Birds sign DT Hargrave, release safety Jenkins

Desperate to upgrade at wide receiver, cornerback and edge rusher, the Eagles agreed to terms Monday on a multiyear contract with run-stopping nose tackle Javon Hargrave, according to sources.

The big blockbuster came Tuesday when the Eagles released veteran safety Malcolm Jenkins, who had played 6 years with the Birds.

The Pittsburgh Steelers didn’t have the salary cap space to keep Hargrave, 27, who helped the edge rushers around him have career seasons.

Hargrave agreed to a threeyear deal worth a manageable $39 million, with up to $26 million guaranteed, per a report on

NFL Network.

The deal is contingent on a Hargrave passing a physical and can’t be announced until 4 p.m. Wednesday, the first day of the new NFL year.

Hargrave (6-2, 305 pouinds), a 2016 third-round pick out of South Carolina State, has 14.5 sacks in four seasons, including 10.5 the past two seasons.

It’s the second straight season the Eagles landed a defensive tackle early in free agency, the Birds grabbing Malik Jackson last year.

While Jackson also was available due to salary cap issues, Hargrave is an interesting prospect in that he clearly helped open up the edge for Bud Dupree and T.J. Watt.

Dupree is coming off an 11.5sack season with four forced fumbles, two recoveries and 16 tackles for loss. The Steelers slapped Jackson with the $16 million franchise tag for outside linebackers.

Watt also benefited from the presence of Hargrave, who played a career-high 680 snaps. Watt recorded a career-high 14.5 sacks.

On paper that would seem to bode well for Eagles defensive ends Derrick Barnett and Brandon Graham. Jackson, by the way, had a difficult surgery to repair a Lisfranc fracture and is unlikely to be available until the start of the regular season, the coronavirus pandemic notwithstanding.

Earlier Monday the Eagles agreed to terms on a one-year deal with defensive tackle Hasaan Ridgeway, coming off an ankle injury.

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS The Eagles have reportedly reached an agreement on a free agency deal with Pittsburgh Steelers nose tackle Javon Hargrave. The signing could become official on Wednesday.