Eagles Today

Eagles Add Depth On Defensive Front

A day before their first scheduled training camp practice, the Eagles signed edge rusher
Ogbo Okoronkwo and DT Jacob Sykes.
John McMullen|
Cleveland Browns defensive end Ogbo Okoronkwo (54) celebrates during the first half of an NFL football game at Huntington Bank Field.
Cleveland Browns defensive end Ogbo Okoronkwo (54) celebrates during the first half of an NFL football game at Huntington Bank Field. | Jeff Lange / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

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Philadelphia Eagles

PHILADELPHIA - On paper, the Eagles looked light at edge rusher entering training camp, and it turns out GM Howie Roseman agreed with that assessment.

The reigning Super Bowl champions signed veteran edge defender Ogbo Okoronkwo on the eve of their first training camp practice.

Entering his eighth NFL season, Okoronkwo (6-foot-2, 250 pounds) was a 2018 fifth-round pick out of Oklahoma by the Los Angeles Rams, where he spent his first four seasons. 

Coming off that rookie deal, Okoronkwo, 30, signed with Houston for the 2022 season and spent the last two campaigns with the Cleveland Browns before being released on June 26.

Okoronkwo has 17 career sacks, including 7 ½ over the past two seasons in Cleveland.

The Eagles also signed defensive tackle Jacob Sykes, who had a tryout on Monday.

To make room on the 90-man roster for the new depth on the defensive front, the Eagles waived edge rusher K.J. Henry and running back Lew Nichols. 

During the offseason, the reigning Super Bowl champion Eagles lost Josh Sweat to Arizona in free agency, franchise icon Brandon Graham to retirement, and traded the underwhelming Bryce Huff to San Francisco.

Entering camp, the depth chart in Jeremiah Washburn's room is led by emerging third-year player Nolan Smith and talented second-year prospect Jalyx Hunt, who was instructed to gain weight in the offseason. 

From there, it’s prove-it signings Azeez Ojulari and Josh Uche, rookie sixth-round pick Antwaun Powell-Ryland, practice-squad returnee Ochaun Mathis, and now Okoronkwo, who immediately becomes the second-oldest defensive player of a very young roster behind backup slot cornerback Parry Nickerson.   

Sykes (6-3, 277) went the Ivy League route at Harvard before finishing at UCLA and going undrafted in 2023 before signing with the Seattle Seahawks. Most recently, Sykes spent time with the San Antonio Brahmas of the UFL.

The IDL on the current Eagles’ 90-man roster includes second-team All-Pro Jalen Carter, Jordan Davis, Moro Ojomo, rookie Ty Robinson, Thomas Booker, Byron Young, and Gabe Hall.

MORE NFL: Eagles' Pre-Training Camp 53-Man Roster Projection

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John McMullen
JOHN MCMULLEN

John McMullen is a veteran reporter who has covered the NFL for over two decades. The current NFL insider for JAKIB Media, John is the former NFL Editor for The Sports Network where his syndicated column was featured in over 200 outlets including the Los Angeles Times, Chicago Tribune, and Miami Herald. He was also the national NFL columnist for Today's Pigskin as well as FanRag Sports. McMullen has covered the Eagles on a daily basis since 2016, first for ESPN South Jersey and now for Eagles Today on SI.com's FanNation. You can listen to John, alongside legendary sports-talk host Jody McDonald every morning from 8-10 on ‘Birds 365,” streaming live on YouTube.com. John is also the host of his own show "Extending the Play" on AM1490 in South Jersey and part of 6ABC.com's live postgame show after every Eagles game. You can reach him at jmcmullen44@gmail.com or on Twitter @JFMcMullen

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