The Josh Sweat extension is a win for not just himself but also the NFL Draft community, especially on Twitter. The fourth-rounder was a favorite of many social media draft pundits. Sweat’s extension is the second from Philadelphia’s 2018 NFL draft class. The Eagles needed young talent on the defense to take over leadership roles soon — it’s currently filled with veteran players nearing the end of their careers.
Josh Sweat contract details
Including this season, Sweat made just shy of $3.3 million during his first contract. Now, he will average four times that much in yearly salary. He earned a three-year extension worth $40 million and the opportunity to earn up to $43 million ($26.9 million guaranteed).
The deal ties Sweat to the Eagles until the 2024 NFL season. With Fletcher Cox and Brandon Graham aging, this deal signifies the possibility of a future defensive leader.
The extension makes Sweat the 15th-highest average annual value for the position. His $13.3 million yearly average value is just over a million less than Minnesota’s Danielle Hunter.
What does he bring to Philadelphia’s defense?
Sweat might be one of the two or three most underrated pass rushers in the NFL. It appears 2021 could be Maxx Crosby’s metamorphosis, but don’t sleep on Sweat. Last season, he produced one of the most impressive sacks of the NFL season — he forklifted one of the best left tackles in the league, Terron Armstead, into absolute oblivion.
Nonetheless, that’s not all he accomplished. Despite only playing 412 snaps, Sweat had 6 sacks, 5 hurries, 5 QB hits, and 16 total pressures. He also forced 3 fumbles and had 25 stops.
Sweat’s low snap count keeps him a secret from most that cover the league. However, PFN ranked Sweat as the 25th-best edge rusher in the NFL. He’s an incredibly efficient player. In 2020, he produced the fourth-best run-stop percentage and the fourth-best quality sacks per snap.
With a higher snap count, Sweat will quickly outplay what his contract offers. He’s only 25 years old, and he appears to be reliably healthy so far in the NFL.
