Philadelphia Eagles News & Rumors

Eagles To Release James Bradberry

It was learned yesterday that Darius Slay is set to be released by the Eagles. The same is also true of another veteran member of the team’s secondary.

James Bradberry has been informed he will be let go, as first reported by ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler. 2025 is a void year on Bradberry’s pact, and he was set to count $5.2MM on the cap. This move will allow the Eagles to avoid paying out a $4.85MM option bonus which was due on September 1. Philadelphia will use a post-June 1 designation, Fowler adds, meaning the team will create $2.1MM in cap savings while generating a dead money charge of just over $3MM.

Bradberry joined the Eagles in 2022, and he partnered with Slay to give the team a highly effective cornerback tandem. Starting all 17 games, the former Panther and Giant earned a second-team All-Pro nod and was expected to remain a key member of the secondary as a result. The following year, however, Bradberry’s coverage saw a notable decline as he allowed 11 touchdowns and a passer rating of 114.3 as the nearest defender.

As a result of that drop-off, the Eagles made a number of moves at the cornerback position (highlighted by the selections of Quinyon Mitchell and Cooper DeJean in the first two rounds of the 2024 draft). That set Bradberry up for a transition to safety in 2024, but he did not wind up playing this past season. The 31-year-old recently revealed his absence was due to a summer Achilles tear, an injury he said he expects to be fully recovered from in time for OTAs this spring.

Bradberry also made it clear he intends to resume playing cornerback with his next team, although he does not figure to have a strong market over the coming weeks. His release will not be processed until the new league year begins on March 12, but Fowler notes his agent has received permission to speak with teams right away. An agreement could therefore be reached before Bradberry officially becomes a free agent.

The possibility of Slay once again working out a last-minute deal to remain with the Eagles has been mentioned in the wake of his release. Presuming he moves on, though, the team will have Mitchell, DeJean and Kelee Ringo on their rookie contracts at the CB position. Bradberry will turn his attention to joining a fourth career team, and his willingness to play at safety could be a factor in determining where he lands on the open market.

Eagles To Release Darius Slay

Darius Slay‘s decorated tenure with the Eagles is coming to an end. The Pro Bowl corner will be released, as first reported by ESPN’s Adam Schefter.

Such a scenario has been raised recently, meaning the move does not come as a complete surprise. Eyeing one more year in the NFL, Slay will now need to find a new home for the second time in his career. Schefter notes this will be processed as a post-June 1 cut.

As a result, the Eagles will see $4.32MM in cap savings while generating a dead money charge of $9.44MM which can be spread across two years. No guaranteed salary remained on Slay’s pact for 2025, the final year of the deal. By moving on this offseason, Philadelphia will avoid paying out an option bonus of roughly $5MM which was due on September 1. Slay will officially become a free agent at the start of the new league year.

A seven-year stint with the Lions ended in 2020 when Slay was traded to the Eagles. He was a stalwart in the secondary during his time in Philadelphia, collecting three of his six Pro Bowl nods during that span. Of course, Slay’s tenure with the team will be best remembered for the two Super Bowl appearances – including one title – he played a central role in.

Slay’s time with the Eagles appeared to be coming to an end in 2023, but an agreement was reached allowing him to remain in the fold. The former All-Pro racked up between one and three interceptions during each of his first four Philadelphia campaigns, but he was held without one during the regular season in 2024. Slay was nevertheless a key figure on the Eagles’ run to the Super Bowl. Still, the decision to use first- and second-round picks on the CB position in last year’s draft (Quinyon Mitchell, Cooper DeJean) foreshadowed a parting of ways.

While Fox Sports’ Jordan Schultz notes an Eagles reunion (at a reduced cost compared to the $16MM Slay was owed for 2025) could be in play, the team has other young options to turn to. Mitchell, DeJean and Kelee Ringo are all attached to their rookie contracts; Isaiah Rodgers is a pending free agent but retaining him on a low-cost deal could be a priority for Philadelphia. As the team continues to transition to a younger secondary, Slay should still have a notable market.

Any number of suitors will pursue starting-caliber options at the cornerback position, and even at the age of 34 Slay could serve as an effective one-year rental. The Mississippi State product preferred to finish his career with the Eagles, but he recently noted a return to the Lions represented his next-best scenario. Carlton Davis is a pending free agent, and losing him would leave Detroit in need of a first-team replacement.

Failing that, other teams could emerge especially since Slay will be available on a one-year pact (provided he intends to stick to his stated timeline of retiring after the 2025 campaign). It will be interesting to see where his final NFL campaign takes place.

Eagles Have “Real” Interest In Myles Garrett

Ever since Myles Garrett publicly aired his trade request, the defending champs have been loosely mentioned as a suitor. It sounds like the connection is legitimate, as Dianna Russini of The Athletic reports that the Eagles’ interest in the star pass rusher is “real.”

[RELATED: Myles Garrett ‘Not Open’ To Extension With Browns]

It certainly wouldn’t be out of character for the Eagles to take a major swing. As we noted previously, Howie Roseman has a penchant for acquiring big-name players, as the GM was either leading or part of Philly front offices that acquired the likes of A.J. Brown and Jason Peters. Both of those players required first-round picks, which is the reported starting value for any Garrett trade.

“Garrett could be this year’s version of Saquon Barkley for Howie [Roseman],” one GM told Russini. “He’s an impact add and isn’t a free-agent overpay. Howie’s not afraid to try stuff, and it fits where they are as a team.”

Besides stealing headlines, the Eagles naturally have some on-the-field reasons for pursuing a player like Garrett. The team isn’t expected to re-sign Josh Sweat, and impending free agent Brandon Graham is recovering from a season-ending triceps tear. Further, Bryce Huff disappointed after inking a $51MM deal last offseason, leaving 2023 first-round pick Nolan Smith Jr. (and perhaps 2024 third-round pick Jalyx Hunt) as the only sure-things on the edge for the 2025 Eagles.

Garrett still has two years remaining on his contract worth around $20MM per season, and the pass rusher is hoping to reset the positional market with an extension. Even if the Eagles could convince the pass rusher to take a slight discount (and/or reduce his 2025 charge), the front office would still be pinching pennies when all was said and done. Russini suggests that a Garrett addition could come at the expense of the team’s free agent grouping, which includes Sweat, linebacker Zack Baun, defensive tackle Milton Williams, and guard Mekhi Becton (who reportedly wants to re-sign with the organization). The former Defensive Player of the Year would surely be worth that sacrifice, but it’s not like the Eagles have a seamless path to adding him to the roster.

Of course, a potential Eagles trade would be dependent on the Browns relenting to Garrett’s trade request. So far, Browns GM Andrew Berry has rejected the idea of trading Garrett. If the organization does ultimately honor the player’s wish, it sounds like the Eagles would certainly be a team to monitor.

Mekhi Becton Drawing Interest, Prefers To Re-Sign With Eagles

After inking a prove-it deal with the Eagles last offseason, Mekhi Becton is ready to cash in. According to Tony Pauline of Sportskeeda.com, the offensive lineman “is drawing a lot of interest” from around the league.

A former first-round pick by the Jets, Becton struggled to stay on the field during his stint in New York. He was limited to 15 games through his first three seasons in the NFL, and he struggled in 16 starts during the 2023 campaign. With the Jets having previously declined the lineman’s fifth-year option, Becton entered free agency last year with an uncertain market.

It took him until late April to find his next gig, with the Eagles signing the 25-year-old as an offensive guard. Becton proceeded to have a career season, starting all 15 of his appearances while finishing 20th in Pro Football Focus’ rankings of 77 qualifying guards. Becton also started each of Philly’s four playoff games en route to a Super Bowl championship.

Considering his success in 2024, it’s no surprise that Becton is eyeing a reunion. Per Pauline, the free agent prefers to re-sign with the Eagles, as he’s “comfortable with the franchise that helped him reclaim his career.” Financials will be an obstacle, however, as Pauline acknowledges that Becton’s return to the Eagles would be reliant on the team fitting “him in the budget.”

In the meantime, other teams are expected to recruit the lineman, with Pauline noting that many of these suitors would intend to keep Becton at offensive guard. The reporter also expects the lineman to take his time in free agency with the hope of providing the Eagles with more opportunites to clean their books.

NFC Staff Updates: Loeffler, Packers, Bears

The Super Bowl champion Eagles have brought on a former collegiate staffer to help fill out their pillaged coaching staff.

After watching quarterbacks coach Doug Nussmeier follow offensive coordinator Kellen Moore to New Orleans, Philadelphia has brought in Scot Loeffler to fill Nussmeier’s old position. The report came from Bowling Green State University, where Loeffler had spent the past six years as head coach of the Falcons. His overall record with the team was 27-41, though he appeared to lead the team in the right direction, securing berths in three straight bowl games before his departure.

Loeffler took a passing offensive that typically ranked in the 120’s out of 134 collegiate teams and helped them to finish as the 48th-best passing offense in the FBS this season.

Here are couple other staff updates from around the NFC:

  • The Packers will lose coaching assistant Myles White to the collegiate ranks, according to ESPN’s Adam Rittenberg. White, who joined the team just last year after roles as wide receivers coach at Stephen F. Austin and Miami (OH), will return to college coaching as the pass game coordinator/wide receivers coach for the Orange at Syracuse.
  • Lastly, in front office news, Matt Feinstein was named the new vice president of football administration for the Bears. His appointment comes via promotion after Feinstein spent the past three years as director of football administration for Chicago. Before his time with the Bears, Feinstein spent seven years on the NFL’s Management Council, serving part of that time as a director within labor relations. The Management Council serves as the league’s primary council of governance.

Coaching Notes: Chargers, Saints, Sirmon, Wilber, Eagles, Vikings, Chiefs, Steelers

Jim Harbaugh now has former Michigan offensive and defensive coordinators on his staff. A year after bringing Jesse Minter with him, the Chargers HC is hiring Kirk Campbell from Ann Arbor, NFL.com’s Tom Pelissero tweets. Campbell moved up to Wolverines OC following Harbaugh’s exit but was in place as QBs coach during the team’s unbeaten national championship-winning season. Campbell, 38, moved up the ranks quickly, rising from offensive assistant in 2022 to OC two years later. Serving as Old Dominion’s OC before heading to Michigan, Campbell will be in place as a Chargers offensive assistant in 2025.

The Bolts have also promoted Dylan Roney to edge rushers coach, CBS Sports’ Matt Zenitz adds. Roney, 29, had joined Minter in following Harbaugh to Los Angeles last year, working as a defensive assistant. He was previously in place as a Michigan graduate assistant.

Here is the latest from the coaching ranks:

  • The last team to make an HC hire this year, the Saints continue to fill out Kellen Moore‘s staff. New Orleans is hiring two former NFL linebackers. They are adding Cal defensive coordinator Peter Sirmon as its linebackers coach, ESPN.com’s Pete Thamel tweets. Sirmon played seven seasons with the Titans, starting for the final four (2003-06). He had been the Golden Bears’ DC for the past six years. This will be the former NFLer’s first coaching job in the league. Another retired linebacker, Kyle Wilber, will join Moore as Saints assistant special teams coach, NewOrleans.football’s Nick Underhill tweets. Wilber was a Moore teammate in Dallas, playing with the Cowboys from 2012-17; he comes over after two years on the Packers’ staff.
  • Elsewhere on New Orleans’ staff, the team is hiring Bo Davis to be its D-line coach, NOLA.com’s Luke Johnson tweets. This is a local hire, as Davis was previously in place as LSU’s D-line coach. Davis previously spent time on the Dolphins and Lions’ staffs. They are adding Texas assistant Terry Joseph to be their defensive pass-game coordinator, per Pelissero. Terry Joseph is the younger brother of Broncos DC Vance Joseph; he had been the Longhorns’ pass-game coordinator for four seasons.
  • Needing a QBs coach because the Saints poached theirs (Doug Nussmeier) for OC, the Eagles interviewed Syracuse QBs coach Nunzio Campanile, per 247Sports.com. Campanile had previously served as interim HC and OC at Rutgers; he spent the past two years at Syracuse, being retained despite the Orange changing HCs in 2024. The Eagles are also are bringing back a familiar face, hiring Greg Austin, according to 94WIP’s Eliot Shorr-Parks. Austin was the team’s assistant O-line coach under Chip Kelly from 2013-15. After some time in the college ranks, Austin worked in a quality-control role on Doug Pederson‘s Jaguars staff. He will likely work under Jeff Stoutland, Shorr-Parks adds.
  • Keith Carter has resurfaced in Minnesota. The Vikings hired the former Jets and Titans offensive line coach as their assistant O-line coach. An NFL assistant for the past nine years, Carter was fired from his post as Titans O-line coach after the 2022 season. He resurfaced under Nathaniel Hackett in New York in 2023.
  • The Chiefs are also greenlighting a reunion, rehiring Matt House. Formerly the Chiefs’ linebackers coach form 2019-21, House is now in place as a senior defensive assistant with Kansas City. The veteran staffer had been working as the Jaguars’ ILBs coach, having served as LSU’s DC during the two years prior. He also served as DC at Kentucky, Pitt and Florida International over the past decade. The Chiefs also hired Chris Orr as a defensive quality control coach.
  • After Aaron Curry joined the Jets’ staff, the Steelers have replaced him as ILBs coach. They brought in Scott McCurley to fill the job. A Western Pennsylvania native, McCourley was the Cowboys’ linebackers coach throughout Mike McCarthy‘s tenure. He previously spent 13 years under McCarthy in Green Bay, working his way up to Packers LBs coach.

Eagles Want To Re-Sign Zack Baun

Eagles general manager Howie Roseman said that the team will make a “concerted effort” to re-sign linebacker Zack Baun, per PHLY’s Zach Berman.

Baun broke out in Philadelphia last season after four inconsistent years in New Orleans to start his career. The 2020 third-rounder struggled to find a role in the Saints defense, but he was a perfect fit in Vic Fangio‘s scheme in 2024. Baun led the Eagles with 153 total tackles (sixth-most league-wide) and earned a 90.1 grade from Pro Football Focus (subscription required) that led all linebackers.

Baun far outplayed his one-year, $3.5MM contract last year. After proving himself with first-team All-Pro and Pro Bowl honors – not to mention a fifth-place finish in Defensive Player of the Year voting – the former Wisconsin Badger will be looking to cash in on his next contract. However, he is 28 years old with just one elite season under his belt, which could limit his value, especially in terms of guaranteed money.

Baun has expressed a desire to stay with the Eagles, who are no stranger to paying premium talent at top-of-the-market rates. Their contract structures would easily allow them to re-sign Baun, who could command more $15MM per year on a new deal.

The Eagles do have a few other starters slated to hit free agency, including Mekhi Becton, Josh Sweat, and Milton Williams. The team has been proactive with extensions in recent years, but didn’t reach any long-term agreements during the 2024 season. With several players putting up strong seasons on the way to Philadelphia’s Super Bowl victory, it will be difficult to retain them all.

“We didn’t do any deals during the season, which probably could have prevented some of these problems, but we just didn’t feel like the timing was right,” said Roseman.

It’s not easy to find elite middle linebacker play in the NFL. Given Baun’s ascension in Philadelphia, both sides should be properly motivated to continue their partnership into 2025 and beyond.

Josh Sweat Expected To Depart In Free Agency; Eagles On Radar For Myles Garrett

Andrew Berry is not budging on his early-offseason Myles Garrett stances. The Browns are set against trading the future Hall of Fame pass rusher.

Reaffirming that at the Combine, the sixth-year GM said (via ESPN’s Adam Schefter) the Browns are “not interested in moving him.” Other teams continue to circle, with the Browns having received calls on a player who has made it clear he wants out. Cleveland is prepping a monster Garrett extension offer — during what should be an explosive offseason on the EDGE market — but it is unclear how much that would move the needle for the disgruntled All-Pro.

[RELATED: Sweat Makes Agency Change]

As teams look into this matter, execs around the league are connecting the Eagles as a team that will be pursuing a pass rusher. This loose Philly-Garrett tie comes as Josh Sweat nears free agency. It does not look like the reigning Super Bowl champions will re-sign the standout edge rusher, with ESPN.com’s Jeremy Fowler indicating (h/t iHeartRadio’s Victor Williams) expectations are pointing to a Sweat exit in free agency.

Sweat could hardly have done more to finalize his case as a top-tier free agency in the upcoming class, having hounded Patrick Mahomes throughout Super Bowl LIX. Exposing a Joe Thuney-at-LT plan that had been moderately effective for the Chiefs en route to the Super Bowl, Sweat collected 2.5 sacks and forced an interception when he drove the Kansas City LT into Mahomes late in the first half. Sweat, 27, finished the season with eight sacks and did well to reestablish his value after accepting a March 2024 pay cut.

Playing for $10MM last season, Sweat will be aiming much higher as a first-time free agent. The former fourth-round pick signed a three-year, $40MM extension with the Eagles in 2021. He became the team’s 2024 edge-rushing centerpiece, as Brandon Graham went down with a triceps tear and Bryce Huff — thus far, at least — proved unworthy of the three-year, $51.1MM deal. Although the Eagles have Nolan Smith set to play a lead role in next year’s pass rush, third-round rookie Jalyx Hunt may still be viewed as a backup.

This has connected execs to Garrett for Philly. Some around the league mentioned the Eagles as a landing spot previously, citing Berry’s past working for Howie Roseman. The Eagles, who added a third-round pick by unloading Haason Reddick last spring, have made splashy trades under Roseman. They moved a first-rounder to add A.J. Brown in 2022, parted with a second to acquire Ronald Darby in 2017. Roseman was in the Eagles’ front office (but not yet GM) when they dealt first-, fourth- and sixth-round picks to obtain Jason Peters from the Bills back in 2009. Peters and Brown proved worthy of the trade costs.

Teams are prepared to part with a first-round pick and change for Garrett, even though Berry has continued to come out against any trade. Garrett, 29, would also be eyeing a big-ticket extension. That would affect teams’ trade offers, but the Eagles have shown a willingness to be creative to help fit contracts onto their cap sheet in the recent past. It might take a while to pry Garrett from Cleveland, with the draft looming as the first notable deadline here. But the Eagles have been willing to wait on big trades in the past.

Jason Peters Expected To Retire, Join Seahawks’ Staff

Jason Peters was unable to see any game action during his age-42 season, but the decorated veteran was still in the NFL as a member of the Seahawks’ practice squad. His next gig is not expected to be as a player, which stands to bring an end to one of this era’s best O-line careers.

The Seahawks are hiring Peters to a full-time staff position, GM John Schneider said, with the Seattle Times’ Bob Condotta indicating the 21-year veteran’s title will come under the player-engagement umbrella. But Peters will work with the Seahawks’ O-linemen. While this would not slam the door on an emergency return, ESPN’s Adam Schefter adds a retirement is expected. Peters turned 43 in January.

Although Peters only saw game action in 19 seasons, he was in the league for 21. He missed the 2012 season due to two Achilles ruptures and did not move up to Seattle’s active roster in 2024. Regardless, Peters is expected to walk away after playing in 248 games. While 61 players reside above Peters on the all-time games-played list, few of them are offensive linemen. Among pure O-linemen, only four (Bruce Matthews, Ray Brown, Jackie Slater and Mike Kenn) played in more games. Peters will be expected to join Slater and Matthews in the Hall of Fame.

A nine-time Pro Bowler, Peters forged a Canton path despite being passed over in the 2004 draft. The former Bills UDFA will be best remembered for his time with the Eagles, whom he helped win a Super Bowl. Peters did not play in Super Bowl LII, having suffered ACL and MCL tears, but opened that season as the team’s left tackle starter. Peters booked both his first-team All-Pro nods (2011, 2013) with Philly and made his final Pro Bowl (2016) during Carson Wentz‘s rookie season.

The Eagles initially acquired Peters in 2009, Donovan McNabb‘s final season. Peters is experienced enough he signed with the Bills during Drew Bledsoe‘s time as the team’s starting QB. Peters moved into Buffalo’s starting lineup at right tackle in 2005. His first full season as a left tackle, 2007, produced a second-team All-Pro honor. Peters had signed a midlevel extension — a four-year, $16.1MM deal — in 2006, but as he picked up a second All-Pro accolade, an impasse on a third contract formed.

Peters did not report to Bills training camp on time in 2008, and while he eventually showed, a trade commenced after that season. The Eagles traded first-, fourth- and sixth-round picks to the Bills for Peters, who landed a four-year extension worth $51.45MM before his first Philadelphia season. Peters then spent the next 12 seasons with the Eagles, agreeing to four more contracts to stay with the team. Peters helped Michael Vick to the Pro Bowl, and joined future Hall of Famer Jason Kelce and then-rookie Lane Johnson in boosting LeSean McCoy to the 2013 rushing title. As the Eagles retooled around Wentz, they had Peters as an upper-crust blindside blocker.

Peters’ final seasons took on an Adrian Peterson-like arc, as the veteran blocker stopped through three teams in three years. The Bears used him as an emergency LT, as Teven Jenkins sustained a back injury before the 2021 season. After 15 starts for that Bears squad, Peters came to Dallas after Tyron Smith‘s season-defining hamstring injury sustained in training camp. Working more in a backup capacity (including some guard time) that year, Peters made his last stop in Seattle. He played in eight games and made two starts for a Seahawks team dealing with RT Abraham Lucas‘ injury trouble.

No pure NFL O-lineman has seen action in a 21st season, but Peters came closest. The Seahawks signed him to their practice squad in October, as Lucas and veteran George Fant dealt with injuries, doing so despite having changed coaching staffs. The Mike Macdonald-led group will keep the veteran around as a mentor.

If this is it for Peters, he will retire with nine Pro Bowl invites and six All-Pro honors. He joined Smith as an All-Decade-teamer for the 2010s. He earned $119.9MM during his 21-year run. It will be interesting to see if the Arkansas alum moves up the coaching ladder in the coming years.