Side Impact

It was an offseason of maintenance for the Eagles, who prioritized the long-term security of their young nucleus while ensuring key pieces were rewarded for their contributions. As a result, most of the team’s in-house free agents weren’t retained.

The roster construction looked a bit different compared to the 2024 offseason that yielded big-ticket signings like EDGE Bryce Huff and running back Saquon Barkley. But rather than swing for the big names or acquire aging players, the Eagles positioned the roster for sustained success. While the team engaged in a flurry of activity this offseason, their outside additions were generally comprised of one-year, prove-it contracts.

Players like A.J. Dillon, Josh Uche, Adoree’ Jackson, Harrison Bryant and Kylen Granson were all brought in to theoretically bolster depth, while a few figure to compete for important roles. In my view, though, there’s one free-agent signing that stands apart. And with that, here’s my choice for the Eagles’ most impactful free-agent addition.

ITB PHOTO: New Eagles EDGE Azeez Ojulari should make a big impact if healthy.

Most Impactful Free-Agent Addition: EDGE Azeez Ojulari

While the Eagles lost a pair of veterans who previously headed their pass-rush in Josh Sweat and Brandon Graham to free agency and retirement, respectively – and with Huff was shipped out to San Francisco – the optimism surrounding in-house replacements Nolan Smith and Jalyx Hunt is palpable.

Even with Smith returning from a torn triceps suffered in Super Bowl LIX and Hunt accounting for only 23% of the regular season snaps, the upside is evident. Both legitimately have an opportunity to burst onto the scene and become household names should Smith and Hunt build off their play down the stretch.

The reservations seem to begin when assessing the depth beyond the aforementioned, however, where a pair of reclamation projects could factor into the equation. Josh Uche warranted some consideration after hearing him mentioned multiple times during the mandatory minicamp availability, though the 26-year-old is very much an unknown variable, splitting the 2024 season with the Patriots and Chiefs and producing just seven sacks since rolling up 11.5 back in 2022. To qualify for the most impactful free-agent distinction, there needs to be a more consistent track record.

Factoring heavily into the thought process is positional value and opportunity, both of which apply to Azeez Ojulari. The 25-year-old was a second-round pick of the New York Giants in 2021, but injuries limited him to just 46 games (30 starts) over four seasons. A Georgia product, Ojulari, who inked a one-year, $4M deal on Mar. 19, reunites with several of his Bulldog teammates.

It’s not often a team lands a 25-year-old pass-rusher with 22 careers sacks for modest compensation, but Ojulari’s injury history was likely the driving force there. He’ll also need to improve as a run defender. Still, the potential impact simply can’t be ignored, as Ojulari – when he appeared in 17 games as a rookie – logged 780 snaps, accounting for 67% of the total. And while the numbers are most certainly skewed due availability, Ojulari never played fewer than 49% of the defensive snaps over his first four seasons.

When considering the change of scenery, pass-rush prowess and how often the third edge rusher played for coordinator Vic Fangio’s defense last season, the stage is seemingly set for Ojulari to provide more than adequate return on investment, perhaps fueling a career resurgence.

– Andrew DiCecco (@AndrewDiCecco) is a Staff Reporter/Content Producer for InsideTheBirds.com.