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On paper, the Eagles don’t look equipped to handle the attrition on the edge from their top-ranked defense in the 2024-25 Super Bowl-winning season, at least in a conventional way.
Josh Sweat relocated to Arizona for big money in free agency, Bryce Huff is off to San Francisco after one disappointing season for a reunion with the coach who turned him into a $17 million player in the first place, Robert Saleh, and you can no longer set your watch to Brandon Graham’s consistency after 15 unforgettable seasons.
What’s left in that wake is promising third-year player Nolan Smith as the centerpiece after a half-season of looking like that kind of player once he’s fully cleared from the torn triceps he suffered in Super Bowl LIX.
From there, it gets even thinner with fingers crossed that promising second-year player Jalyx Hunt can take a big leap forward in Year 2, and prove-it veterans Azeez Ojulari and Josh Uche, or Day 3 college producer Antwaun Powell-Ryland can be contributors.
Erroneous reports of generating $15M in cap space by trading Huff (it is about $2.4M) fueled speculation for some that a major move was coming with thirtysomethings Trey Hendrickson or T.J. Watt, who both ironically want far more than $30M per season.
GM Howie Roseman has already explained that the Eagles are not in the financial position for that kind of move due to what's coming on the extension front when Myles Garrett was being used as the clickbait earlier in the offseason.
Desperation could change that, but it's unlikely.
The real answer for the Eagles may have to come from inside the house with a pair of versatile linebackers, one proven, first-team All-Pro Zack Baun, and one projected, first-round pick Jihaad Campbell.
It might have been everything, and it might have been nothing last week at an OTA practice open to reporters when Baun went to work with edge-rushing coach Jeremiah Washburn, alongside the rehabbing Smith, when the Eagles were having a special teams period.
Campbell is still not cleared from March labrum surgery, but when he’s deemed good to go, the former Alabama star will surely be undergoing that kind of cross-training as well.
“We’ve seen what [Vic Fangio] can do with guys with this skill set,” Roseman said when discussing Campbell. “... I don’t want to put this player in that box [of stacked LB or edge rusher]. That’s what I’m saying. This guy can grow into anything that you want.
“... You see it, what’s going on in the league, and Zack Baun is a great example. These guys, they can rush from the edge, they can play in space. They can affect the quarterback from depth, from the edge, and that’s what we’re looking for.”
Conventional Philadelphia thinking, based on years of wide-9-based pass-rushing acumen, doesn’t apply with Fangio.
Consider Graham’s explanation of what happened with Huff in Philadelphia.
“I just think with the Jets, it was just that defense," Graham said on the Ross Tucker podcast. "I know what it's like playing in that 4-3, wide-9, 'go get it' every play.
“It's always stop the run on the way to the quarterback, that's the slogan in that type of defense. So, I feel like it's all scheme. I've seen different guys flourish in different systems. Then you see them get in another system, it's different. And what they asked of him this year, it just wasn't a great marriage.”
Fangio wants more versatile defenders who can stress the quarterback in different ways.
Rushing is just one part of the job description as is dropping out as a flat defender in coverage, or setting the edge when needed.
The versatility of Baun and Campbell is the long-term plan with the idea that each could morph into an edge rusher at any time, generating that tick of uncertainty from the quarterback post-snap, the very foundation of Fangio’s entire philosophy.
It’s time to shelve the wide-9 mindset for now. It’s a technique that everyone in the NFL will use at times, including the Eagles, but it’s of lesser emphasis in Fangio’s version of defensive football.
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Report: Bengals draw hard line in Trey Hendrickson contract talks
Cincinnati Bengals star defensive end Trey Hendrickson has been holding out from training camp as he seeks a new contract, and it does not sound like the two sides are all that close to a deal. ESPN's Jeremy Fowler said on "SportsCenter" Monday that there has been "some progress" in negotiations between the Bengals and Hendrickson's representatives over the past week or so. The real disagreement has to do with guaranteed money, and Cincinnati's brass is not budging. "Hendrickson wants a stronger guaranteed structure, particularly later in what should be a multiyear deal. In talking to people with the Bengals they feel like, 'Hey, we've probably relented as far as we can go.' So this is a classic stare-off right now, and it's time to buckle up," Fowler said, via Andrew Peters of Bleacher Report. Hendrickson is set to earn $16M in base salary in the final year of his contract this season. He recently said he has shown a willingness to take less than market value on a new deal, but the Bengals do not want to guarantee him money beyond the 2026 season. Based on what he has said, the 30-year-old Hendrickson is not seeking to become the highest-paid defensive player in football. In order to accomplish that, he would have to top the three-year, $123M extension T.J. Watt signed with the Pittsburgh Steelers last week. Hendrickson had 35 sacks over the past two seasons, which was the most in the NFL during that span. He had 17.5 sacks each season and finished second in NFL Defensive Player of the Year voting in 2024. The Bengals took care of one major offseason issue on Sunday when they finally signed first-round pick Shemar Stewart to a rookie deal. All it will take is one side to budge in the team's ongoing stalemate with Hendrickson, but all parties seem to be dug in as training camp rolls on.
Ryan McMahon Only Needed 2 Games With the Yankees to Embarrass Aaron Boone
Only eight plate appearances into his New York Yankees career, Ryan McMahon has already been more productive than the team’s previous third base options. What might sound hyperbolic or outright false at first glance is actually true, at least from a certain point of view. Analytics — specifically, Wins Above Replacement — proves that argument, and it’s one that Yankees manager Aaron Boone should be ashamed of. McMahon went 2-for-3 with a two-run double in Sunday’s victory over the Phillies, giving him four hits in his first eight at-bats. FanGraphs ruled that McMahon is already worth 0.2 fWAR through two games in a Yankees uniform. Amazingly, McMahon has a higher fWAR than the trio of DJ LeMahieu, Oswald Peraza, and Jorbit Vivas, who have played a combined 148 games in the infield thus far. LeMahieu provided -0.1 fWAR over 45 games before being unceremoniously cut earlier this month, while Vivas (-0.2) is currently at Triple-A. Peraza and his -0.6 fWAR remain on the active roster, though he’s shifted into a bench role. Baseball-Reference has been slightly more generous, giving Peraza -0.2 bWAR. Boone stuck with LeMahieu and Peraza until he couldn’t anymore, and it’s partly why the Yankees have dropped to 5 1/2 games back in the AL East. Injuries and age took their toll on LeMahieu, who only played second after returning from calf and hip problems. Peraza owns a .152 average and .452 OPS in 170 plate appearances. We’ll see if McMahon can elevate the Yankees, who open a pivotal four-game set with the rival Tampa Bay Rays on Monday night.
Analyst Believes Kings Will Trade Star Player if They Land Warriors' Young Forward in Free Agency
Cubs in danger of making enormous trade-deadline mistake
Boasting a 62-44 record in the NL Central, the Chicago Cubs are still searching for a way to pull ahead of the Milwaukee Brewers. The Brewers took sole possession of first place in the division from the Cubs in an 8-4 win on Monday. Chicago will get its chance before the three-game set is over, but if the Cubs should fall to the Brewers, the trade deadline will be viewed as essential for their World Series chances. Several rumors of Chicago’s interest in starters, relievers and third basemen have swirled nonstop. And while they have shown interest in several quality names — Mitch Keller, Eugenio Suárez, MacKenzie Gore — some of their other trade targets are less than ideal. Among their worst sources of interest (if not, the worst) is struggling Braves reliever Raisel Iglesias, who is in his walk year. Hiding behind his shining 2.99 career ERA is a rather shocking, career-high 4.97 ERA, to which he has pitched this season. He is still a strikeout pitcher, having accumulated 46 Ks in 41.2 innings, but his run prevention capabilities have seemingly deteriorated. It was only last season when Iglesias posted a stellar 1.95 ERA. Since then, his home run total doubled, from surrendering just four last year to eight so far this year. His opponent batting average has also jumped, from .160 to .250. Iglesias is no stranger to success. He threw to ERAs south of 3.00 in eight of his 11 MLB years. However, this season, he just doesn’t appear to have it. Any team that trades for Iglesias in the last year of his contract would be betting that he can return to elite form before the season is over. Taking a risk on a pitcher like Iglesias in his current condition, especially when there are several other more reliable arms on the market, would be ill-advised. And for the Cubs, who are in a win-now position, having secured one guaranteed year of Kyle Tucker, taking a gamble on Iglesias could easily risk everything they worked for this season.
Steelers Might Be The Legitimate Reason Terry McLaurin Wants Out Of Washington
The Pittsburgh Steelers made a shocking move early in the 2025 offseason. In a bold and unexpected trade, the team acquired star wide receiver DK Metcalf from the Seattle Seahawks, instantly changing the outlook of their offense. Shortly after the deal, the Steelers committed long-term, signing Metcalf to a five-year contract worth $150 million, with four new years and $132 million in fresh money. At $33 million per year, the Steelers made it clear they believe Metcalf is a rare talent worth every dollar. While the Steelers were focused on boosting their offense, their move has caused problems elsewhere in the NFL. The Washington Commanders now find themselves in a difficult position with their own star wide receiver, Terry McLaurin. During an appearance on The Pat McAfee Show on Monday, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported that McLaurin "wants considerably more than" the $33 million per year that Metcalf received in Pittsburgh. That revelation has sparked questions about whether the Commanders are prepared to meet McLaurin’s growing demands. The Steelers may not have intended to impact other teams' contract negotiations, but their deal with Metcalf is now being used as a measuring stick. McLaurin, who has consistently been one of the most reliable wideouts in the league, is looking to cash in at a level that reflects his value. Pittsburgh’s decision to pay top dollar has inadvertently put pressure on Washington, who must now decide whether to match or exceed those terms to keep their top receiver happy. The Commanders find themselves in a difficult position as the NFL continues to see critical positions like wide receiver experience rapid increases in market value. As star players across the league sign massive deals, it becomes increasingly challenging for teams to build balanced rosters while also keeping their top talent and maintaining consistency from one season to the next. Washington is now facing that exact challenge with McLaurin. It makes perfect sense that Metcalf’s massive extension with the Steelers is being used as a comparison. This is a common pattern in the NFL. One player gets paid, and others in the same position group see it as their opportunity to cash in. McLaurin, after watching Metcalf land a $33 million per year deal, likely sees this as the perfect moment to get the contract he believes he deserves. It is not about being greedy. Players understand the business side of the league and know their value can shift quickly. When the opportunity comes, they have to take advantage of it. Steelers' Omar Khan Has A Chance To Do Something Crazy At Wide Receiver The bigger question is whether McLaurin could become available if things continue to stall in Washington. While the Steelers might seem like a potential landing spot, they are already investing heavily in Metcalf. Paying McLaurin even more than Metcalf would be incredibly difficult under the current financial structure. However, if General Manager Omar Khan were somehow able to make it work, it would completely reshape how the rest of the league views Pittsburgh entering the 2025 season. For now, both sides appear to be stuck, and that uncertainty could eventually lead to McLaurin’s name surfacing in trade talks, even if his price is far too high for Pittsburgh to realistically consider. While it’s highly unlikely the Steelers would make another major move at wide receiver, Khan has shown a willingness to get creative with the salary cap, so nothing can ever be completely ruled out. With the right cap maneuvering, there’s always a slim chance something unexpected could happen. Though the idea of the Steelers making McLaurin higher paid than Metcalf certainly sounds very unlikely at this point.
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