NFL Free Agency: Will The Eagles Keep Their Super Bowl Defense Intact?

One of the biggest keys to success for the Philadelphia Eagles and their Super Bowl run was their defensive front and pass rush. They’ll need to do some off-season work in order to keep their unit intact for 2025 and beyond, as some of their most productive players from their postseason run are set to be free agents this off-season.

Key Pieces On Eagles Defense Have Expiring Contracts

Will the Eagles be able to keep all three players and sign them to new contracts this off-season?

Zack Baun – OLB

Last year’s off-season acquisition of Zack Baun didn’t turn a whole lot of heads immediately. He played the first four years of his career with the Saints, and racked up a total of just 88 tackles and 2 sacks in that time before walking as a free agent. He signed a one-year deal with the Eagles before the 2024 campaign, and it turned out to be possibly their best off-season move outside of Saquon Barkley.

Baun’s 151 tackles were easily the most on the team in 2024, and he was able to add 3.5 sacks and five forced fumbles as well. During the playoff run for the Eagles and combined with the Super Bowl, Baun had 33 tackles in the four games, as well as 3 passes defended, a forced fumble, and two fumble recoveries. He is in store for a big pay day during the upcoming free agent period, whether or not it is with Philadelphia.

Josh Sweat – DE

It took a few years for him to catch on, but Sweat has been a starter for the Eagles for the better part of four years now. He was named to his first and only Pro Bowl in 2021, which he followed up with an 11-sack season that also saw him rack up 15 tackles for loss. While his raw numbers have taken a dip since, the 28-year-old came up big when it mattered most.

After being relatively quiet during the first three games of the postseason for Philadelphia, Sweat was one of the most impactful players in the Super Bowl. He was able to get to Patrick Mahomes enough to be able to record 2.5 sacks and 3 QB hits, and had 2 tackles for loss included in his 6 total tackles. Because of that performance, he is considered to be one of the top pass rushers in this year’s free agent class, if the Eagles allow him to make it that far.

 Milton Williams – DT

Williams doesn’t have statistics that the other defensive free agents do, thanks in large part to the position that he plays. But the fourth-year pro was a part of Philly’s balanced pass rush in 2024, sacking the quarterback five times during the regular season and adding ten QB hits.

Like the other players mentioned above, Williams came up big in the Super Bowl. He had two sacks against Mahomes and the Chiefs, and notched a forced fumble and a fumble recovery, as well. His rookie contract has expired, which makes him a free agent, though it is unclear how much the Eagles are willing to commit, given that they’ll have to spend big at the position to keep Jalen Carter within the next couple of years.