The Philadelphia Eagles were able to win a championship in 2024, and a big reason why is the culture of competition they’ve established under Nick Sirianni. The Eagles have concentrated their team-building efforts on acquiring homegrown talent. While there are some players that have come in externally and made an impact, it’s what the Eagles emphasize inside the building that helps bring out the best in them.
That’s why the Eagles had so many sought-after free agents last spring. With Mekhi Becton, Josh Sweat, and Milton Williams out the door, Philadelphia needs to replace these players in the lineup, and it’s also a reminder to the current veterans that nobody’s spot is safe.
That’s especially true for an Eagles starter who was slated for a big role at the beginning of OTA workouts. But the emergence of a rookie has put him on notice and gives him little room for error as he approaches training camp.
Sydney Brown Should Be Looking Over His Shoulder During Eagles Camp
Sydney Brown was a third-round pick by the Eagles in 2023 and made an immediate impact in his rookie year with 45 total tackles, three pass deflections, and a 99-yard interception returned for a touchdown. Unfortunately, Brown tore his ACL in the regular season finale and spent most of last season rehabbing his knee before appearing in 11 games.
With C.J. Gardner-Johnson’s trade to the Houston Texans, it appeared that Brown would have the chance to start this season. But his job is under jeopardy with the emergence of 2024 second-round pick Andrew Mukuba.
Mukuba was one of the winners during Eagles OTA workouts, grabbing the attention of most in attendance. Mukuba also created some headlines with his mentality on the safety position, modeling his game after some of the top players in the NFL.
“There are guys like Budda Baker [Arizona Cardinals] and Brian Branch [Detroit Lions] who are similar in size to me, and they have been guys I’ve kind of patterned myself after,” Mukuba said. “I’m going to be aggressive and smart and play with everything I have, all my heart.”
Mukuba sounds like a player who isn’t messing around, and it sends a message to Brown heading into training camp. While he’s seen success before, his opportunity to start could be short-lived if the rookie plays well in August. There’s also a chance the Eagles could look to trade Brown with a modest $1 million cap hit next season, giving him more to play for if he wants to stay in Philadelphia.
Of course, there are several ups and downs that come with camp, but Brown will be fighting for his job as he looks to stay with the Eagles this season.