Three Eagles could retire at the end of this season

Three longtime Eagles could hang up their cleats after this season.

Eagles center Jason Kelce, defenseman Fletcher Cox and Brandon Graham enter the twilight years of their careers.

While the Eagles have the ninth youngest roster in the NFL at an average age of 25.7, they’re still getting Pro Bowl caliber games from this aging trio.

The Eagles go way back with these players. Each of them is 32 or older and was a starter for the Eagles’ victory over the Patriots in Super Bowl LII. Plus, they’ve been around since the Andy Reid era! Most recently, they helped the Eagles make the playoffs in five of the last six seasons. But nothing lasts forever.

Let’s take a look at each player’s situation and whether or not they will make the Eagles roster next year.

Jason Kelce Center Jason Kelce, 35, was a mainstay on the Eagles offense. The five-time Pro Bowler has not missed a game since Week 7 of the 2014 season, according to previous reports from Yardbarker. Kelce has been considering retirement for some time. In fact, Eagles head coach Nick Sirianni sent Kelce a keg last offseason to convince him to stay with the Eagles for another season, according to Sports Illustrated’s Wilton Jackson. In other news, he was spotted celebrity bartender on Ocean Drive in Sea Isle City, N.J. to raise awareness for the Eagles Autism Foundation, per CBS News Philadelphia. He’s also started his own podcast called “New Heights” with his brother, Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce.

It appears Kelce has been focusing on off-field opportunities in recent years, which could mean he is heavily considering retiring in the near future. Even when Kelce retires, he will always be close to home. The Eagles legend recently bought a home in Sea Isle, according to Crossing Broad.

Fletcher Cox Once a Pro Bowl perennial, Fletcher Cox, 32, was considered one of the best defensive tackles in the league. Cox has 480 tackles and 64 sacks in 169 career games. He was named to the 2010 NFL All-Decade Team, cementing his place as one of the best of his time. Cox was cut by the Eagles last offseason and re-signed with the team just days later on a team-friendly, one-year, $14 million contract, according to NFL.com. The Eagles also drafted Georgia defenseman Jordan Davis this year, who looks like Cox’s heir. The Eagles also went out, signing Linval Joseph and Ndamukong Suh at center back with one-year contracts to bolster the Eagles’ running defense. As Cox sees his number of snaps dwindle in the team’s defensive line rotation, the Eagles appear to have replaced him in the short and long term. Despite being past his prime, Cox is still one of the most accomplished defenders of his era.

Brandon Graham Super Bowl LII hero Brandon Graham, 34, bared at Patriots quarterback Tom Brady in the final moments of the game. The groundbreaking play shifted momentum in the Eagles’ direction and helped them win it all. The 2020 Pro Bowler was a mainstay in the Eagles’ impressive defensive line. He missed 15 games last season with a torn Achilles tendon. He made a comeback this year with 28 tackles and 8.5 sacks. If you look at his stats, Graham shows no signs of slowing down. Graham is set to become a free agent Over the Cap in 2024 when his contract expires. Of the three players mentioned on this list, Graham seems to be the one most likely to stick around.