Eagles lose 3 defensive starters in free agency: reports
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- The Eagles have reportedly lost three key members of their defense at the start of NFL free agency.
Defensive tackle Javon Hargrave signed with the San Francisco 49ers, linebacker T.J. Edwards inked a deal with the Chicago Bears and safety Marcus Epps is heading to the Las Vegas Raiders.
Hargrave, one of the top free agents on the market, signed a four-year, $84 million deal with the Niners that adds to an already loaded defensive front, according to NFL Network.
Javon Hargrave signing with 49ers on 4-year, $84M deal. (via @RapSheet) pic.twitter.com/W2sDHgUpcW
— NFL (@NFL) March 13, 2023
Hargrave is coming off a career year with the Eagles. He posted career numbers in sacks with 11 and solo tackles with 37. He was a massive cog in the Eagles' pass rush that set franchise records in the 2022 season.
Jordan Davis and Milton Williams will most likely see expanded roles with Hargrave heading west. It's still remains unclear if Eagles great Fletcher Cox will return to Philadelphia.
Edwards signed a three-year, $19.5 million contract, including $12 million guaranteed with the Bears, NFL Network reported. He's a Lake Villa, Illinois, native, which is about 50 miles north of Chicago.
Source: The #Bears are on the board, signing star former #Eagles LB TJ Edwards to a 3-year deal.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) March 13, 2023
Edwards joined the Eagles in 2019 as an undrafted free agent out of Wisconsin and eventually turned into Philadelphia's full-time starting linebacker.
Edwards led the team in tackles with 159, had two sacks, 10 tackles-for-loss, seven pass deflections and one fumble recovery on the season.
His fellow linebacker teammate, Kyzir White, is also a free agent.
The Eagles will most likely depend on 2022 third-round pick Nakobe Dean to start this upcoming season. He mostly played in a special teams role last season.
Epps signed a two-year, $12 million deal with the Raiders. It includes, $8 million guaranteed, according to NFL Network.
The #Raiders are signing safety Marcus Epps to a two-year, $12 million deal with nearly $8M guaranteed, per source.
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) March 13, 2023
Epps, 27, started all 20 games for Philadelphia last season. Now he cashes in. pic.twitter.com/wX40uLhdNf
Like Hargrave and Edwards, Epps also had a career-year. Epps had 94 total tackles, which ranked third on the team, and six pass deflections in the 2022 season.
In other free agency news, center Jason Kelce announced he's returning to Philadelphia.
Elsewhere, the Eagles have a lot of tough decisions to make this offseason.