Recap of Eagles' major offseason losses after the first week of free agency
The Eagles are the defending Super Bowl champions and have enough talent to repeat in 2025, but the losses suffered in free agency can't discounted or easily replaced. Philadelphia saw three starters and two key contributors depart in free agency. At the same time, C.J. Gardner-Johnson (Texans) and Kenny Pickett (Browns) were traded to free up salary cap space for future moves.
On offense, the backup running back and starting right guard departed, leaving an explosive offense with two holes that need to be filled.
With the second wave of free agency set to begin, we're recapping the major losses during the first wave.
Oren Burks
Agreed to terms on a two-year deal with the Bengals.
Last season in a reserve role, Burks totaled 41 tackles (20 solo) and one pass defense over 17 regular-season appearances. He added 25 tackles (16 solo), including 1.0 sacks and one pass defense across games in the playoffs.
Burks saw just 41 defense snaps before Week 16 but stepped up into a starting role after inside linebacker Nakobe Dean suffered a season-ending torn patellar tendon in this game. Burks tallied 20 tackles while starting Philadelphia's final three playoff games, and he finished with five tackles in the Super Bowl win against Kansas City.
Parris Campbell
Agreed to terms on a one-year deal with Cowboys
During this Super Bowl season, Campbell bounced between Philadelphia's practice squad and 53-man roster, playing in five regular-season games, recording six catches for 30 yards and one touchdown.
Mekhi Becton
Agreed to terms on a two-year deal with the Chargers
After beating out Tyler Steen at right guard following a positions switch, Becton started 19 games at right guard in 2024, including the postseason, for the Super Bowl Champion. The 6-7 363-pound Becton played a key role in All-Pro running back Saquon Barkley to rush for 2,005 yards and 13 touchdowns en route to being named the NFL's Offensive Player of the Year by The Associated Press.
Josh Sweat
Agreed to terms on a four-year deal with Cardinals.
An athletic, productive rusher in Vic Fangio's front in Philadelphia, Sweat had eight sacks and 33 pressures this season.
Sweat entered free agency with the flexibility to play in a 3-4 or 4-3 defense. He has ties to Arizona, where his former defensive coordinator, Jonathan Gannon, is the head coach.
Milton Williams
Agreed to terms on a four-year deal with the Patriots.
A dominant pass-rushing defensive tackle who Jalen Carter overshadowed, Williams had five sacks and a career-high 40 quarterback pressures, according to Pro Football Focus, last season. His 47.8% defensive playtime was also a career-high. According to CBS Sports, the 40 pressures were four more than Williams had in the previous two seasons combined. Williams ranked fourth among NFL interior defensive linemen in PFF's pass rush win rate metric (17.5%).
Kenneth Gainwell
Agreed to terms on a one-year deal with the Steelers.
Gainwell will join Jaylen Warren in the Steelers backfield and could become a candidate to start.
Drafted out of the University of Memphis, In four seasons with the Eagles, Gainwell rushed 280 times for 1,185 yards and 12 touchdowns while logging 102 catches for 721 yards and an additional score in the passing game.
Isaiah Rodgers
Agreed to terms on a two-year deal with Vikings
Rodgers played 421 snaps for the Eagles in 2024, and his 76.0 grade from PFF was 20th in the NFL.
Darius Slay
Agreed to terms on a one-year deal with Steelers.
Slay started 14 games in 2024, recording 49 tackles (39 solo) and leading the NFL’s No. 1 pass defense. He also led the Eagles with 13 passes defended, marking the third straight season he has recorded 13+ pass breakups.
Fred Johnson
Agreed to terms on a one-year deal with Jaguars
Johnson, 27, was signed by the Steelers as an undrafted free agent in 2019 and has spent time with the Bengals before latching on in Philadelphia as the backup to Jordan Mailata at left tackle.
Overall, Johnson has appeared in 62 games (eight starts at LT, RG, and RT) through five NFL seasons with Cincinnati, Tampa Bay, and Philadelphia.
This article originally appeared on Eagles Wire: Recap of Eagles' major offseason losses after the first week of free agency
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