Eagles Let Him Go and That Might Have Been the Right Call

Philadelphia, PA – June 11, 2025

The NFL is a league built on potential — but potential only goes so far. Just ask Siaki Ika. Once seen as a promising third-round pick out of Baylor, the 6-foot-3, 335-pound defensive tackle has now been cut by his third team in just over a year. And after the Kansas City Chiefs quietly released him this week, it’s becoming clear: the Eagles may have dodged a bullet.

Ika’s short-lived tenure with Philadelphia began after he flamed out with the Browns, where he was drafted in 2023. Despite early buzz surrounding his power and run-stopping upside, he failed to record a single tackle in his rookie year and couldn’t crack the Eagles’ loaded defensive line rotation. Philadelphia gave him a look on the practice squad but cut ties — not once, but twice.

Many fans questioned why a team with a history of developing young defensive tackles — like Jalen Carter and Jordan Davis — couldn't make it work with Ika. Now, they have their answer. After signing a futures deal with the Chiefs in February, he was let go in June to make room for a backup tight end. It was barely a headline move, and that says everything.

The harsh truth? Ika has struggled to translate college success into NFL reliability. The motor hasn’t matched the size. The instincts haven’t developed. And in a league where every rep counts, he’s fallen further and further behind.

Philadelphia’s decision to move on — at the time seen as premature by some — now looks like the right one. With Vic Fangio’s defense prioritizing versatility and effort, there simply wasn’t space for a player still trying to figure it all out.

As for Ika, he remains a free agent with dwindling opportunities. His career isn't over, but the window is closing fast. In a league where "next man up" is more than a mantra, sometimes the most important move is the one you don’t make twice. And for the Eagles, letting Ika go may have been just that.