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Let’s get to the Philadelphia Eagles news and links …
2026 NFL free agency: 8 perfect player-team pairings after first wave of signings – NFL.com
Tariq Woolen was quietly an integral cog in Seattle’s championship-winning defense last season, and he was at his best in man coverage. On 175 snaps in man, he allowed just 10 receptions for 85 yards on 32 targets, yielding the fewest yards per snap (0.49, minimum 100 snaps) and lowest completion percentage (31.3%, minimum 20 targets) among all cornerbacks. Eagles DC Vic Fangio used to avoid man coverage, but he gave his outside cornerbacks the fourth-most man assignments in the NFL last season (506). Woolen replaces Adoree’ Jackson, who allowed a 53.8% completion rate and 1.43 yards per snap in man. The addition of Woolen also entrenches Eagles stars Quinyon Mitchell and Cooper DeJean at their best possible positions (boundary and slot, respectively), as Woolen will presumably serve as the full-time field-side corner, just as he did in Seattle.
Eagles Film Review: Riq Woolen’s ceiling in Vic Fangio’s defense is sky high – BGN
I’ll be honest with you, separating this move entirely from the Reed Blankenship situation is difficult. Blankenship was a communication anchor and scheme-reliable safety whose value was precisely the kind of steady, structural reliability that complements a swing-for-the-fences corner signing. I’m disappointed the Eagles let Blankenship leave, and I’d feel even better about this move if I knew we had Blankenship returning. But I know you can’t pay everyone. Woolen’s ceiling in this defense is sky high. A 6-foot-4 corner with elite recovery speed operating in a boundary-isolation coverage structure with Cooper DeJean beside him is a difficult puzzle for opposing offenses to solve. The best version of this signing looks like one of the most imposing boundary corners in football, playing in the exact structural environment best suited to his traits. He could be unbelievably good in this system. But the floor carries real risk. I don’t think he’s the most natural scheme fit, because he is more suited to more press man covearge. If Woolen’s zone processing issues resurface in Fangio’s complex coverage packages, if the tackling remains a liability in run fits, if the effort consistency is a recurring problem rather than a one-year deal corrective, the Eagles will be looking at a corner who cost up to $15 million and didn’t deliver the transformation they were hoping for. This is a shoot-for-the-stars move, and the Eagles deserve credit for making it. That’s what Howie Roseman does. If you want to win it all, you have to take risks. It’s just worth understanding clearly that success isn’t guaranteed.
5 takeaways from Riq Woolen’s introductory press conference with Eagles – NBCSP
Harnessing the passion. Woolen plays with a lot of passion; that’s a good thing. “God didn’t make me to be a quiet person,” Woolen said. “God made me to go show off my abilities and to play with passion and enthusiasm. And to fit in a culture where a lot of players do play with passion and enthusiasm is going to be a lot of fun.” But sometimes he goes a little overboard; that’s a bad thing. Last season, Woolen was flagged three times for taunting, including one that could have been extremely costly in the playoffs. In the second half against the Rams in the NFC Championship Game, Woolen was in coverage against Puka Nacua on a key 3rd-and-12 and helped force an incompletion. But then Woolen couldn’t control his emotions, was flagged for taunting and gave up a 34-yard touchdown pass to Nacua on the next play that pulled the Rams within four points. Woolen plays with a lot of passion but admitted on Thursday that sometimes he loses control. At least he knows that can’t happen. “Once you make a play, just turn to your sideline and go there,” Woolen said. “You can never go wrong if you celebrate with your teammates. You can never go wrong if you just get to your sideline if you make a play. Because those are the guys you want to celebrate with anyway. Whenever you’re going against a team and make a big play, it’s a lot of emotions going on, especially a rival game, but you just gotta be better in those situations and you just gotta go celebrate with your team because, ultimately, that’s who you’re winning the game with.”
Eagles Add An Edge – Iggles Blitz
There is a lot to like in those clips. Ebiketie reminds you of Nolan Smith when you watch that. Some will say this is just like adding Josh Uche or Azeez Ojulari, neither of whom worked out well last year. I disagree with that. Uche had a total of 5 sacks and 9 QB hits in the two seasons before coming to Philly. He fell out of favor in NE and then struggled to get on the field in KC. Ojulari had injury issues throughout his time with the Giants. He also didn’t play much on STs. Ebiketie has. He’s been a starter and a role player. He understands how to contribute to the team. While the move makes sense on paper, there is no guarantee it will work. You never know how guys are going to perform on a new team and in a new scheme. We certainly saw that with Uche and Ojulari last year. Uche had his moments, but Ojulari was a complete disappointment. Ebiketie feels like a safer bet. The Eagles now have Nolan Smith, Jalyx Hunt and Ebiketie. Brandon Graham might return. That would give the team a solid group of rushers. Howie could still look to add a top talent if the price is right. The addition of Ebiketie means the Eagles aren’t desperate. That could help if they want to negotiate with the Vikings about trading for Jonathan Greenard.
2026 NFL Free Agency LIVE Deal Grader: Grading and tracking every signing and trade – PFF
EDGE Arnold Ebiketie signs with Philadelphia Eagles. Although Ebiketie never became a dominant pass-rusher for the Falcons, he still contributed positively in the team’s rotation. Ebiketie’s pass-rushing metrics improved every season since 2023, culminating in a 73.4 PFF pass-rush grade and 16.8% pass-rush win rate in 2025. Although Ebiketie may not become Philadelphia’s primary starter at edge defender, he should offer high-upside depth without major financial commitments.
If the airwaves and algorithms are any indication, panic has officially set in. Three of the defensive starters are gone. The superstar wide receiver could soon follow them. Taking their place are a 31-year-old blocking tight end and a reclamation project cornerback. The biggest news the Eagles made on Thursday came in the form of a reported four-year, $14 million contract extension for their punter. And there we were wondering if Nick Sirianni knew he had a punter. The fan base is alarmed. The talking heads are puzzled. The influencers are twisting themselves in knots to explain why nothing is as it seems. Bad news, folks. Everything is exactly as it seems. An old friend once said that if it quacks like a duck and acts like a duck, then it probably is a duck. Same goes for a capped-out football team that knows now might be the best time to take its medicine. Which is what the Eagles are.
Inside the classroom as Eagles QB Jalen Hurts reads his new book to kindergartners – The Athletic
Hurts, 27, said he wants to be known as more than a football player. Even when discussing this premise, his maniacal desire to win seeps through. Still, there’s an understanding of legacy for the Super Bowl LIX MVP, and he views the book as a way of “giving back and paying it forward.” It’s why he was in a classroom during the first week of free agency. The scheduling is coincidental, planned well before he knew the NFL calendar. Hurts is aware of what’s happening in the NFL — he’s been in touch with departed Eagles, and he called new Eagles offensive coordinator Sean Mannion “amazing” — but he also said he’s “still” at this point in the offseason while “very determined” to improve. Soon enough, his public face will revert to the franchise quarterback. He’ll discuss the new offense and the new personnel. For this week, though, Hurts is reveling in being a first-time author. The students gawked at him. The adults in the room listened intently. Hurts wants everybody to learn. He’s no exception. “Well, I love my job, kid. Helping others and being kind make the world a better place, and that puts a smile on my face,” Hurts read to the students from his book. “Jalen would try to remember that, too.”
Jalen Hurts’ new book leads to the surprise of a lifetime for Philadelphia students – PE.com
On Wednesday afternoon, 10 first-grade students from KIPP Philadelphia Elementary Academy made their way to Hair Connections in North Philadelphia for a field trip. The students were expecting a casual day, but instead they got the surprise of a lifetime. Jalen Hurts, fresh off the release of his children’s book, Better Than a Touchdown, emerged from the back of the barbershop to an eruption from the students. That low-key field trip turned into a private book reading from Hurts himself. The quarterback flipped through the book while the students answered his questions. He got to learn each of their names as he showed them that you’re not limited to one thing in your life.
Asthon Jeanty, Stefon Diggs among new additions to flag football tournament – PFT
The relocated flag football tournament, which has moved from Saudi Arabia to L.A. due to the war in the Middle East, has added more participants. Via Sports Business Journal, Fanatics announced the full roster of players earlier this week. In addition to the active NFL players previously named (Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels, Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts, Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow, Eagles running back Saquon Barkley), more current pro football players will take part: Raiders running back Ashton Jeanty, Eagles receiver DeVonta Smith, Saints running back Alvin Kamara, Rams receiver Davante Adams, 49ers fullback Kyle Juszczyk, Chargers safety Derwin James Jr., and Steelers safety Jalen Ramsey.
C.J. Gardner-Johnson signing with Buffalo Bills on a 1-year deal – Buffalo Rumblings
Gardner-Johnson will have every opportunity to compete for the starting safety job opposite Cole Bishop, but it’s definitely not the only move the team will make at the position. After Bishop and Gardner-Johnson, the Bills have 2025 rookie defensive back Jordan Hancock, mostly special teamer/safety Sam Franklin Jr., and practice-squad safety Wande Owens. Buffalo cut Taylor Rapp and allowed Damar Hamlin, Cam Lewis, and Jordan Poyer to hit free agency this offseason. Both Poyer and Hamlin remain unsigned as of publishing.
49ers leading pass rusher from 2025 announces retirement – Niners Nation
Huff was a quality contributor for the 49ers last year, but was thrust into a bigger role than expected after season-ending injuries to Nick Bosa and Mykel Williams. He was expected to have a $5.392 million cap hit this season, but had no guaranteed money remaining on his deal. With Huff’s departure, the 49ers currently have Bosa, Williams, and Sam Okuayinonu as their main edge rushers, so the position will certainly be a priority now in free agency and/or the draft.
Seahawks free agency 2026: Brady Russell agrees to two-year contract extension – Field Gulls
Russell has been at or near the top in special teams snaps played for the Seahawks since being poached off the practice squad of the Philadelphia Eagles early in the 2023 season, and now appears set to continue in that role in the years to come.
Trading Osa Odighizuwa feels like a mistake for Cowboys – Blogging The Boys
Therein lies the biggest problem with this trade: the why. If Odighizuwa really was traded away for not being a scheme fit, then Parker is not the coach he billed himself to be. And if this move didn’t have to do with scheme fit, why are the Cowboys opting to weaken their defensive tackle room after years of struggling at that exact position? Only time will tell how the Dallas defense actually performs in 2026, and there are still plenty of moving parts in reshaping this unit. But for right now, this trade seems to have all the early signs of a big mistake.
NFC East Free Agency News: Eagles sign former Commanders Cornerback – Hogs Haven
The Philadelphia Eagles have been quiet in free agency, but they signed their second cornerback today, former Commanders veteran Jonathan Jones. He only spent one season in Washington, suffering a hamstring injury that landed him on injured reserve after the Packers game on Week 2. He didn’t return to the field until Week 7, and didn’t start a game until Week 10. Jones joins an Eagles secondary that has Quinyon Mitchell, Cooper DeJean, and the newly signed Riq Woolen ahead of him on the depth chart.
NY Giants news: Giants sign WR Calvin Austin III; what it means – Big Blue View
The New York Giants have signed wide receiver Calvin Austin III to a one-year, deal with a maximum value of $4.5 million, per his agents. Austin, 26, was a fourth-round pick (138th overall) out of Memphis by the Pittsburgh Steelers in the 2022 NFL Draft. While an undersized receiver at 5-foot 7¾ inches tall, 170 pounds, Austin is highly athletic with rare explosive traits.
Tension builds ahead of NFLPA leadership vote – ESPN
Tretter also resigned following ESPN’s reports. He told ESPN he was unaware of an agreement Howell had made with the league to conceal from players an arbitrator’s findings related to NFL owners’ collusion on pay. He was a candidate to serve as interim executive director after Howell resigned but pulled his name from consideration when he stepped down. He told CBS Sports at the time that he was “not interested” in being — or being considered for — executive director. Now, the retired Cleveland Browns offensive lineman has emerged among the finalists as player reps gather in San Diego to pick a leader. The other candidates to emerge from an initial field of over 300 are American Conference commissioner Tim Pernetti and former Hollywood actors’ union chief David White, who has served as interim NFLPA executive director since August.
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