Bleeding Green Nation
Eagles roster outlook: Edge rusher
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.
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.
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...
