Eagles' Jihaad Campbell: Picked by Eagles 31st overall
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The Eagles selected Campbell (shoulder) in the first round of the 2025 NFL Draft, 31st overall.
The Eagles tend to do a consistently good job with their premium draft picks, and Campbell was often projected to go earlier than this. Despite a distinguished career at Alabama, where he started two seasons and really broke out as a star defender in 2024, Campbell faced some concerns that he lacks a clear position. Like Jalon Walker (selected 15th overall by Atlanta), there's reason to think Campbell is a tweener in the positive sense (good at more that one position) rather than the negative meaning (good at neither and slightly misfit for both). For Campbell to log 117 tackles (11.5 for loss) in 2024 and then run a 4.52-second 40-yard dash gives him a strong profile from a production and athleticism standpoint, so the Eagles will probably find something useful for him to do even if they're not completely sure what in the meantime. Campbell underwent surgery to repair a torn shoulder labrum in March, but the most recent reporting indicated he's expected to be ready for training camp.
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Lions' Avonte Maddox: Links up with Detroit
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Maddox signed a one-year contract with the Lions on Friday, Glenn Erby of USA Today reports.
Maddox, who started 2024 as a starter at slot cornerback for Philadelphia but was replaced by Cooper DeJean during the team's bye, now links up with another NFC contender. He looks primed for a key depth role behind Brian Branch in Detroit.
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Eagles' Patrick Johnson: Back with Philly
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Johnson signed a one-year deal with the Eagles on March 14.
The 2021 seventh-round pick of the Eagles spent his first three plus seasons with the team before being waived last September. Johnson was claimed by the Giants and played in 12 games with his new team before suffering a knee injury and missing the last three contests of the regular season. The linebacker recorded four tackles (three solo) in 2024 and has played more on special teams than defense in all four of his NFL seasons.
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Brandon Graham: Hanging up the cleats
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Graham announced his retirement from the NFL on Tuesday, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.
Graham concludes his 15-year career with the Eagles on a high note, having started out hot in 2024 before going down to injury, then retaking the field in time to contribute during Philadelphia's win over Kansas City in Super Bowl LIX. The 2010 first-round pick retires as a two-time Super Bowl champion, with 487 tackles, including 76.5 total sacks, to his name.
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James Bradberry: Released by Philadelphia
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Bradberry was released by the Eagles on Thursday.
Bradberry missed the entirety of the 2024 season due to a lower-leg injury, but the announcement of his release wasn't accompanied by an injury designation on the NFL's official transaction wire, suggesting that the 31-year-old is presumably healthy ahead of OTAs. The 2016 second-rounder should at minimum be a coveted depth piece for another team given his ability to play multiple positions in the secondary. When he last saw regular-season action, Bradberry recorded 54 tackles and a pick in 16 contests with the Eagles in 2023.
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Steelers' Darius Slay: Officially signs with Pittsburgh
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Slay signed a one-year contract with the Steelers on Wednesday, Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reports.
Slay officially finds a new home in Pittsburgh, bringing veteran leadership to the team's secondary and becoming an option to start opposite Joey Porter at outside cornerback. The 34-year-old and six-time Pro Bowler started all 14 of his regular-season appearances with the Eagles in 2024, racking up 49 tackles (39 solo), 13 passes defensed, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery.
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Eagles' Ben VanSumeren: Returning to Philadelphia
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The Eagles re-signed VanSumeren (knee) to a one-year deal Wednesday, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.
VanSumeren was a key special-teamer for Philadelphia in 2024 before sustaining a season-ending knee injury following a Week 12 win over the Rams. He made 11 appearances and recorded three total tackles (all solo) while playing 209 special-teams snaps. After re-signing with the Eagles, VanSumeren -- who will presumably be past his knee issue when the team takes the field again -- is expected to play a similar role in 2025.
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Texans' C.J. Gardner-Johnson: Traded to Houston
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The Eagles are trading Gardner-Johnson to the Texans, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.
The Eagles reportedly will send the safety and a 2026 sixth-round pick in exchange for guard Kenyon Green and a 2026 fifth-rounder. Gardner-Johnson hasn't been a model of consistency, but he rebounded from a slow start in 2024 to finish the regular season with six interceptions, the second time he's reached that mark in three years. He'll likely start at free safety in Houston.
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Bengals' Oren Burks: Moving to Cincinnati
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Burks agreed to a two-year, $5-million deal with the Bengals on Monday, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.
The deal comes with an "opportunity to start" for the linebacker, who stepped up in place of the injured Nakobe Dean during Philadelphia's recent Super Bowl run, per Rapoport. In four playoff games, Burks recorded 25 tackles (16 solo), including 1.0 sacks, and a pass breakup. Burks has played more on special teams than defense during six of his first seven NFL seasons, making just 17 combined starts at linebacker in the regular season.
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Eagles' Darius Slay: Set to join Pittsburgh
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Slay is slated to sign with the Steelers following his release from the Eagles, Gerry Dulac of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.
The veteran cornerback from Mississippi State is headed to Pittsburgh after spending the first 12 seasons of his career with the Lions and Eagles. Although Slay has yet to officially be released by Philadelphia, he's expected to be cut after June 1, clearing the way for him to sign with the Steelers. Over his last two seasons with the Eagles, the 34-year-old posted 106 total tackles and 18 passes defended, including two interceptions, across 26 regular-season contests. Slay is expected to bring veteran leadership to Pittsburgh's defense while also strengthening the team's secondary.
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Cardinals' Josh Sweat: Gets new deal in desert
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Sweat is in line to sign a four-year, $76.4 million contract with the Cardinals, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.
Sweat cashes out on the open market following an impressive 2024 campaign with the Eagles that was capped by his 2.5-sack performance during the team's Super Bowl LIX win over the Chiefs. He's now totaled 6.0 or more sacks in five consecutive seasons and will provide a much-needed boost to Arizona's defensive front. The 8.0 sacks Sweat notched during the 2024 regular season would've led the Cardinals defense -- Zaven Collins finished No. 1 with just 5.0 sacks.
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Patriots' Milton Williams: Big signing for New England
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Williams is slated to sign with the Patriots on a multi-year contract worth $26 million annually, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.
Williams played all 17 regular-season games with the Eagles in 2024, tallying 24 total tackles (11 solo), including a career-high 5.0 sacks. He also had one pass defensed, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery. Now heading into his age-26 season in fresh surroundings under new head coach Mike Vrabel, Williams will operate as an immediate starter for New England.
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Vikings' Isaiah Rodgers: Agrees to terms with Minnesota
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The Vikings are in line to ink Rodgers to a two-year, $15 million contract, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.
Rodgers suited up for 15 regular-season games with the Eagles in 2024 while working at the team's top reserve cornerback. He tallied 26 tackles (17 solo) and four pass defenses in those contests, while also notching six tackles (five solo) and three passes defended in four playoff appearances. He brings to Minnesota an ability to shore up cornerback depth while also contributing in the return game.
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Eagles' Zack Baun: Returning to Philadelphia
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Baun agreed to a three-year, $51 million contract with the Eagles on Wednesday, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.
Baun could have explored his options in free agency when the new league year begins next week, but it was likely an easy decision for both the 28-year-old and the Eagles to come to terms on a new deal in the wake of a wildly successful first season in Philadelphia. After playing primarily on special teams and serving as a backup outside linebacker over his first four NFL seasons in New Orleans, Baun inked a one-year, $3.5 million deal with the Eagles last March and emerged as a Week 1 starter at inside linebacker. The Wisconsin product went on to record 3.5 sacks among his 151 total tackles (tied for sixth-most in the NFL) and tacked on five forced fumbles over 16 games during the regular season, then added 33 tackles, two interceptions and one forced fumble over the Eagles' four postseason contests. With a lavish new contract in tow, Baun should profile as one of the top IDP options at linebacker in 2025.
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Eagles' James Bradberry: Set to be released
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Philadelphia plans to release Bradberry (lower leg) when the new league year starts, Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com reports.
Bradberry was placed on the Eagles' injured reserve list with a lower-leg injury prior to the start of the 2024 regular season, and he was unable to contribute to their championship campaign. After Quinyon Mitchell and Cooper DeJean proved more than capable in the defensive backfield during their rookie seasons, Philadelphia is opting to move on from the veteran. Bradberry will turn 32 in August.
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Eagles' Darius Slay: Expected to be cut
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The Eagles announced Monday that they plan to release Slay, Tim McManus of ESPN.com reports.
Philadelphia has yet to officially release the one-time All-Pro cornerback, but the move is expected to take place after June 1, as it saves the Eagles roughly $4.3 million in cap space, per McManus. The 34-year-old was likely a cap casualty, as the team needs space to retain several key free agents from its 2025 Super Bowl win, including Zack Baun, Mekhi Becton, Milton Williams and Josh Sweat. Slay remained relatively productive during his final two years in Philadelphia, recording 106 total tackles and 28 passes defended, including two interceptions, over 26 regular-season appearances. Once his release becomes official, he's likely to sign with a team in need of veteran leadership and secondary help.
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Eagles' Nolan Smith: Undergoes surgery to repair triceps
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Smith had surgery Wednesday to repair a torn triceps that he suffered during the Eagles' Super Bowl LIX win over the Chiefs on Feb. 9, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.
Smith played at least 52 defensive snaps in each of the Eagles' first three playoff games, but he was limited to just 30 snaps on defense in the Super Bowl after tearing his triceps in the first half. He was able to play through the injury in the second half, and the 2023 first-round pick is expected to be ready for the 2025 campaign after undergoing surgery. Smith finished the 2024 regular season with 42 tackles (22 solo), including 6.5 sacks, two pass defenses, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery across 16 games.
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Eagles' Sydney Brown: Limited role in 2024
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Brown finished the 2024 season with seven total tackles (six solo), while also adding two passes defensed, including one interception, and a forced fumble over 11 regular-season games.
Brown saw his role on defense diminish in his second season with the Eagles, operating primarily as a special-teams option in 2024. The safety missed the first five games of the year with a knee injury, limiting his upside early in the year. Brown figures to be set to play a similar role with Philadelphia in 2025.
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Eagles' Bryce Huff: Limited by injury in 2024
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Huff finished the 2024 season with 13 total tackles (five solo), including 2.5 sacks, while also forcing a fumble over 12 regular-season games.
Huff joined the Eagles ahead of the 2024 season, signing a three-year, $51.1 million deal with the team. The linebacker never had more than three tackles in a game during the regular season while also missing five contests with a wrist injury. Huff will look to have a greater impact on the team in 2025.
Maddox finished the 2024 season with 20 total tackles (nine solo) while also adding five passes defensed over 17 regular-season games.
Maddox was able to appear in all 17 of the Eagles' regular-season games in 2024 after being limited to just 13 contests over 2022 and 2023 combined. The cornerback will enter the offseason as an unrestricted free agent and could head elsewhere after spending the first seven seasons of his NFL career in Philadelphia.
