The Philadelphia Eagles lost significant talent from last year's Super Bowl champion team, which was expected, given that many NFL teams were trying to replicate their success. One of those losses has become another team's gain in a big way.
Former Eagles defensive end Josh Sweat was ranked 95th by the NFL players as one of the top 100 players in the NFL heading into the 2025 season. The league announced on its social media with a 2:40 video showcasing his 2024 accomplishments, featuring his former teammates Zack Baun, Cooper DeJean, Lane Johnson, and Will Shipley speaking on his behalf.
https://x.com/NFL/status/1940425243438235811
While he's technically not on the Eagles anymore after signing with the Arizona Cardinals in the offseason, Sweat is the first member of the 2024 Super Bowl team to make the list. His play last year was deserving of that honor.
Sweat's impact on the Eagles over the last seven years
Sweat was one of Eagles general manager Howie Roseman's many great finds on day three of the draft as Philadelphia selected him in the fourth round back in 2018. While he only played in nine games in 2018, he became a significant contributor starting in 2019 as he moved into the rotation.
In 2021, he made his and only Pro Bowl after racking up 45 tackles, 13 quarterback hits, 7.5 sacks, four pass deflections, and a forced fumble. The next season would become his best statistical season ever with 48 tackles, 11.5 sacks, 23 quarterback hits, 15 tackles for loss, one pass deflection, one forced fumble, and one pick-six.
Last year, Sweat led the team in sacks with eight while adding 41 tackles, 15 quarterback hits, nine tackles for loss, and two pass deflections in 16 games. His Super Bowl performance will go down in Eagles history as one of the best defensive performances as he sacks Patrick Mahomes 2.5 times while adding six tackles, three quarterback hits, and two tackles for loss. Some argue that Sweat should have been the Super Bowl MVP over Jalen Hurts.
Sweat's great play helped him land a massive four-year, $76.4 million contract with the Cardinals, allowing him to reunite with his former defensive coordinator, Jonathan Gannon.
For current Eagles on the team, Sweat is a perfect example of why guys like Jalyx Hunt deserves a shot to start. The Eagles have shown the ability to develop excellent, young edge rushers from any round, setting them up for success early in their careers.
Sweat will go down as one of the great pass rushers in franchise history. While the Eagles didn't want to pay up for him, that doesn't change the fan base's feelings towards a man who made a significant impact on the team over the last seven seasons.
