2025 Offseason Plans

[time2rock]

2025 Offseason Plans

Posted: March 9th, 2025 | Author: Tommy Lawlor

Legal tampering begins on Monday. Free agency begins a couple of days later. The draft is less than 50 days away. Let’s talk about what the Eagles need to do and some of the options they’ll have.

OVERVIEW

The Eagles are going to lose some key players from the roster that just won the Super Bowl. That said, the roster still has a ton of talent in place. One of the best things Howie Roseman did over the past couple of years was going on a youth movement. The coaching staff embraced the young players and we saw plenty of rookies and second year guys playing key roles on a title team. The Eagles could start the next season next week without making any big moves and be in good shape.

With Myles Garrett now off the market, Howie will concentrate on finding more young talent in the draft and some select veterans in free agency to bolster the roster. With big money tied into a lot of key players, the Eagles need some cheap, I mean cost effective, solutions.

QB

Jalen Hurts has been to 2 Super Bowls in three years so I lean toward him keeping his job. Kenny Pickett did a solid job as the #2 last year. Ideally the Eagles would trade him. Nothing against Pickett, but Tanner McKee sure looks ready to be the backup. The team could then sign a cheap free agent or draft a QB late to be the #3 guy. They drafted McKee in the 6th round and he’s worked out well so far.

RB

Saquon Barkley has missed 8 starts over the past four years. He sat out the finale last year when the Eagles rested starters, but was healthy the rest of the season. The Eagles can’t count on him making every start this year. Kenny Gainwell is a free agent. Will Shipley had some good moments last year, but I don’t think he’s meant to be the primary backup. I hope the team finds a backup with starting potential. The RB class in the draft is loaded. There should be good options available in the middle rounds. If the Eagles want to be a running team, they ought to make sure they have another good RB.

One prospect I like is Ollie Gordon from Oklahoma State. He has good size at 6-1, 226. He is a downhill runner with big play ability.

I love the thought of adding a bigger back into the mix. We’ll see if the Eagles want that or prefer someone who is more athletic. Woody Marks from USC is another guy I like. He is a good runner and receiver. 

WR

I have seen more than a few mock drafts showing the Eagles taking a WR in the first round. I do not understand that at all. They have the best 1-2 punch in the league in AJ and DeVonta. The Eagles threw the fewest passes in the NFL last year. They have Jahan Dotson under contract for another year and just drafted a couple of guys last year. Johnny Wilson and Ainias Smith didn’t do a lot as rookies, but the Eagles were high on both of them.

If there is a player the Eagles like, I can see them adding a wideout in the middle rounds. I just don’t see the value in adding one early. That would be a lot of resources at the position. Chimere Dike is a speedster with good hands. He impressed me at the Senior Bowl and again at the Combine.

TE

I like to think I know a lot about the Eagles and what’s going on. I don’t understand TE right now. Several of the beat reporters are talking about the Eagles trading Dallas Goedert. He’s in the final year of his deal. Maybe he’s asked for an extension or some more money. I haven’t seen that reported. Even if the Eagles keep Goedert I think they need another TE. If he gets moved, they’ll need two.

Goedert is a good player. I think you want to keep him. I understand there are cap considerations. The team might want a lower cap number for this year and that could lead to something. We’ll see how this all plays out.

Grant Calcaterra is talented, but he’s not ready to be a starting TE. I think he’s more of a #3. The draft has a deep group of TEs and the Eagles could go for one early. Mason Taylor from LSU would be of interest if the Eagles trade back from 32 into the early 2nd round. He is a gifted receiver and effective blocker.

If the Eagles keep Goedert, I would love them to draft Jackson Hawes from Georgia Tech. Hawes is the best blocking TE in the draft. I would love to see him help out the run game. Hawes is an okay receiver, but you wouldn’t want him as your key pass catcher. The Eagles will have options.

OL

The Eagles are set at 4 of 5 positions. Mekhi Becton started at RG for most of 2024. He’s a free agent and will probably get too good of an offer to pass up. Tyler Steen is ready to take over that position, but the Eagles won’t just hand it to him. They will want competition. That could come in the form of a free agent or draft pick. If they go for a FA, it won’t be big money.

The Eagles do need depth. Trevor Keegan is the top backup OG on the roster right now. I’m not sure he’s ready for substanial playing time. Darian Kinnard is top backup OT. He played RT last summer and in the season finale. Kinnard might be able to play OG as well. I do not think he could play LT. Fred Johnson was the key backup OT last year. He’s a free agent. The Eagles could bring him back or look to upgrade.

The OL class in the draft is solid, but not great. The Eagles have a Top 30 visit with NC State OT Anthony Belton, who is 6-6, 336.

Belton would make a lot of sense. He played LT in college, but played some RT at the Senior Bowl. He also could slide inside to OG. More than a few people have projected the Eagles to take Gray Zabel with pick 32. He played LT at North Dakota State, but spent Senior Bowl week playing G and C. Zabel would make a lot of sense.

DL

Jalen Carter, Jordan Davis and Moro Ojomo give the Eagles a good trio of DL. They are going to lose Milton Williams so they will need to replace him. There are good options in the draft and free agency. Dre’Mont Jones just got cut and would be a good fit if they want a veteran. He’s 28  and has at least 4 sacks and double-digit QB hits in five straight years. That is consistent production. Maliek Collins just got cut today. He has 10 sacks and 30 QB hits over the past two seasons. Jonathan Allen is a player I’ve always liked. He might be pricier than what Howie wants to pay.

TJ Sanders is a draft prospect I like a lot as a fit for the Eagles.

The Eagles could also look to add a big body to the mix. There are some big dudes in this draft class.

Edge

Josh Sweat is about to get paid big money in free agency. The Eagles still have Nolan Smith, Jalyx Hunt and Bryce Huff in place. Smith and Hunt really emerged in 2024. Huff is the wild card. If he can regain his 2023 form, that’s a good trio. That will only happen if he buys into Vic Fangio’s system and earns snaps. Brandon Graham re-tore his tricep in SB LIX. As much as well all love BG, he should ride off into the sunset. He had a great career and would leave on top of the football world.

The Eagles should add a veteran edge rusher. They’ve already got a lot of youth so the unit could use some experience. Harold Landry and Za’Darius Smith are recent cuts who could be of interest. Both guys are productive veterans who shouldn’t cost a fortune.

There are quite a few guys of interest in the draft. Donovan Ezeiruaku of Boston College could be in play at 32. JT Tuimololau from Ohio State could be a target in the 2nd round. The player who I find really intriguing is Josaiah Stewart from Michigan.

Stewart is only 6-1, 249, but he reminds me a lot of Nolan Smith. Stewart is an explosive pass rusher. He’s also a terrific run defender. He can set the edge or chase plays down from behind. I don’t know if the Eagles would want two smaller edge rushers. If they’re okay with the size, I can see Stewart being a player Fangio loves. The small school guy I like is David Walker from Central Arkansas. I’ve mentioned him before. He reminds me a lot of BG.

LB

Zack Baun is back so the offseason at LB is already great. Nakobe Dean is rehabbing an injury. Will he be ready for the season? If not, Jeremiah Trotter Jr. could be in line to start. I would love to see Oren Burks get re-signed, but there may be an issue. A bunch of LB have re-signed with their teams. That means there aren’t going to be great options for the teams that need one. Burks may suddenly have more of a market than expected.

I’m still doing research on the LB class in the draft. There isn’t anyone I’m in love with. Smael Mondon is a UGA prospect, but is only 6-2, 224. I don’t know if they would want another smallish LB to go with Trot (6-0, 228).

SAF

CJGJ and Reed Blankenship are a terrific duo. Sydney Brown is a valuable STer. He’s still a mystery as a safety. We’ve seen some good flashes, but he hasn’t played a lot of defensive snaps so we don’t know how good he can be. Tristin McCollum was disappointing last year. I thought he could be a good role player. He’s solid on STs, but hasn’t shown much on defense. The Eagles added Lewis Cine late in the season. He could replace McCollum.

Dante Trader from Maryland is a late round prospect that interests me.

He was also a star lacrosse player at UM. Interesting prospect.

CB

Quinyon Mitchell and Cooper DeJean have 2 of the 3 corner spots filled. Darius Slay was released, but there is a possibility he might come back. It will depend on what kind of market there is for him and how much the Eagles would be willing to pay. The Eagles could re-sign Isaiah Rodgers, but that might not be easy.

That could just be Rodgers agent using Wilson to create some buzz for his client. Still, I could see teams liking Rodgers because he won’t cost a ton and is a capable player. You could do a lot worse at CB.

Is Kelee Ringo ready to start? That’s the key question. He has 5 career starts, with 4 coming in 2023. At the very least, the Eagles need competition for him.

One prospect I like is Jaylin Smith from USC.

Smith is a Day 3 prospect. I thought he looked really good at the Combine. And I love his versatility.

ST

The Eagles are set with Braden Mann and Jake Elliott. They might want to replace Rick Lovato. He’ll be 33 this season and had some snap issues. The team could bring in someone to compete with him and see how things play out.

http://igglesblitz.com/2025/03/2025-offseason-plans/

[birdman#12]

Howie is playing the drat pick and comp pick game.......they have 8 draft picks this year and may get a few comp picks next year with one or two 3rd rounders possible.

He may only sign a couple of 1 year guys to fill holes while drafting guys to fill those holes after they develop.

The eagles, even though they lost 4 good players, had a lot of depth and can replace the production a lot cheaper than with big contracts.

And Howie has some other big contracts to consider next year and the year after.  

Howie is playing the salary cap, draft pick and comp pick game perfectly and will keep the team Super Bowl competitive for the next 3-5 years.

Nobody like to see guys like Sweat, Williams, Burks and Rodgers leave after winning a Super Bowl, but even after losing them, the eagles are in really good shape to defend the title.  It's just that we won't feel as confident until later the free agency period, the draft and the possible acquisitions from the preseason cuts.