The Linc

Let’s get to the Philadelphia Eagles links …

Russini’s what I’m hearing: Garrett’s potential path to Philly, Stafford effect on QB market – The Athletic
I’m told the Philadelphia Eagles’ interest in Garrett is real. As fearsome as Philly’s defense was in the Super Bowl, imagine adding the 2023 Defensive Player of the Year? “Garrett could be this year’s version of Saquon Barkley for Howie (Roseman),” one NFL GM said. “He’s an impact add and isn’t a free-agent overpay. Howie’s not afraid to try stuff, and it fits where they are as a team.” How would the Eagles come up with room to fit Garrett? By letting some key members of their Super Bowl-winning group walk. Linebacker Zack Baun was a free-agent gem Roseman found last offseason, but he is now poised to cash in. Baun, edge rusher Josh Sweat, defensive tackle Milton Williams and guard Mekhi Becton headline Philly’s free agent class, and bringing all or even some of them back could prove challenging, especially if Garrett enters the picture — and you can be certain Roseman will have Philly in the conversation for Garrett.

NFL combine buzz: Latest intel on free agency, draft, trades – ESPN+
Graziano: Teams that have checked in with the Browns about edge rusher Myles Garrett are still being told there’s no conversation to be had. The Browns continue to insist they won’t trade Garrett, and functionally they’d have a really hard time doing so prior to June 1 anyway. A trade would jump his 2025 cap number from its current $19.7 million to a dead-money charge of $36.2 million. Waiting until after June 1 would allow the Browns to spread that charge out over two seasons. The best solution for Cleveland remains working something out to make Garrett happy and keep him in the fold, but he has so far been adamant that’s not possible. The Browns may not feel compelled to honor Garrett’s trade request until they become convinced he won’t play for them, and it’s going to be hard for him to convince them of that before they get to the regular season and see whether he’s truly willing to miss real games. If the Browns do ever get serious about trading Garrett, I’d expect Buffalo and Philadelphia to be two of the most aggressive pursuers. […] Fowler: After my talks here in Indy, I believe Cleveland is very dug in and willing to wait him out and show resolve. It’s not just a “no” to any prospective trades, but an emphatic one. And the Browns haven’t received many trade calls, in part because teams know it makes no sense to trade him. Others around the league are skeptical, though, suggesting the Browns should capitalize on the multiple first-round picks available to them in order to move on. I just get the impression that the Browns are not moving off their stance any time soon

Will the Eagles make a play for Myles Garrett? – PFT
Enter Garrett. Beyond the boost in production (he’s the first player in league history with four straight seasons of 14 or more sacks) and the overall eff-up-the-play havoc he’ll bring, his urgency to get a Super Bowl ring could give his teammates a goal that goes beyond getting another one for themselves. Then there’s the possibility, as Chris Simms mentioned on Monday’s PFT Live, that the Eagles might simply be doing the Browns (and former Eagles V.P. of football operations Andrew Berry) a solid by goosing the trade market for Garrett, if they decide that keeping a guy who doesn’t want to be there will become another dark cloud hovering over the franchise. If a trade is going to happen, the most logical window extends between now and the first round of the draft. And if the Eagles are truly thinking about making a play for Garrett, others might become even more motivated to make a run at him — especially if part of the goal is to keep the champs from adding a key foundational piece that could propel the most talented team in football to another championship, and possibly another one after that.

If I were Howie Roseman: a 25-step guide for how the Philadelphia Eagles could navigate the offseason – PHLY
2. Keep calling Browns GM Andrew Berry about Myles Garrett. The Browns insist they’re not trading Garrett. Roseman suggested the time is not right for the Eagles to pay a first-round pick and a big contract to a player. Still, this is the type of player that you move mountains to acquire. Roseman is a star hunter, and I would be too for Garrett. Even at age 29, he’s perhaps the best defensive player in the NFL and he plays a position that ages better than other spots. The price would be expensive and the contract might be cumbersome, but it’s something the Eagles must explore if it’s realistic. (My proposal: A 2025 first-round pick and a 2026 second-round pick.) Pay attention to the potential for a post-draft trade of Garrett. In that case, the Eagles would be dealing from a 2026 draft inventory that is more valuable, but they also would have more financial flexibility.

Cam Jurgens details playing through pain in Super Bowl LIX – NBCSP
A little over a week after the Eagles won Super Bowl LIX, Cam Jurgens had surgery to alleviate nerve pain in his back. On the latest Takeoff with John Clark, the Eagles’ starting center detailed what it was like to play through that type of pain during the Eagles’ playoff run. “Man, it took a lot of hope, a lot of hope that we were going to go to the Super Bowl and win it,” Jurgens said. “It was just tough getting through the playoffs and feeling all that nerve pain. I mean, nerve pain with the back is just different. It’s just hard to rehab or do anything about that when you’ve just got something pushing on a nerve. The procedure kind of took care of that and helped it a ton.”

The 5 O’Clock Club: One thought on each of the Commanders’ 30 veteran free agents – Hogs Haven
No. 9 TE Zach Ertz. Last year, Ertz was looking for a place to extend his career and Washington was looking for reliable veteran leadership in every position group. The marriage between the two was beneficial for both. Ordinarily, I’d be pushing to replace a 35-yr-old TE with almost no YAC with a younger, faster, cheaper option, but I’m not sure where his replacement is coming from this offseason. I’m inclined to run it back with Zach if he’s willing to take another incentive-laden 1- or 2-year contract with no guaranteed money beyond 2025.

Cowboys could use franchise tag on Osa Odighizuwa if no deal is reached by Tuesday – Blogging The Boys
Matt Eberflus comes from the Rod Marinelli tree of defensive philosophy, where the 3-technique is a key part of his defense. Odighizuwa, just 27 years old when the season kicks off, is coming off his best season, finishing with 4.5 sacks and 23 quarterback hits. Jeremy Fowler of ESPN also noted that “Odighizuwa and Philadelphia’s Milton Williams are considered the two top interior defensive linemen” in free agency. Having an elite pass-rushing defensive tackle has become critical to the NFL’s ecosystem on defense. If the Cowboys believe Odighizuwa is a key to making their defense work, then no matter if he’s on the tag or they work out a new deal, it will be worth it.

New York Giants want a veteran mentor QB — who fits the description? – Big Blue View
Much of the chatter recently has the Giants expected to focus on the high end of veteran market — Aaron Rodgers, Kirk Cousins, Russell Wilson — as a 2025 bridge to potential quarterback of the future. So, how would those three aging quarterbacks fit the “veteran mentor” role? An Atlanta source indicated that Cousins’ unwillingness to help No. 8 overall draft pick Michael Penix Jr. last season was an issue for the Falcons. Cousins seemingly did not want to help a young player prepare to take his job. If Cousins is going to come to New York, he needs to understand the situation he is entering and be willing to accept mentoring responsibility. Wilson was paired with Justin Fields in Pittsburgh in 2024. He said during the season that “I’ve always tried to be a mentor in some way to him,” and that “I think that’s a critical part to being successful as a team.”

NFL free agent rankings: Guard – SB Nation
There are several starters in this year’s offensive guard class of free agents, whether you’re looking for a higher-end option or just a guy. The NFL Draft also has a few options that could go in the first round, so it’s an exciting time for teams who need interior linemen. We polled a group of writers from around SB Nation to gather consensus rankings about the players. While there are no unanimous picks among the bunch as folks value different WR traits, our groups stands out into some defined tiers. We will remove players from the list as they re-sign with their current teams all the way up to the opening of free agency in March. [BLG Note: Mekhi Becton doesn’t make this list.]

2025 NFL combine stock up/stock down, Day 4: Josh Conerly Jr., Armand Membou star – NFL.com
The final day of workouts at the 2025 NFL Scouting Combine is in the books, with the offensive linemen taking center stage on Sunday. Many of those who partook in the events at Lucas Oil Stadium wowed scouts with their speed in the 40-yard dash, their agility in drills and their explosiveness in the broad and vertical jumps. Some exceeded expectations, causing their draft stock to rise; others displayed flaws in their speed and/or athleticism (or chose not to perform), hurting their chances of being selected on Day 1 or Day 2 when the draft begins in Green Bay, Wisconsin (April 24-26). Below I’ve listed five players who undoubtedly impressed the league’s personnel decision-makers with their on-field performance. I also list three players who could use a strong effort at their school’s pro day to leave the most favorable impression possible before the draft.