Cam Jurgens to center (Jurgens was the club’s starting right guard in 2023, though he missed some time due to a foot injury). Of course, Jason’s acceptance of a broadcaster/analyst post could impact his stated desire to remain with the Eagles in a front office or coaching capacity.

Load More Posts