NEW ORLEANS — Josh Sweat is without doubt one of the longest-tenured Eagles gamers and he wouldn’t nonetheless be on the scene had he not taken a pay adjustment to stay with the workforce that made him a fourth-round choose within the 2018 NFL Draft.
Sweat, a 27-year outdated edge rusher, is right here on the website of Tremendous Bowl 2025. The place he performs subsequent season is unknown, and it definitely is a risk that is his closing recreation for the Eagles.
“I did what I did so I could possibly be right here, you already know what I’m saying?’’ Sweat stated Monday night time on the Tremendous Bowl Opening Evening occasion on the Superdome. “I knew the workforce we had and we may presumably be right here, that’s why I did what I did. That different stuff, it’s coming actual quickly.”
That different stuff is impending free company.
Sweat final March wouldn’t have remained on the Eagles roster had he not agreed to restructure his contract, guaranteeing him $10 million. There have been experiences that the Eagles had been purchasing Sweat however discovered no dealer associate.
Why such therapy?
Sweat had a career-high 11 sacks in 2022, serving to the Birds make all of it the best way to the Tremendous Bowl, which they misplaced 38-35 to the Chiefs in Glendale, Ariz. Sweat in 2023 had 6.5 sacks in his first 9 video games and none within the closing eight video games.
On Monday, phrase got here down that Sweat modified brokers. He’s now represented by Drew Rosenhaus, doubtless a transfer designed to assist him in free company.
He led the Eagles this previous season with eight sacks and added six quarterback hits, 16 pressures and 41 tackles. He’s younger sufficient and productive sufficient to command a strong contract, though edge rushers Haason Reddick (Sweat’s former teammate in Philadelphia), Matt Judon and Chase Younger may also be in the marketplace.
Reddick had 16 sacks for the Eagles in 2022, as he and Sweat had been a part of a fearsome defensive entrance that amassed 70 sacks.
“Man, the protection we had that yr was ridiculous,’’ Sweat stated. “We set so many data and stuff like that and he was a giant a part of it.’’
Sweat stated he “had a superb yr’’ in 2024 and believes he’s underrated.
“Yeah,’’ he stated, “however not for lengthy.”