Eagles news: Birds add pass-rush help, agree with Lane Johnson on contract extension; latest rumors and updates

The Eagles have ensured that their franchise right tackle has the opportunity to be a part of their future for the next few years.

Lane Johnson agreed to terms on a one-year extension through 2027, the Eagles announced on Monday evening. Johnson, who turns 35 in May, will be going into his 15th season in Philadelphia when the new deal begins.

According to Johnson’s agent, Ken Sarnoff, the reworked contract adds $8 million over the next two years. He is also slated to earn $30 million in guaranteed money. Over the next two seasons, Johnson will earn $48 million, including $40 million guaranteed.

Prior to the Eagles agreeing to a one-year deal with former Giants pass rusher Azeez Ojulari, both Olivia Reiner and EJ Smith identified Ojulari as a potential fit for the Birds. Here's what they wrote at the time:

Olivia Reiner

If the Eagles are out on Myles Garrett and Josh Sweat walks, Roseman could take a chance on Azeez Ojulari, the New York Giants’ 2021 second-round pick out of Georgia. The 24-year-old Ojulari has suffered from numerous injuries over the last three years, never playing more than 500 snaps in each of those seasons, but his pass-rushing ability is evident when he is healthy. No player had more sacks than Ojulari (six) on 196 pass-rush snaps or fewer in 2024, according to Pro Football Focus. | MORE

After spending his first four NFL seasons with the Cleveland Browns and his fifth with the Las Vegas Raiders, Harrison Bryant's reasoning for signing with the Eagles was pretty simple. He wanted to come to a winning organization, he said.

"What’s better than signing with the defending Super Bowl champs?" he said Monday.

Bryant, a tight end the Eagles signed last week to a one-year deal, was a depth signing for the Eagles, who have also added Kylen Granson to the tight end room this free agency period. The former John Mackey award winner as college football’s top tight end hasn't found himself at the top of any depth charts so far in five seasons after being a fourth-round pick out of Florida Atlantic.

How does one get into long snapping? For Charley Hughlett, it was an open tryout at Central Florida.

Hughlett, the Eagles' new long snapper, was at UCF as a tight end. But just before his freshman season started, the regular snapper decided to quit. Hughlett had some snapping history from his time at Hillsborough High in Tampa, Fla., so when the team conducted an open tryout, Hughlett had an advantage.

The job was his. Seventeen years later ... "Here I am. It worked out," Hughlett said.

Former Eagles guard Mekhi Becton is heading to the Los Angeles Chargers, the third Birds starter to depart the team as a free agent.

On Monday, Becton posted a lengthy goodbye to the Eagles and Philadelphia, but devoted a huge chunk of the letter to Birds offensive line coach Jeff Stoutland.

"From day one, you believed in me, even before I fully believed in myself," Becton wrote. "You saw something in me, challenged me, and pushed me to reach a level I never knew I had. You made me a better player, but more importantly, a better man."

The Eagles haven’t made a ton of additions in free agency, opting for smaller moves involving inexpensive players with potential upsides. 

The most recent addition is former New York Giants cornerback Adoree Jackson, who brings experience to a young Eagles’ secondary without Darius Slay. 

Other notable additions include former Green Bay Packers running back AJ Dillion, backup quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson, and guard Kenyon Green. Here’s what The Inquirer’s Eagles beat writers think of the Eagles’ moves so far. 

Former Eagles linebacker Oren Burks, who signed a two-year deal with the Cincinnati Bengals, said goodbye to Philadelphia in a message on Instagram shared Sunday evening.

“While it was a short chapter in my career, it’s been a chapter well worth remembering,” Burks wrote. “It’s been an honor to go to battle for this organization, my teammates who have become brothers, and this city who embraced me with open arms.”

The former San Francisco 49ers backup was on a one-year deal with the Eagles, and for two straight seasons he found himself taking the field during the Super Bowl. Not bad for a player who has never been a full-time starter and barely made the Eagles’ 53-man roster. 

Mekhi Becton became the latest on the Eagles’ growing list of departures from the Super Bowl team.

The right guard signed a two-year, $20 million deal with the Los Angeles Chargers on Friday night, closing the door on a potential return to the Eagles. The 25-year-old spent one year with the Eagles and turned his career around by switching from offensive tackle to the interior line and emerging as a dependable starter. The Chargers listed Becton as a guard in the team’s official release following the signing.

Even before next month’s NFL draft, the team has some options to replace Becton in the starting offensive line.

A week into free agency and several former Eagles players have yet to sign elsewhere.

The list includes cornerback James Bradberry, whom the Eagles released last week after missing all of 2024 with a torn Achilles tendon and soleus muscle.

There's also Britain Covey, who became an unrestricted agent after the Eagles declined to tender the return specialist an offer. The Eagles did add Covey's potential replacement last week, signing former Atlanta Falcons return specialist Avery Williams to a one-year deal.