Eagles trade for OT Fred Johnson, send 7th-Rounder to Jaguars

The Eagles shored up one of their biggest camp concerns on Sunday, trading a 2026 seventh-round pick to the Jaguars for offensive tackle Fred Johnson.

If the name sounds familiar, that’s because it is. Fred Johnson was with the Birds from 2022–2024, won a Super Bowl here, and now he’s back in midnight green.

Eagles trade for OT Fred Johnson, send 7th-Rounder to Jaguars

Another Eagles trade: Jaguars are sending OT Fred Johnson back to Philadelphia in exchange for a 2026 seventh-round pick, per sources. Johnson now returns to the team he played for from 2022-‘24. pic.twitter.com/e5jEXujanz

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) August 24, 2025

Why This Move Matters

Backup offensive tackle has been a glaring hole all summer. Every time Lane Johnson or Jordan Mailata missed a rep, you could practically hear Eagles fans holding their breath. Bringing back Fred Johnson makes perfect sense. He knows the system, he’s played well in it before, and he gives Philly some security if either of the big boys go down.

The Cost: Basically Nothing

A 7th-round pick in 2026? That’s pocket change in NFL trade terms. The Eagles get immediate depth at a premium position for almost no cost. For the mathematically inept, it’s not even next year’s draft, it’s two years out. By then, nobody will remember or care about that pick.

The Question: Why Not Re-Sign Him in the First Place?

Here’s the part that’s a little frustrating. Fred Johnson signed with the Jaguars this offseason for 1 year, $1.3 million. The Eagles easily could’ve matched that in March and avoided giving up a draft pick. Instead, they let him walk, then circled back after realizing how thin they were at tackle. It’s not a disaster, but it is worth questioning.

Eagles Depth Chart Outlook

With Fred Johnson back, here’s how the backup OL probably shakes out:

• Drew Kendall: backup center
• Matt Pryor: interior guard depth
• Fred Johnson: swing tackle

Not perfect, but much better than what they had two weeks ago.

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