If there’s one thing Eagles general manager Howie Roseman has mastered, it’s knowing when to walk away from a deal that doesn’t serve Philadelphia’s best interests.
This offseason brought major changes to the Eagles’ roster, with several key players departing. Among those no longer with the team are Josh Sweat, Brandon Graham, Darius Slay, C.J. Gardner-Johnson, and Mekhi Becton.
While some left through trades or retirement, others signed lucrative deals elsewhere—contracts the Eagles chose not to match. In at least one of those cases, it looks like Roseman made the right call by passing.
Lou Scataglia of FanSided’s NFL Spin Zone recently published a list highlighting the worst contract on each NFL team, and for the New England Patriots, top stars deal topped the list.
“In 17 regular-season games for the Eagles in 2024, veteran star recorded five sacks, 24 total tackles, seven tackles for loss, and 10 quarterback hits,” Scataglia wrote. “It seems like his strong playoff performance created some recency bias that inflated his market value.”
He signed a massive four-year, $104 million contract with the Patriots, averaging $26 million per season—an amount Scataglia suggests may have been more about New England having money to spend than his actual value. “This just doesn’t reflect the kind of consistent production you should expect from him,” he added.
While Williams was certainly a key contributor on Philadelphia’s defensive front, the Eagles wisely opted not to match that price tag. According to Pro Football Focus, Williams earned a respectable overall grade of 70.1 last season—but that only ranked 31st out of 219 defensive tackles. Solid, yes—but not at a $26 million-per-year level.
Philadelphia’s decision not to re-sign Williams was also based on their current talent and future payroll. Young defensive tackles Jalen Carter and Jordan Davis are already ranked among the top 15 at their position and continue to improve—and both will eventually command significant contracts.
Behind them, Moro Ojomo has flashed starting potential and is a popular breakout candidate for 2025. And with Howie Roseman’s reputation for finding value in the draft, fifth-round selection Ty Robinson brings the size, athleticism, and upside to potentially thrive as a rotational piece.
When it comes to choosing between overpaying a veteran or investing in young talent, the Eagles will almost always choose the latter. Howie Roseman is a firm believer in building through the draft, and that philosophy has served the team well. While Milton Williams’ time in Philadelphia is appreciated, the Eagles are in a stronger position moving forward with the younger, high-upside talent already on their roster.