The Philadelphia Eagles are still flying high from their Super Bowl victory as the end of February nears. It won't be much longer before free agency begins, meaning it's almost time for the Eagles to push the celebrations to the side and focus on improving their odds of a potential championship repeat next season.
Having said that, the Eagles will have to trim some roster fat if they want to add playmakers via free agency — a process they already started this week.
Eagles Release C Nick Gates Following Super Bowl Parade
On Tuesday evening, the Eagles announced that they have released veteran center Nick Gates.
We have released C Nick Gates. pic.twitter.com/lDpZmiVFzK
— Philadelphia Eagles (@Eagles) February 18, 2025
Gates' release isn't all that shocking given the up-and-down nature of his time in Philadelphia.
The former Nebraska blocker joined the Eagles last offseason to add to their offensive line depth following Jason Kelce's retirement. Gates had started in 39 of his 57 appearances before joining the franchise, and the expectation was that he could provide a solid veteran presence to the locker room.
Unfortunately, the 2024 campaign didn't go all that smoothly. Gates rarely saw much action, playing just 96 offensive snaps across nine appearances (1 start). Although he finished with a respectable 67.7 pass protection grade on Pro Football Focus, his abysmal 49.0 run blocking grade was the fifth-worst effort among 64 centers.
The Eagles placed Gates on the injured reserve with a groin injury one day before the Super Bowl, putting a quiet end to his lackluster time with the team.
The 29-year-old OL was a solid blocker with the Washington Commanders in 2023, so it's entirely possible the Eagles just weren't a good fit for him. Look for Gates to try his hand with a new team after the 2025 NFL free agency period officially opens on Wednesday, March 12.