Who to keep

[NoDakIggle]

We all know there will be turnover. Who is Priority 1,2,3,4 for you

Becton. Sweat. Baun. Williams. Other.

Are these lesser guys worth keeping

Gainwell. F Johnson. Burks. Rogers.


My priority would be Williams Baun Becton Sweat. Money tells me they will get a deal done with Becton but the others get offers Howie doesn’t want to match.
I think they try to sign the lesser guys but Rogers walks. I don’t think the other three get any great offers and they bring them back.

[musicman]

the list I found

Becton, Gainwell, Fred Johnson, Campbell, Uzomah, Driscoll , Gates, Covey, Clark, Baun, Sweat, Williams, Maddox, Rodgers, Lavato, Graham, Burks, VanSumeren

1) Williams
2) Becton
3) Rodgers
4) Lovato

I really like Baun, but the more I think about it, I think we should strengthen the line. I'm not sure if Baun is that good. Our line kept the LBs clean like I've never seen before. Baun was pretty good, but Dean had just 22 less tackles going into the playoffs and then Burks stepped in and averaged 6-7 T/Game. Seems like everyone playing LB for the Eagles had it easy. Give us a discount , otherwise sorry Zac.
In todays game, we need 6 quality offensive linemen and IMO we are better with Steen as our sixth man. I think we can get a bit of a discount for a guy who never had fun till he came here. I really think the Birds improved his mental health.
If Slay is coming back, Rodgers isn't really needed, he would be a luxury, but he played his ass off this year. If Slay is leaving, Rodgers becomes more of a need.
Sweat is going to get a lot of money. This is a pretty good draft class for edge/DE. Sweat can be replaced. I think Huff was starting to set the edge vs the run and was getting some pressure, but he wasn't needed once Graham decided to play.
Lovato is a keeper too, I was trying to think, other than the SB when have you heard his number called in the last 3-4 years for a penalty or a fuck up ? It might be longer.
I like Gainwell, but we already have his replacement. Unless he comes back on the cheap, he can walk.
Graham can do what he wants. Retire or play, it's his call. He is a HUGE part of the locker room, every member of the team on the stage yesterday quit whatever they were doing to listen to Graham speak. They weren't talking or anything. He had the room. Also he is still an elite DE in smaller portions and he would be an able replacement if someone were to go down with injury.
Everyone else are just guys.

Videos
Podcasts
Newsletters
TrendingSuper Bowl LIX Roob's Observations Stream Flyers Games Stream Sixers Games PodcastsEagles news‘Maybe we can 3-peat:' Milton Williams savors monster Super Bowl performance

Milton Williams had a monster Super Bowl as he prepares to hit free agency for the first time.

By Reuben Frank • Published 4 hours ago

Play


0:00
Play
0:14 / 4:42
Unmute
Subtitles
ShareToggle Fullscreen
Street. Jeffrey Lurie is right up on this bus right here.
NBC Universal, Inc.
The Eagles World Champions Parade is underway Friday. Go Birds!
The best interior lineman in the Super Bowl wasn’t Chris Jones, the Chiefs’ future Hall of Famer. The best interior lineman in the Super Bowl wasn’t Jalen Carter, the Eagles’ 23-year-old All-Pro.

No, the best interior lineman in the Super Bowl was a humble 25-year-old former 3rd-round pick that very few people outside Philly had heard of.

Until Sunday.

Milton Williams had two sacks, two tackles for loss, a quarterback hit, a forced fumble and recovery and four tackles in the Eagles’ 40-22 win over the Chiefs in Super Bowl LIX at the Superdome.

He's the first interior lineman ever with two sacks and a forced fumble in a Super Bowl and the first player at any position since Von Miller of the Broncos nine years ago.

On the biggest stage, with the lights shining the brightest, with everything at stake, Williams had the game of his life.

“It was fun to be a part of, for sure,” Williams said. “I ain't never been a part of a performance that dominant. I feel like I'm still dreaming a little bit. That was the biggest stage you can get on. I told my mom, 'You dream of winning the Super Bowl, but winning it like that is like not real.'"

Williams, the Eagles’ 3rd-round pick in 2021, has been a very good interior lineman for four years now, but he’s played his career in the shadow of Fletcher Cox and Carter, two Pro Bowlers and All-Pros.

Yet he’s got 14 ? sacks, 29 tackles for loss, 34 quarterback hits and three forced fumbles on his resume.

And a monster Super Bowl.

“The real football knowers, the football watchers, film watchers, they know what I've been doing since I got here,” Williams said. “Constantly getting better and better every year. Get on the biggest stage I want to perform and most importantly win. I didn't really care how many sacks or whatever, but you want to make your impact known in the game.

“My pops always says make them call your name, make them say your name, get some conversation going about it. Yeah, man, it was fun. It was fun to be out there.”

The Eagles’ defense made life miserable for Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs with six sacks, six tackles for loss, 11 quarterback hits and three takeaways. The Chiefs’ first nine drives netted no points and 65 yards. By then it was 34-0.

Josh Sweat contributed 2 ? sacks, Jordan Davis one and rookie Jalyx Hunt added half a sack. The Eagles’ six sacks are one shy of the Super Bowl record, and they became only the fifth team with six sacks and three takeaways in a Super Bowl. The only other team to do that since the 1980s was the 2015 Broncos vs. the Panthers.

The Chiefs scored 16 meaningless points in the final three minutes, but that did nothing to change the reality that this was one of the most dominating performances by a defensive front in Super Bowl history.

“We were all out there together,” Williams said. “We were together as one and we went out there and did it together. It took everybody.”

Along with Zack Baun, Mekhi Becton and Josh Sweat, Williams is due to hit the open market if he doesn’t sign a new contract before free agency begins on March 10.

CBS Sports ranks Williams as the No. 6 projected free agent due to hit the market, NBC Sports Boston ranks him 8th, USA Today has him No. 9, FOX Sports ranks him No. 11 and ESPN 16th.

Spotrac projects Williams’ value on the open market at $12 million over three years, and for a guy who’s made about $6.9 million in his entire career, that’s serious money.

It's not going to be easy for Howie Roseman to bring back everyone he wants, but Williams is a 25-year-old Super Bowl hero and you know he’s going to do everything he can to keep him.

“Right now I'm just kind of soaking all this stuff in,” he said. “Probably sometime when I get home with my family those (contract) conversations will start. But right now, I'm just soaking all this stuff in and being a champion.”

On the one hand, Williams wants to keep his options open. But when he talks about what the Eagles have built, when he talks about playing in two Super Bowls before his 26th birthday, when he talks about the remarkable young talent on this defensive line, it’s clear where he wants to be.

“Philly, we on the verge of doing something special,” he said. “I definitely can see back-to-back. Maybe we can three-peat. You know, we’ve got some guys over here, great coaches, great players. And, you know, I'd love to be back here for sure.

“Being part of history is an amazing feeling. Super Bowl champions forever. We can go do it again.”
NFL

[Eagle60]

I think we are going to have a hard time keeping any of our free agents. The ultimate goal of any player Is a Super Bowl ring and I think after that they are going to change goals and go for the money. I know Slay will almost certainly feel that way and that means that we will have to keep Rogers, who I personally think is an excellent CB. I think MM Did a pretty good job of mapping out some of the more unknown players that we might be able to hang on to. If you can keep linebackers clean maybe we could save a little money there but I also think Baun is special. Unfortunately, the league feels the same way and we have about a 10% chance of keeping him. Our defense is going to suffer because continuity on defence is the main reason for success. I think that's where most defensive players suffer when they move to new teams and Huff is an excellent example of that as he was pretty much useless to us this year and I imagine that we will see the same thing out of him next year. I suppose we have about a 10% chance that someone may feel differently about him& him and want him for a 7th round pick. That's about all I've got.

[NoDakIggle]

I didn’t include Lavato because he is a long snapper. They don’t cost anything so I fully expect him to stay. Didn’t include Covey because he is RGA and I don’t see anyone going after him very hard. Hell Nick might just want to keep DeJean back there even though Vic would prefer he not. And I think. VanS is an exclusive rights so he only leaves if the birds want
I agree with you about Baun with one exception. His ability to get to the flat was outstanding. Not sure if Dean or Burks or Trot Jr can match that. But if Baun places himself out of cost then they have to move on. You have to stay within your salary structure to stay competitive.

[dawkins20]

1. Baun
2. Williams
3. Rodgers
4. Becton

Baun is priority 1, but we need to be realistic. Maybe 3 to 4 years at 10m per? Will Howie pay a LB that money?

I expect Williams to go and get paid. Would love him back if possible. Even thought DT depth is solid and Ojomo can play.

Ringo might be ready? Hard to tell when he hardly plays. I kind of expect us to move on from Slay. Making Rodgers important.

Becton is great. Wonderful story. I just never saw a drop off when Steen had to play and I don’t love a 6’8 guard for your QB. Unless we get a discount, I can’t see him back.

[ThoughtProcess]

I think present depth might affect the effort to re-sign, as D20 has intimated above. Ojomo is in the pipeline at DT. My own ranking would be Baun, Williams, Becton, Rodgers. However, my expectation is that Baun and Williams are more likely to hit the market than Becton or Rodgers. I think one or both of them might do a deal before FA opens up. I think their previous circumstances may factor into their decision to stay with the Eagles. Not saying it will be a hometown discount type thing, but more of a sense of gratitude and loyalty thing. They both might believe that the Eagles stepped up when no one else did. That said, there is Ringo, Ricks, and Steen in the wings.

As for Baun and Williams, I think the numbers will have a greater degree of influence on their decision. Of the two, I believe Baun would come back, with Williams the most likely to leave for the money bag. If the cash is favorable enough in Philly, he could want to stay in a familiar scheme/situation. Burks will likely return, as well.

For Gainwell, there is Shipley waiting. They will probably draft another RB on day 2 or 3 too.

[Jukin]

1. Baun
2. Becton
3. Wiliams
4. Sweat / Rodgers

You guys are under valuing Baun’s contributions this year. The guy lead the team in tackles during the regular season and is the first defensive player to ever have an Int in every playoff game. 60 made a point about continuity being a big part of stability and I agree. But consider this, Baun’s probowl play came in the first year of playing a new position, playing for a new team and a new system. What will he look like next year with experience and continuity on his side? Pay him!

Becton need to stay. We had the best run game and an o-line that dominated opponents this year. You don’t mess with that! Again we had new players on the line so that continuity thing should help them become better next year as well.

William is my 3rd priority because he looks like he is poised to be a beast. I don’t want to see him flourish for another team. We coached him and got him to this point, we need to find a way to keep him and reap the rewards of 3 years of training him.

I’d love to keep Sweat if we can get him on a reasonable deal. He’s the next priority but he’s also the guy most likely to go for the big pay day. If he does, we need to turn our attention to Rodgers and keep the DBs performing at a high level - especially since Slay is likely to want a new deal. If we get 1-3 and Rodgers this will be a great offseason leading into the draft.

[musicman]

1. Baun
2. Becton
3. Wiliams
4. Sweat / Rodgers

You guys are under valuing Baun’s contributions this year. The guy lead the team in tackles during the regular season and is the first defensive player to ever have an Int in every playoff game. 60 made a point about continuity being a big part of stability and I agree. But consider this, Baun’s probowl play came in the first year of playing a new position, playing for a new team and a new system. What will he look like next year with experience and continuity on his side? Pay him!

Becton need to stay. We had the best run game and an o-line that dominated opponents this year. You don’t mess with that! Again we had new players on the line so that continuity thing should help them become better next year as well.

William is my 3rd priority because he looks like he is poised to be a beast. I don’t want to see him flourish for another team. We coached him and got him to this point, we need to find a way to keep him and reap the rewards of 3 years of training him.

I’d love to keep Sweat if we can get him on a reasonable deal. He’s the next priority but he’s also the guy most likely to go for the big pay day. If he does, we need to turn our attention to Rodgers and keep the DBs performing at a high level - especially since Slay is likely to want a new deal. If we get 1-3 and Rodgers this will be a great offseason leading into the draft.

Not undervaluing Baun, but when your front four is playing like they did in the playoffs, any LB is going to be better than the norm if they aren’t working their way through blockers. In the SB you had Mahomes and sometimes 7 blockers . 7 guys covering 3-4 receivers should work out pretty well. Those 4 guys keeping the LBs clean should take priority IMO. I get it, Baun made a big play or 2 every week. Burks played pretty well in Deans roll and if you combine Dean and Burks, they had almost the same numbers as Baun . I don’t see them paying a LB 10-14 million, Milton is looking at 10 million, Sweat is looking at probably 14-20 . Becton similar numbers as well. On a team with lines being the focal point, you need to look their first IMO. They all need to take a bit of a homer discount IMO, otherwise say thanks, but move on.

[dawkins20]

Love what Sweat did in the SB. Glad he fired his agent and hired Rosenhaus and impressive what he did on the big stage. Will never forget it.

But he’s fools gold in my opinion. Disappeared for much of 2023 and 2024. Really didn’t come on til late. He has mostly been an average to below average DE in his career.

The question for all teams is how much is he really worth. Im betting someone offers him a bag. I totally expect him to be gone.

and all teams make mistakes when judging potential. We did it with Huff

as for Baun. He’s been a consistent stud all year. Even in games the pass rush was not there. IMHO he and Carter are the two D mvps. Sign him!

[musicman]

Love what Sweat did in the SB. Glad he fired his agent and hired Rosenhaus and impressive what he did on the big stage. Will never forget it.

But he’s fools gold in my opinion. Disappeared for much of 2023 and 2024. Really didn’t come on til late. He has mostly been an average to below average DE in his career.

The question for all teams is how much is he really worth. Im betting someone offers him a bag. I totally expect him to be gone.

and all teams make mistakes when judging potential. We did it with Huff

as for Baun. He’s been a consistent stud all year. Even in games the pass rush was not there. IMHO he and Carter are the two D mvps. Sign him!

Sweat is pretty stout vs the run. He did go about 10 straight without a sack.

[andrewaters]

I am going to take a look at this later this week in a post. Taz I know will have a plan too.

I'm off to 2025-26 now.

Great Super Bowl win but it is behind us now. Let's go get another one.

[Eagle60]

Sweat is pretty stout vs the run. He did go about 10 straight without a sack.

You can credit the push that our defensive tackles get for some of our defensive ends sacks.

[musicman]

I wonder about Huff. If they draft an edge rusher and he beats out Huff, then what ? I think Burks needs to be re signed . I read that the Dean injury can take a couple years in some cases and he may never get his burst back

[Eagle60]

PFF had Burks rated the number 5 best player in the game. Those Ratings included Kansas City players too.

[musicman]

PFF had Burks rated the number 5 best player in the game. Those Ratings included Kansas City players too.

I just found out yesterday that Cris Collingsworth owns PFF