It’s almost a month since the Eagles won the Super Bowl, but they haven’t wasted any time in realigning themselves for the 2025 season.

Extending Saquon Barkley ($41.2 million for two years), and signing linebacker Zaun Baun ($51 million over four years) were the primary moves toward defending their title.

Next Monday, the Eagles and the rest of the league will shift into high gear when NFL free-agency opens with the official signing two days later.

The Eagles currently have 15 free agents, and roughly $22 million of cap space. They are hampered with the dead cap space of Jason Kelce ($16 million) and Fletcher Cox ($10 million).

In this week’s version of my Inside the Huddle column, I’ll take a look at the Eagles’ free-agent options as well as some college thoughts, and a recall of a local legend.

Getting Defensive ... With Baun back in the fold, the Eagles have eight defensive starters back from their Super Bowl team: defensive tackles Jordan Davis and Jalen Carter, linebackers Nolan Smith and Nakobe Dean, cornerbacks Quinyon Mitchell and Cooper DeJean, and safeties Reed Blankenship and Chauncey Gardner-Johnson.

The Eagles did shed some salary by parting ways with corners Darius Slay and James Bradberry, the latter who missed most of the season. Look for the Eagles to trade edge rusher Bryce Huff, who was a disappointment.

In these days of free agency, having eight starters back is a rarity. In addition, this is a young defense that will be a challenge to keep together if they continue to develop.

After the Eagles won their first Super Bowl, they lost both defensive end Vinnie Curry and cornerback Patrick Robinson to free agency. Curry went to Tampa for a year before he returned to the Eagles for two years, and Robinson spent three years in New Orleans.

Defensive lineman Brandon Graham (active as of now), kicker Jake Elliott, guard Lane Johnson and long snapper Rick Lovato are the lone remaining members from the 2017 squad. Graham likely will retire, and Lovato is a free agent.

A good long snapper is invaluable, and the Eagles will work to resign Lovato.

Who Goes, Who Stays? ... The biggest question facing the Eagles will be the state of guard Mekhi Becton, defensive tackle Milton Williams, and pass rusher Josh Sweat.

Becton arrived as a free-agent backup last spring and evolved into a major player in working their “tush-push” to near perfection, fully implementing his 6-7, 364-pound. “The Big Ticket” can coup a big payday on the free-agent market, or he can take a lesser check to likely make another Super Bowl run. At age 25, Becton’s state will be a stare down match between Eagles’ GM Howie Roseman and Becton’s agent.

Also at age 25, Williams’ stock is rising at a mercurial rate. Lately, he has been heavily linked to the Vikings, who have plenty of cap space, and also the Cardinals and Patriots with defensive-minded new head coach Mike Vrabel.

Williams should be in the range of $80 million over four years, but he did prosper playing alongside Davis and Carter.

Josh Sweat is 27, and he also is a shooting star. Sweat is projected to make nearly $19 million, and should get a deal in the range of three years. An edge rusher is one of the more coveted spots on the field, meaning it may prove difficult to keep Sweat within the Eagles’ scope.

One man’s opinion has the Eagles keeping Becton and losing Williams and Sweat.

Who Comes? ... Roseman has the propensity to make the big deal, and he did lately with bringing Barkley from the Giants and A.J. Brown from the Titans.

Disgruntled Browns’ edge rusher Myles Garrett would seem like a natural, but Roseman would have to wield some creative accounting to get him. Garrett has two years and nearly $45 million left on his current deal, but he did restructure in 2023 to create cap space.

Another Roseman big-ticket option could be the Giants’ 24 year-old edge rusher Azeez Ojulari, who had six sacks last season.

One cheaper choice could be former 29-year-old Chargers’ edge rusher Joey Bosa, who has had a sporadic career due to injuries. But Bosa could easily fill Williams’ role without the pressures, and still has an upside.

Other reasonable — but sexy — picks would be the Chargers’ 34-year-old Khalil Mack or Dallas’ 32-year-old DeMarcus Lawrence, both of whom could be signed for $5-10 million limited-year deals.

A dark horse candidate to replace Williams could be former Giant B.J. Hill, who has had four productive years in Cincinnati. Over the last two years, Hill had 107 tackles and 30 quarterback hits, and should make about $9 million.

Two possible replacements for Becton in his mold and both 27 are Pittsburgh’s James Daniels (6-4. 327), and former Penn Stater Indianapolis’ Will Fries (6-6, 305).

Or how about the return of former Emmaus standout and Cardinal Kyzir White, who played with the Birds in 2022?

Would the Eagles have any interest in bringing back Haason Reddick, who flopped with the Jets last season? Reddick, a former Cardinals’ top pick, could end up in Arizona with Williams.

One Last Look ... The Birds could also take a long look at resigning running back Kenneth Gainwell and linebacker Oren Burks, both of whom had their share of moments last year.

Golden Rays ... Anthony Sacca, a star linebacker from St. Joseph’s Prep and son of former Penn State quarterback Tony Sacca, is one of 18 Notre Dame recruits.

The younger Sacca will join running back Jerome Bettis Jr., son of the former Steelers’ star, and fellow linebackers Josiah Kia and Dominik Hulak, quarterback Deuce Knight, running backs Justin Thurman and Daniel Anderson, wide receivers Elijah Burress and Shaun Terry, tight end James Flanigan, offensive linemen Owen Strebig, Will Black and Matty Augustine, defensive linemen Christopher Burgess Jr., Davion Dixon and Joseph Reiff, cornerback Cree Thomas, and safeties Ivan Taylor and Ethan Long.

The older Sacca led the Nittany Lions for four years, throwing for 5,867 yards with 41 touchdowns and 24 interceptions. During his tenure, the Nittany Lions posted an overall 33-14-1 record with Fiesta Bowl and Holiday Bowl victories over Tennessee and Brigham Young respectively. He went 2-2 against Notre Dame.

Local Scrapbook ... Periodically, I’ll look back at a former local standout player or team.

Lansford’s Mike Holovak had a lengthy NFL resume.

In the late 1930s, Holovak was a star running back for Lansford High School. He went to Seton Hall Preparatory School and then to Fordham, before he left to star at Boston College.

Holovak was drafted by the then Cleveland Rams in 1943, but didn’t play for the LA Rams until 1946 due to his military commitment. After a year with the Rams, Holovak spent two years with the Bears.

He then embarked on an extensive coaching and administrative career.

Holovak was the head coach at Boston College (1951-59), and then took over the Patriots (1961-68). He had stops with the 49ers and Raiders before being the Jets’ interim head coach in 1976.

Holovak also served as the Patriots’ director of player personnel, director of college scouting and their general manager, and he also was the Jets’ director of player personnel.

In the 1980s, Holovak was Houston’s assistant GM and GM, helping the Oilers to seven straight playoff appearances from 1987-93, including their dramatic playoff collapse against the Bills in 1993.

Unfortunately for him, Holovak was fired after the 1993 season, bu remained as a scout until 1999.

Holovak passed away at the age of 88 in 2008.

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