The Philadelphia Eagles’ Super Bowl season is over and the 2025 NFL offseason is officially here. We’re continuing our Eagles roster outlook series by examining the edge rusher position. PREVIOUSLY: Quarterback | Running back | Tight end | Wide receiver | Offensive tackle | Offensive guard | Center.
THE PLAYERS
JOSH SWEAT
STATS: 622 snaps, 41 total tackles, 8 sacks, 9 TFLs, 0 forced fumbles, 15 QB hits, 46 QB hurries
PLAYOFF STATS: 199 snaps, 10 total tackles, 2.5 sacks, 3 TFLs, 0 forced fumbles, 3 QB hits, 9 QB hurries
REVIEW: At one point in time last year, it looked like Josh Sweat wasn’t going to be a member of the 2024 Eagles. He posted “I will miss you all” on social media before ultimately staying in Philly on a pay cut. After being ice cold to end the 2023 season, Sweat relatively rebounded this past season. He finished with eight regular season sacks, which is the second-highest total in his career. While there was an eight-game stretch from Week 13 through the NFC Championship Game where Sweat only had one sack, he obviously exploded in Super Bowl LIX with 2.5 sacks. That performance earned him some Super Bowl MVP votes.
OUTLOOK: Sweat is currently set to be a free agent when the new league year begins on March 12. The feeling here is that the relationship between him and the Eagles has been a divorce one year in the making. After taking a pay cut last offseason, I don’t think Sweat is very interested in giving the Eagles a hometown discount. The expectation here is that he’ll be looking to chase top dollar on the open market. Sweat has been a good player for the Eagles but he’s simply not someone they MUST keep when they have limited resources to work with.
MY TAKE: Go.
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NOLAN SMITH
STATS: 546 snaps, 42 total tackles, 6.5 sacks, 8 TFLs, 1 forced fumble, 11 QB hits, 34 QB hurries
PLAYOFF STATS: 209 snaps, 16 total tackles, 4 sacks, 4 TFLs, 1 forced fumble, 5 QB hits, 13 QB hurries
REVIEW: Smith had 1.5 sacks in 18 games played as a rookie in 2023. Smith had 10.5 sacks in 20 games played in 2024. Talk about making a leap! And a surprising one, at that, since there was concern about Smith’s outlook entering the 2024 season. The Eagles’ second first-round pick from the 2023 NFL Draft oddly played a lot in their 2024 preseason finale when all other key contributors were resting. Smith’s role evolved over the course of his second season. He logged 42.3% of the Eagles’ defensive snaps in their first 10 games but then Brandon Graham’s triceps injury forced the coaching staff to rely on him more. Smith took advantage of the increased opportunity and he especially turned it on in the playoffs, where he logged four sacks in four games played. He did not log a sack in Super Bowl LIX but he played through a triceps injury of his own in the second half of that game. Smith currently ranks behind Graham (5.5) and Sweat (5.0) as the Eagles’ all-time leaders in playoff sacks.
OUTLOOK: Smith’s ascension from “Might he be a bust?” to “He’s a dawg!” is pretty big for the Eagles. Moving forward, they can count on him to be a starter for them in their edge rush rotation. The feeling here is that Smith can be a spiritual successor to BG. They’re not identical players but they’re both extremely high-motor trash talkers who are very stout against the run in addition to providing valuable pass rush juice. It’ll be very interesting to see if Smith can make another leap from Year 2 to Year 3. I wouldn’t rule it out.
MY TAKE: Stay.
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Nolan Smith: Stay or go?
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BRANDON GRAHAM
STATS: 311 snaps, 20 total tackles, 3.5 sacks, 1 forced fumble, 7 QB hits, 14 QB hurries
PLAYOFF STATS: 13 snaps, 1 total tackle, 0 sacks, 0 forced fumbles, 0 QB hits, 1 QB hurry
REVIEW: BG entered 2024 saying it was going to be his last NFL season. But he sure didn’t look like a player who was running out of gas. Graham was playing very well prior to suffering what was originally thought to be a season-ending (and perhaps career-ending) triceps injury in Week 12. Graham was ultimately able to come back and play a limited role in Super Bowl LIX, where he forced a holding penalty at one point. Graham became one of only four players to win two Super Bowls with the Eagles.
OUTLOOK: BG, who turns 37 in April, is going to be a free agent. He might retire. If I were him, I’d go out on top as a two-time Super Bowl champion. But I certainly can’t blame him if he feels like he can still contribute … because he probably can. Vic Fangio previously said he doesn’t want BG to retire. As one of Graham’s biggest fans, I certainly won’t complain if he decides to come back. Retirement could be the best choice for him and his family, though.
MY TAKE: Go out on top.
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Brandon Graham: Stay or go?
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JALYX HUNT
STATS: 241 snaps, 21 total tackles, 1.5 sacks, 1 TFL, 2 forced fumbles, 3 QB hits, 13 QB hurries
PLAYOFF STATS: 103 snaps, 10 total tackles, 1.5 sacks, 1 TFL, 0 forced fumbles, 3 QB hits, 6 QB hurries
REVIEW: When the Eagles drafted an edge rusher out of Houston Christian who used to be a safety at Cornell, it felt like they were taking a chance on a long-term project. But Hunt proved to be more game-ready than originally thought … and that much was apparent dating back to training camp. Hunt was actually a healthy scratch in Week 1 but he slowly but surely became part of the Eagles’ pass rush rotation, especially after Graham got hurt. Hunt finished his rookie season strong by logging a sack in the Super Bowl and then paying homage to Trent Cole with his celebration (which got fined but he turned into a fundraising opportunity).
OUTLOOK: The soon-to-be 24-year-old Hunt could potentially take a big leap from Year 1 to Year 2. There’s reason to be excited about his outlook. At the same time, I don’t know if the Eagles should merely count on Smith and Hunt as their starting edge rushers in 2025. They need to add more to this position. Hunt might be better suited as the third option in a pass rush rotation. And if he outperforms expectations again, well, great!
MY TAKE: Stay.
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Jalyx Hunt: Stay or go?
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BRYCE HUFF
STATS: 285 snaps, 13 total tackles, 2.5 sacks, 3 TFLs, 1 forced fumble, 4 QB hits, 20 QB hurries
PLAYOFF STATS: 13 snaps, 0 tackles, 0 sacks, 0 forced fumbles, 0 QB hits, 3 QB hurries
REVIEW: Huff was the Eagles’ first free agent signing last offseason. Yes, even before Saquon Barkley. Concerns about his big money contract began when Vic Fangio didn’t seem very thrilled about him in training camp. Huff struggled early in the regular season, to the point where he looked flat out “unplayable” as a total liability on the field. The Eagles’ decreased Huff’s role. He then suffered a wrist injury that he tried to play through with a cast on his hand before opting for surgery. Huff missed five games before returning to the roster late in the season. He really only played in garbage time in the playoffs and was a healthy scratch in Super Bowl LIX.
OUTLOOK: The Eagles cannot feasibly cut Huff, even as a post-June 1 designation. They cannot feasibly trade him until after June 1. And it’s not like he has much value. Perhaps the Eagles are stuck with him and perhaps Howie Roseman wants to see one more year before he totally gives up on this signing. But Fangio does not seem very willing to put Huff on the field. Maybe he can live with Huff as a fourth or fifth edge rusher who plays sparingly … which obviously isn’t an ideal role for what he’s being paid. But that might just be the reality for Huff in 2025 before the Eagles can more realistically move on from him in 2026, if applicable.
MY TAKE: Go.
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Bryce Huff: Stay or go?
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OCHAUN MATHIS
REVIEW: The Eagles signed Mathis to their practice squad on November 22. They temporarily elevated him for one game to help out on special teams. They signed him to their offseason roster after the Super Bowl.
OUTLOOK: Mathis is fighting an uphill battle to make next season’s roster as a depth edge rusher/special teams contributor. It’s worth taking a look at him in the offseason but he’s unlikely to stick around.
MY TAKE: Go.
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Ochaun Mathis: Stay or go?
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KJ HENRY
REVIEW: The Eagles signed Henry to their practice squad in late November for more edge rusher depth after Graham suffered his triceps injury. They released him from the PS on January 22 but then brought him back on January 26.
OUTLOOK: Henry, like Mathis, is fighting an uphill battle to make next season’s roster as a depth edge rusher/special teams contributor. It’s worth taking a look at him in the offseason but he’s unlikely to stick around.
MY TAKE: Go.
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KJ Henry: Stay or go?
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CHARLES HARRIS
STATS: 52 snaps, 1 tackle
REVIEW: The Eagles signed Harris to their roster for edge rusher depth after Graham suffered his triceps injury. Then they cut him and brought him back on the practice squad. The bulk of his playing time came in a meaningless Week 18 game when the Eagles rested their starters. The Eagles did not re-sign Harris and instead let his practice squad contract expire after the Super Bowl. He’s currently a free agent available to sign with any team.
PATRICK JOHNSON
REVIEW: Johnson had a pretty good summer but the Eagles waived him on September 16 to make room for Nick Gates on the roster. He was claimed by the New York Giants, where he only logged 46 defensive snaps. Johnson will be a free agent in March. Wouldn’t mind if the Eagles brought him back on a minimum deal.
NFL FREE AGENCY OR TRADES
Sweat will likely leave in free agency. Graham might retire. And so the Eagles will probably need to add a credible player at this position.
Trading for Myles Garrett would be a big swing that Howie Roseman typically isn’t afraid to take. Acquiring him certainly wouldn’t be cheap but he’s a rare player who is worth the premium cost. The guess here is that another team ultimately outbids the Eagles, however.
Maxx Crosby hasn’t been discussed as much as Garrett but he’s another trade candidate to consider if the Las Vegas Raiders are willing to move him, which they should be.
My former BGN Radio co-host Jimmy Kempksi has brought up Azeez Ojulari, who is only 24 years old, and Khalil Mack, who has experience playing for Vic Fangio, as potential free targets. I like those ideas.
Calais Campbell is going to be 39 in September but he’s been going strong and could be a nice rotational veteran to have if BG isn’t back.
Haason Reddick is going to be a free agent! But I’m guessing that bridge is burned. I wish it wasn’t.
Some bargain bin names to consider:
- The Eagles like to take chances on former first-round picks and L.J. Collier is one of those. Collier’s defensive line coach on the Seattle Seahawks from 2019-2021 was current Eagles senior defensive assistant/defensive line coach Clint Hurtt.
- Al-Quadin Muhammad was on the Indianapolis Colts when Nick Sirianni was there from 2018-2020.
- Julian Okwara spent time with the Eagles last offseason.
- The aforementioned Patrick Johnson will be available.
All told, the Eagles have options here.
NFL DRAFT APPROACH
The Eagles could very well select an edge rusher at No. 32 overall in the 2025 NFL Draft. They’ve been commonly connected with these potential first-round players in mock drafts: Donovan Ezeiruaku, James Pearce Jr., and Shemar Stewart.
