Believe it or not, we've seen quieter starts to a new Philadelphia Eagles season... we think. We can't remember when that was, but we're certain it has happened. This definitely isn't the first time we've felt like this. The new league year has begun in the NFL. All of those moves we heard about are now official.
Those impending free agents (Britain Covey, Avonte Maddox, and Brandon Graham among others)... We didn't hear of any re-signings. That means each of those guys can negotiate with other teams, and Philly can speak with guys who have hit the market.
Two signings by the Birds were announced: fullback/linebacker Ben VanSumeren and A.J. Dillion. We'll discuss the latter more in a second.
We've agreed to sign FB Ben VanSumeren to a one year contract. @Toyota | #FlyEaglesFly pic.twitter.com/zkUDE9W8D1
— Philadelphia Eagles (@Eagles) March 12, 2025
Eagles signing RB AJ Dillon to one-year deal. (via @MikeGarafolo) pic.twitter.com/tSr99G5egj
— NFL (@NFL) March 12, 2025
Roster turnover is a part of this thing, and we knew we'd see some. One of the recently departed took some time to say goodbye.
Eagles news: Milton Williams says farewell.
As C.J. Gardner-Johnson and Isaiah Rodgers did before him, Milton Williams took to social media to say farewell. He has agreed to join the New England Patriots as the highest-paid player in franchise history.
That's wild, isn't it?
🦅💚🖤#FlyEaglesFly pic.twitter.com/hOh585NKG5
— Milton Williams (@miltonw_12) March 12, 2025
Milton never produced more than five sacks in any of his four seasons, and he didn't even do that until 2024. But, he did everything this organization asked him to and saved his best performance for last.
We wish him well in Foxborough (unless he plays the Birds).
More Eagles news: Fun facts about A.J. Dillon
From familiar faces to new ones. We mentioned A.J. Dillon's acquisition earlier. He signs Philly on a one-year deal.
A few fun facts are as follows:
- He missed the entire 2024-25 regular season after a neck injury in August.
- He's a native of Baltimore, Maryland
- He stands at six-foot-tall and tips the scales at 247 pounds.
- He attended Boston College to play football, earning ACC Rookie of the Year honors.
- He was a First-team All-ACC nod three times (2017, 2018, 2019)
- He was named Third-Team All-American after his final collegiate season.
- His nickname is 'Quadzilla', not to be confused with 'Saquads', the reigning NFL Offensive Player of the Year
It's funny how things work out. The Green Bay Packers, in cowardly fashion, filed an injunction to ban Philly's Brotherly Shove after getting demolished during the Wild Card Round of the playoffs. Now, they, in essence, hand the Birds one of the better short-yardage backs they have had as of late.
The only thing that would make this funnier is if these two franchises meet again and Dillon scores in a goal-line situation from a yard or so out. That would be major levels of karma.