Eagles adding veteran edge rusher with upside in free agency

The Eagles are signing veteran edge rusher Arnold Ebiketie to a one-year deal worth up to $7.3 million.

By Dave Zangaro • Published March 12, 2026

The Eagles are adding a veteran edge rusher with some upside in free agency.

With a clear need at the position, the Eagles have reached a one-year contract agreement with former Falcons second-round pick Arnold Ebiketie, NBC Sports Philadelphia has confirmed.

The one-year deal, first reported by ESPN’s Adam Schefter, is worth up to $7.3 million and includes $4.3 million in guaranteed money.

Ebiketie (Ebb-uh-KAY-tee), 27, was a second-round pick of the Falcons out of Penn State back in the 2022 NFL Draft. He just finished off his four-year rookie contract with the Falcons in 2025 and could still be an ascending player.

In his four seasons with the Falcons, Ebiketie played in 67 games with 12 starts. He has 16 1/2 sacks, 41 QB hits and 17 tackles for loss in his four-year career. After having 6 sacks in each of the 2023 and 2024 seasons, Ebiketie had just 2 in 17 games last year so this might be a buy-low deal.

After playing 543 snaps (49%) in 2024, Ebiketie’s role diminished in 2025, playing just 384 (35%). The Falcons drafted a couple of edge rushers in the first round, so it wasn't a surprise to see Ebiketie's play time suffer.

While Ebiketie had just 2 sacks last year, he did have 29 pressures, good for a pressure rate of 16.4%. To put that into perspective, the Eagles’ top edge rusher in pressure rate last season was Jalyx Hunt at 17.3%.

Ebiketie began his college career at Temple and played for the Owls from 2017-2020 before playing his final season at Penn State in 2021. At 6-foot-2, 250 pounds, Ebiketie is a tad undersized but has good athletic tools that we saw in the pre-draft process before he became the 38th overall pick in the 2022 draft.

Edge rusher was clearly a position of need for the Eagles. Before landing Ebiketie, the Eagles had just a few edge rushers on the team: Hunt, Nolan Smith, Ta'Quon Graham, and futures player Jose Ramirez.

The Eagles this offseason made an attempt to bring back Jaelan Phillips before he hit free agency but he ended up getting a $120 million deal with the Carolina Panthers.

Veteran Brandon Graham, 37, has also indicated a desire to return for his 17th NFL season in 2026 but the team has yet to sign him. There’s no rush on that.

https://www.nbcsportsphiladelphia.com/nfl/philadelphia-eagles/eagles-adding-veteran-edge-rusher-arnold-ebiketie-falcons/720730/

I would assume that Vic Fangio and Clint Hurtt had a lot of input on this signing.....Some players don't develop as expected due to a number of reasons and an experienced DC and defensive line coach could see where some shortcoming can be alleviated with coaching or scheme.

Ebiketie didn't play poorly but there was a lack of supporting cast on the Falcons since he was drafted.....he also had 2 HCs, 4 DC's, 4 Defensive line coaches since he was drafted.....multiple schemes, multiple coaching styles and zero consistency.......it's difficult for a player to have a continual development ascension when coaches and schemes are constantly changing.

This could be a very good signing for the eagles.....

Ta'Quon Graham? I had to look that up because I initially thought the writer meant "Brandon" Graham, lol...even though he's technically not on the roster yet. I must have completely missed the signing of Ta'Quon...no idea who the hell he is.

I mean he might be solid enough depth right? He seems like he’s been a solid NFL player. So yeah I think it’s a decent enough addition. It isn’t like the bargain basement signings we made at DE last year but it isn’t a game changer and they still need to add more.

18 hours ago, UK_EaglesFan89 said:

I mean he might be solid enough depth right? He seems like he’s been a solid NFL player. So yeah I think it’s a decent enough addition. It isn’t like the bargain basement signings we made at DE last year but it isn’t a game changer and they still need to add more.

As I said, the guy was a 2nd round pick who went to a messed up organization who had multiple HCs, 4 DCs, 4 defensive line coaches in his 4 years there.......it is a good signing....he may just be a good rotational piece or a Zach Baun type if signing if Fangio and Hurtt can get upcoach him... He's now in a nice rotational group and good supporting players around him.

Roseman has a lot of faith in the pro scouting department and Fangio/Hurtt......