Free Agent Prediction Brings Eagles $95 Million Former No. 1 Overall Pick

The Philadelphia Eagles have taken a “Trial By Combat” approach to the edge rusher position this season instead of taking a big swing on just one player to elevate the defense.

Instead, we’re going to see a bunch of different dudes who will probably play in a 3-4 man rotation off the edge — not unlike a group of wide receivers — in the hopes one of them takes over and becomes the Alpha Dog.

If that’s truly the approach, then why not just add another name to the mix and try to see what that elevated level of competition shakes out?

Bleacher Report’s Matt Holder tabbed the Eagles as the best landing spot for former No. 1 overall pick and free agent edge rusher Jadeveon Clowney, who could definitely come in and some heft to the Eagles and their front 7 as they try to win a second consecutive Super Bowl.

In 2024, Clowney led the Carolina Panthers with 6.0 sacks and 9.0 TFL. He has 58 career sacks over his first 11 seasons and is the NFL’s current active leader in fumble returns for touchdowns (3).

“Clowney missed three games due to injury in 2024, which has been a consistent theme throughout his career,” Holder wrote on July 3. “He’s only played in a full season’s worth of games twice in 11 years. That, combined with being on the wrong side of 30 years old, is likely why the Panthers let him go during free agency and is part of the reason he’s still unsigned. But a team looking for help on the edge should at least give the veteran a call.”

Spotrac projects Clowney’s market value at a 2-year, $22.8 million contract, which would be a wildly irresponsible overspend. For his age and production, he seems more in line for something like a 1-year, $3 million offer at this point.

Clowney Spent 2024 in NFL Wasteland

Clowney was the No. 1 pick in 2014 by the Houston Texans and made his only NFL All-Pro Team in 2016. He was selected to 3 consecutive Pro Bowls from 2016 to 2018 before he was traded to the Seattle Seahawks midway through the 2019 season.

Clowney, who has approximately $95 million in career earnings, has played for 6 different teams over the last 6 seasons. He signed a 2-year, $20 million contract with the Panthers in March 2024 and was released in a salary cap move on May 8.

Eagles Watched Sacks Leader Leave in Free Agency

It might be a bit of a shock to the system when we see the Eagles defense for the first time in a regular season game in 2025.

That’s because a big chunk of the nucleus from last year’s Super Bowl-winning team on that side of the ball has bolted via free agency or trades. It’s a group that includes last season’s regular season sacks leader and Super Bowl hero Josh Sweat, who signed a 4-year, $76.4 million free agent contract with the Arizona Cardinals.

Also gone up front is versatile defensive lineman Milton Williams, who signed a 4-year, $104 million free agent contract with the New England Patriots.

Also gone, although not up front, are veteran safety Chauncey Gardner-Johnson, who was traded to the Houston Texans, and cornerback Darius Slay, who signed a 1-year, $10 million free agent contract with the Pittsburgh Steelers.