Another weekend, another big contract extension for the Eagles’ 2018 draft class.
The Eagles signed defensive end Josh Sweat to a three-year contract extension on Saturday, the team announced. According to Sweat’s agent, Chris Coy, the deal is worth $40 million, with $26.92 million in guaranteed money. With incentives, Sweat can earn up to $42 million on the deal.
Sweat, 24, came into this season, the last on his rookie deal, with a $920,000 salary. He was set to become a free agent in March, just before his 25th birthday.
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Sweat’s extension agreement follows last week’s deal between the Eagles and left tackle Jordan Mailata. Sweat was a fourth-round pick in the 2018 draft, while Mailata was a seventh-round selection.
Sweat’s new deal falls in line with the Eagles’ longstanding team philosophy of prioritizing the trenches. While tight end Dallas Goedert, cornerback Avonte Maddox and others remain in contract years, Sweat and Mailata took priority because of their links to the offensive and defensive lines.
Like Mailata, Sweat is only 24 and is a clearly ascending player. As a rookie, he was basically regulated to special teams. In 2019, he became a regular rotational pass rusher and produced four sacks. Last year, he collected six sacks and three forced fumbles. Against the Atlanta Falcons in Week 1, Sweat racked up six tackles and was highly graded as a run defender.
The three-year pact with the Eagles makes sense for the team and Sweat. From a team perspective, GM Howie Roseman locks up one of his few draft success stories of the past few years. Sweat and former first-round pick Derek Barnett were both in contract years -- and longtime starter Brandon Graham is in the twilight of his career -- so securing one of the young pass rushers for the future was paramount to the team’s long-term outlook on the defensive line.
From Sweat’s standpoint, he gets to cash in and create long-term security for himself after serving as a rotational pass rusher for two years. He also gets to return to the negotiating table, either in Philadelphia or elsewhere in free agency, at just 28. Sweat is taking a short-term extension with a long-term payoff.
With his fourth-year salary and contract extension, the Eagles can justify Sweat’s payout outlook as a little over $10 million per season. That’s a terrific bargain for the franchise, especially with the salary cap expected to explode in the coming years. Like the Mailata deal, this extension is akin to the agreements of former team president Joe Banner, who locked up young players with team-friendly extensions after those players excelled on cheap rookie contracts.
With all that said, Sweat’s deal will clearly impact Barnett, who is playing on a $10 million fifth-year option. Barnett restructured his contract this summer to open up cap space for the Eagles, creating dummy years on the deal that will charge the team in future seasons. However, his future in Philadelphia is uncertain. Barnett has been an oft-injured player since arriving in town, and his sack production has left a lot to be desired. While the Eagles still clearly value Barnett, Sweat’s athletic potential dwarfs the former first-round pick’s trajectory.
By signing Sweat now, the Eagles got a discount on an ascending player who could -- justifiably -- replace Barnett for the foreseeable future. The Eagles have a ton of money invested in the line with Sweat, Graham, Fletcher Cox and Javon Hargrave, so Barnett might be the odd-man-out in the spring.
The Eagles selected rookie Tarron Jackson in the sixth round in April to eventually be a member of the pass-rushing rotation. With Sweat jumping Barnett in the pecking order, Jackson could eventually fill Sweat’s former role next season, leaving Barnett displaced.
Barnett leaving in free agency could then land the Eagles a compensatory pick in 2023. Roseman has been particularly mindful of compensatory picks over the past few years, and Barnett’s draft pedigree could lead to a notable contract on the open market. Choosing Sweat over Barnett might allow the Eagles to have their cake and eat it too, so to speak.
For now, the Eagles will rotate Sweat and Barnett opposite Graham, who will rotate with Ryan Kerrigan and Milton Williams. If the Eagles continue to succeed under new head coach Nick Sirianni, they’ll have a packed pass rusher rotation to throw at opposing offenses. If the Eagles nose dive after an impressive Week 1 debut, they could look to use Barnett as a trade chip with Sweat secured for the future.
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Mike Kaye may be reached at mkaye@njadvancemedia.com.
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