12 Eagles Entering Their Final Season With Philadelphia
By Cem Yolbulan
Tanner McKee, QB
The Eagles are surprisingly keeping three quarterbacks on the active roster to start the season. Despite trading for Kenny Pickett, they decided to keep 2023 draft pick Tanner McKee on the 53-man roster as well.
This was likely due to the strong performances by McKee in the preseason. He outplayed Pickett at times over the summer, creating a contingency among Eagles fans who believe he should be the QB2. That is not happening to start the season and is unlikely to change unless Pickett gets a chance and fails.
McKee is under contract through 2026. There would have to be a trade or a release for him to not be on the Eagles next season. Considering that Pickett is a far more established signal-caller with significant starting experience, it's hard to see McKee passing him on the depth chart. If that is the case, it makes sense for everyone involved that he would go elsewhere where he can be the main backup.
Josh Sweat, OLB
Sweat is entering his seventh season in Philadelphia. he had signed a three-year, $40 million extension back in 2021 and is now in his final year of that deal. The sides met earlier in the offseason to restructure his contract and give him a guaranteed $10 million potentially going up to $13 million with incentives.
Prior to that restructuring, it was reported that the Eagles were taking calls on Sweat. Reportedly, there was interest in the Pro Bowler but negotiations ended after the new contract was agreed on. This restructure, however, didn't add new years to his deal.
This makes him an obvious departure candidate next offseason.
Sweat played the most defensive snaps of his career in 2023. However, like the rest of the Eagles defense, he saw his numbers decline in the second half of the season. He had only one sack in the last eight games of the season before finishing with a total of 6.5 sacks for the season. He had 11 sacks in 16 games in the previous campaign.
The former fourth-round pick has to have a bounce-back season for the Eagles defense that lost Haason Reddick. Bryce Huff came in free agency but Sweat will continue to have a large role. Considering the significant financial commitments the Eagles have elsewhere, it may be hard for them to meet Sweat's contractual demands.