Skip to content
As It Happened
Link copied to clipboard
Link copied

Eagles news: Ex-Birds lineman lands in Miami; thoughts on Kenny Pickett trade; projected depth chart

The Eagles made a number of additions during the first week of free agency, and they have plenty of cap space for more deals.

Eagles general manager Howie Roseman made a number of moves during the first week of NFL free agency.
Eagles general manager Howie Roseman made a number of moves during the first week of NFL free agency.Read more
David Maialetti / Staff Photographer
What you should know
Link copied to clipboard
Link copied
  1. Over the weekend, the Eaglesagreed to sign linebacker Oren Burks, who played for the San Francisco 49ers last season.

  2. The Eagles also added a quarterback Friday, landing Kenny Pickett in a trade with the Steelers. Here's what you need to know about the quarterback who grew up rooting for the Birds.

  3. The Eagles signed several free agents on defense, including safety C.J. Gardner-Johnson. But they won't mater if Jalen Carter, Jordan Davis, and others don't improve their play, writes columnist Marcus Hayes.

  4. There were hard feelings after Gardner-Johnson left the Eagles last offseason, which he spoke about with reporters.

  5. Josh Sweat will be back with the Eagles next season after agreeing to restructure his contract. Where does that leave Haason Reddick?

  6. Looking ahead to the NFL draft, here are eight prospects who will reportedly meet with the Eagles.

Pinned
Link copied to clipboard
Link copied

New Eagles quarterback Kenny Pickett called joining his childhood team 'surreal'

New Eagles quarterback Kenny Pickett said it’s “surreal” to join a team that he grew up rooting for.

“I’ve been coming to the Linc since I was five years old,” Pickett told reporters Monday. “I have great memories of my dad taking me here.” 

Pickett spent the past two years with the Pittsburgh Steelers, who drafted him with the No. 20 pick in 2022. Pickett was under contract two more seasons with the Steelers, but said he wanted a fresh start after the team signed veteran quarterback Russell Wilson. 

Link copied to clipboard
Link copied

Former Eagles offensive lineman Jack Driscoll signs with Dolphins

Link copied to clipboard
Link copied

Kenny Picket on wanting out of Pittsburgh: 'It was time'

Link copied to clipboard
Link copied

Watch: Kenny Picket speaks to reporters

Link copied to clipboard
Link copied

Eagles projected 2024 depth chart

After a week's worth of free agency signings and departures, including the additions of running back Saquon Barkley and defensive end Bryce Huff, here is an early look at the Eagles' projected depth chart next season:

– Olivia Reiner and Rob Tornoe

Link copied to clipboard
Link copied

Eagles make Devin White signing official

The Eagles announced Monday they've signed linebacker Devin White to a one-year deal, making an agreement reported last week official.

Terms of the contract weren't disclosed, but ESPN reported the contract is worth up to $7.5 million.

White had spent the past five years with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, who drafted the former LSU standout with the No. 5 pick in the 2019 draft. Late last season, White dealt with a foot injury that kept him sidelined for three games.

Link copied to clipboard
Link copied

Updated look at Eagles' 2024 NFL draft picks

We're about a month away from the 2024 NFL draft, and the Eagles are currently projected to have eight picks.

The Eagles gave up a third round pick (No. 98) in the upcoming draft to the Pittsburgh Steelers in a trade for quarterback Kenny Pickett. But they also acquired the Steelers fourth-round pick (No. 120), essentially moving back 22 draft spots.

The Birds also agreed to give up the highest two of the four seventh-round draft picks they're projected to have in the 2025 draft.

Link copied to clipboard
Link copied

Reports: Cowboys restructure Dak Prescott's contract

Link copied to clipboard
Link copied

Eagles to sign linebacker Oren Burks

The Eagles have agreed to terms on a one-year contract with former San Francisco 49ers linebacker Oren Burks on Saturday, according to a league source confirming a report from The Athletic.

Burks, 28, has spent the last two seasons mostly as a key special-teams contributor and backup linebacker with the Niners, but started five games last year while playing 34% of the team’s defensive snaps. He had 46 tackles, one interception, and one pass breakup with his expanded role in the defense and came off the bench in Super Bowl LVIII when Niners’ linebacker Dre Greenlaw ruptured his Achilles.

Before signing with San Fran in 2021, Burks spent the first four years of his career with the Green Bay Packers. A former third-round pick out of Vanderbilt, Burks has appeared in 91 games through six seasons with just 15 starts. He had a major role on the Packers’ special-teams units, playing more than 60% of Green Bay’s special teams snaps in each of his four seasons.

Link copied to clipboard
Link copied

Best remaining NFL free agents on the market

We're in the second week of free agency, and while the well has significantly dried up, there are still a number of top NFL players available.

Former Broncos safety Justin Simmons, who has experiencing playing in new defensive coordinator Vic Fangio's system, has yet to sign with another team.

Here are a handful of the best free agents still on the market as of Monday morning, according to ESPN's rankings, along with the team they played for last season:

  1. Defensive end Chase Young (San Francisco 49ers)

  2. Offensive tackle Trent Brown (New England Patriots)

  3. Cornerback Xavien Howard (Miami Dolphins)

  4. Wide receiver Mike Williams (Los Angeles Chargers)

  5. Guard Kevin Zeitler (Baltimore Ravens)

  6. Center Connor Williams (Miami Dolphins)

  7. Edge rusher Jadeveon Clowney (Baltimore Ravens)

  8. Safety Justin Simmons (Denver Broncos)

Link copied to clipboard
Link copied

Sielski: Thoughts on Eagles trading for Kenny Pickett

For an NFL team, the process of settling on a backup quarterback never solely comes down to the quality and profile of the backup quarterback … or the quality and profile of the starting quarterback. It would be convenient if it did. Match the young, promising prospect with the grizzled, savvy veteran. Match a mobile No. 1 QB with a mobile No. 2 QB. Match a pocket passer with a pocket passer. Match the established starter with a capable clipboard-holder whose presence won’t foster controversy.

Of course, in a salary-cap league, nothing is ever that convenient. Nothing is ever that easy. Unless a team stumbles into drafting or acquiring an all-time all-timer — a Mahomes, a Brady, a Peyton Manning — the most effective cheat code for building a Super Bowl-caliber team comes down to this: Get elite performance from an inexpensive quarterback — usually, this quarterback is still on his rookie contract — while using the remaining ample cap space to surround him with plenty of talent. This was the formula that the Eagles followed in winning Super Bowl LII and reaching LVII, and it extended to their backups as well. Nick Foles counted just $1.6 million against the cap in 2017-18, and Gardner Minshew’s cap number in 2022-23 was $2.54 million, according to the database Overthecap.com.

The Eagles aren’t in that situation, not anymore. Under the terms of the contract extension Jalen Hurts signed last year, his cap number jumps to $13.6 million this season. And even with the 2024 per-team cap figure increasing to $255.4 million, giving each club an additional $30 million to spend, Hurts will still account for 5.2% of the Eagles’ spending power, more than twice as much as he did in 2023.

Link copied to clipboard
Link copied

Eagles free agency tracker

The Eagles entered the NFL’s free agency period several holes to fill and more than 20 players set to hit the market.

Here are the players the Eagles have added or plan to add:

  1. Running back Saquon Barkley: Three-year deal worth up to $37.75 million, with $26 million guaranteed

    

  2. Defensive end Bryce Huff: Three-year deal worth up to $51.1 million with $34.4 million guaranteed

    

  3. Linebacker Zack Baun: One-year deal

  4. Offensive lineman Matt Hennessy: One-year deal

    

  5. Wide receiver DeVante Parker: One-year deal

    

  6. Safety C.J. Gardner-Johnson: Three-year deal worth up to $33 million

    

  7. Linebacker Devin White: One-year deal reportedly worth up to $7.5 million. 

  8. Quarterback Kenny Pickett: Trade with Pittsburgh Steelers

  9. Linebacker Oren Burks: One-year deal

Here are the players the Eagles plan to keep:

  1. Defensive end Brandon Graham: One-year deal

    

  2. Tight end Albert Okwuegbunam: One-year deal

    

  3. Punter Braden Mann: Two-year deal

    

  4. Longsnapper Rick Lovato: One-year deal

Link copied to clipboard
Link copied

Julio Jones and the other former Eagles players that remain unsigned

After a week of NFL free agency, 12 former Eagles players have yet to be signed by other teams.

Among those yet to sign are Julio Jones, the seven-time Pro Bowler and two-time All-Pro the Eagles added to the team in October. Jones, 35, had just 11 catches in 10 games last season, but did manage to haul in three touchdowns.

Here's the full list of Eagles players yet to sign anywhere:

  1. Linebacker Shaun Bradley

  2. Linebacker Zach Cunningham

  3. Safety Justin Evans

  4. Offensive lineman Roderick Johnson

  5. Wide receiver Julio Jones

  6. Linebacker Shaquille Leonard

  7. Offensive lineman Sua Opeta

  8. Running back Rashaad Penny

  9. Cornerback Bradley Roby

  10. Running back Boston Scott

  11. Wide receiver Quez Watkins

  12. Wide receiver Olamide Zaccheaus

Link copied to clipboard
Link copied

2024 NFL calendar: Upcoming dates

  1. March 24 to 27: Annual League Meeting, Orlando, Fla.

  2. April 19: Deadline for restricted free agents to sign offer sheets

  3. April 25 to 27: NFL Draft, Detroit

  4. Sept. 5: NFL 2024 season kickoff, hosted by defending Super Bowl LVIII champions Kansas City Chiefs

  5. Sept. 6. Eagles host the NFL's first game in Brazil at Corinthians Arena in Sao Paulo.

– Rob Tornoe