Grading the signing: Arnold Ebiketie is the type of boom or bust move that normally works out for Eagles’ Howie Roseman
Philadelphia got an impressive pass rusher this week.
Smart money moves have been a consistent factor in the annual plan for Philadelphia Eagles general manager Howie Roseman. He often finds value in free agency that other teams didn’t expect – or pulls off a huge trade to change the landscape of his roster for the Birds.
Philly’s latest move didn’t come at a high price, but the Eagles are hoping it pays off in a major way to help them get back into Super Bowl contention.
Eagles improve pass rush potential with Arnold Ebiketie signing
According to Adam Schefter, the Eagles agreed to a deal with former Atlanta Falcons pass rusher Arnold Ebiketie on a one-year deal, worth a maximum of $7.3 million. The Eagles lost pass rusher Jaelan Phillips to the Carolina Panthers early in free agency.
Ebiketie isn’t a name that fans were clamoring for, but there were some teams around the league who had their eyes on him. His price tag was notably lower than some of the other options on the market.
For the Eagles, we have seen Roseman find diamonds in the rough in years past. Hidden gems are tough to come by, especially in positions as valuable as edge rusher. The veteran executive is trusting their evaluation of Ebiketie proves to be the right one.
Arnold Ebiketie signing GRADE: B-
This grade for this move is only pulled down a bit by the other choices so far this offseason by Philly.
They have not added a true difference maker off the edge, who has proven it over the course of multiple seasons. At times, Ebiketie has been a really impressive pass rusher. Other times, he faded into the background for Atlanta. We will see if this value choice was a good one by the Eagles staff.
A risk that may pay off for Eagles defense
“Ebiketie is an interesting case study because his evaluation is based solely on projections. He was a rotational player in Atlanta, with only 12 career starts with the team and five over the last two years. He had only two sacks last year, but had back-to-back seasons with six in 2023 and 2024 before Atlanta doubled up on edge rushers in the first round of the 2025 NFL Draft.
If given a large role, he’s had enough flashes to believe he could play his best football for the Eagles. His long frame helps him put tackles in uncomfortable positions, and to take the next step as a player, he will need to learn to capitalize on it.
This could end up being a major signing for Philly, or it could end up looking like a non-factor. It will be interesting to watch and see how it works out for him.” — Destin Adams
Philadelphia Eagles News
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