Cashing In

The first domino of the Philadelphia Eagles’ free agency period has fallen, with the as-expected departure of Milton Williams.

Per NFL Network, the 25-year-old defensive tackle will sign with the New England Patriots. A previous report from ESPN had Williams finalizing a deal with the Panthers.

GETTY IMAGES: Former Eagles DT Milton Williams

The deal, per NFL Network citing agency Klutch Sports, is worth a whopping $26 million per year.

A third-round draft pick in 2021, Williams enjoyed a breakout season with the Eagles in ‘24 on the way to the Super Bowl. He recorded seven total sacks, two of them coming against Patrick Mahomes in the 40-22 trouncing of the Kansas City Chiefs, to earn himself a potential payday.

With Jalen Carter eligible for an extension after the upcoming season, the Eagles also have Jordan Davis, Moro Ojomo, Byron Young, and Thomas Booker currently under contract at the DT spot.

Rodgers To Vikings

Cornerback Isaiah Rodgers, who helped the Eagles win a Super Bowl as a No. 3 corner and top backup on the outside, will sign a two-year deal with the Vikings, a source confirmed to Inside The Birds’ Andrew DiCecco.

ESPN, citing Rodgers’ agent, reported that Rodgers got a two-year deal worth $15 million, with $8 million guaranteed – a good number for a starting cornerback, but the Eagles are looking elsewhere.

The former Colts cornerback served a one-year suspension from the NFL in 2023 for a gambling violation. The Eagles signed him after the Colts released him, then reaped the benefit of Rodgers’ reinstatement.

The 25-year-old Rodgers played 328 snaps, accounting for 36 percent of the defensive total and recorded three passes defended in the postseason. He returned a fumble 40 yards in the divisional round and almost intercepted Patrick Mahomes in Super Bowl LIX.

Slay To Steelers

All-Pro cornerback Darius Slay’s tenure with the Eagles is about to come to an end after five seasons.

Per Fox Sports, Slay is expected to sign with the Pittsburgh Steelers when he becomes a free agent.

The Eagles parted ways with the 34-year-old cornerback in the previous week as a post-June 1 cut, though they have yet to officially release him.

Slay brought much-needed stability to the Eagles CB room, making three Pro Bowl appearances and serving as a mentor to Quinyon Mitchell and Cooper DeJean during their stellar rookie seasons.

With Isaiah Rodgers signing with the Vikings earlier in the day, the outside cornerback spot opposite of Mitchell remains thin. If the Eagles choose to keep DeJean in the nickel position, Kelee Ringo is currently the next man up.

Sweat To Arizona

Pro Bowl EDGE Josh Sweat is reuniting with his former defensive coordinator Jonathan Gannon in Arizona.

The 27-year-old has agreed to a four-year deal with the Cardinals, per ESPN.

Sweat leaves Philadelphia after seven seasons and 43 sacks, going from a fourth-round pick into one of the team’s most consistent pass rushers. After a slow ending to 2023, Sweat was expected to leave the team via a release or trade, but re-worked his contract.

His 2024 season saw a return to form with eight sacks and culminated in an elite defensive performance in the Super Bowl. leading the team with 2.5 takedowns of Patrick Mahomes.

It was under Gannon, now the head coach of the Cardinals, where Sweat had a career-best year in 2022 with 11 sacks.

Bengals For Burks

Veteran linebacker Oren Burks, who stepped in for an injured Nakobe Dean, and played well for the Super Bowl champions will reportedly head to Cincinatti.

The Bengals are signing Burks to a two-year, $5 million deal, per NFL Network.

The #Bengals continue to solidify their defense, as they are closing in on a deal for #Eagles LB Oren Burks, source says.

He gets a 2-year, $5M deal with an opportunity to start. In the playoffs, Burks stepped in for the injured Nakobe Dean and had 25 tackles, 3 TFLs, 1 sack, 2…

— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) March 10, 2025

Burks, who was with the 49ers in 2023 after his first four seasons in Green Bay, joined the Eagles last offseason to add depth and special teams acumen to a wholly remade linebacker room.

He started two regular-season games after Dean torn his patellar tendon and forced two fumbles. In the playoffs, he started all four games and finished with a sack, three tackles for a loss, and two quarterback hits.

Burks also forced a fumble against the Packers in kickoff coverage in the wild-card round.

– Benjamin Paul is a staff writer for InsideTheBirds.com.