Eagles veteran defender explains reason behind number switch

Josh Sweat will look a little different out on the field for the Philadelphia Eagles in 2024. After sporting the No. 94 for the past five seasons, Sweat has made a change, and the 2021 Pro Bowler will wear No. 19 in the upcoming campaign. This will be Sweat's third different number with the Eagles. He also wore No. 75 as a rookie in 2018.

A fresh start for Sweat

After a turbulent offseason that included trade rumors, Sweat was ready for a change, and the new number represents a fresh start for the veteran pass rusher, as he explained when asked about it.

“Shoot, I just needed a change, man,” Sweat said. “Just like when I cut my hair. I just wanted something new.”

Fresh starts can be good, especially after the underwhelming way the 2023 season ended for the Eagles. A whole lot of people could probably use a fresh start after that.

Sweat ultimately wasn't traded, but he did agree to a restructured contract with the team over the offseason. As a result of the new deal, 2024 could potentially be Sweat's last in Philadelphia as he'll hit free agency next offseason. Sure, he could possibly re-sign with the Eagles, but that's far from a guarantee at this point in time.

Clearly there was a lot going on behind the scenes, but Sweat didn't let the business side of things distract him from his preparation over the offseason.

“Like I said, I didn’t even think about it,” Sweat said. “Because I can’t control that. Trade or not. I just went to work how I know. I didn’t think about it at all.”

Despite a promising start, Philadelphia's 2023 campaign ultimately proved to be a [very] forgettable one, but Sweat was still solid individually. He started in all 17 games for the Eagles and recorded 43 combined tackles, 23 quarterback hits, 6.5 sacks and two forced fumbles. Philadelphia's defense collapsed down the stretch of the season, but Sweat was far from the main culprit.

Given his productive play and the fact that he's still just 27 years old, it seemed somewhat odd that the Eagles were even entertaining potentially trading Sweat. Obviously no deal ever came to fruition, and that could end up being a good thing for Philly, as he could prove to be a very impactful player for the team in 2024, especially since he'll be playing for a new contract.