The Philadelphia Eagles enter the offseason facing something they haven’t done in a good bit. After another year competing near the top of the NFC, the roster remains incredible, but expensive.
Philadelphia leaned heavily on its defense throughout the season, and it was able to do so given how well the unit played. If there was one issue, it was the offense, as the defense was tough and did what was needed. Many players impressed, but edge rusher Jaelan Phillips was among them.
Added at the trade deadline, Phillips arrived with a lot of hype and hope that he’d stay healthy. He didn’t dominate, but he was decent and might still be in a position to get paid. Regarding that, ESPN’s Tim McManus recently provided insight into how the organization now views Phillips heading into free agency.
“Philadelphia Eagles,” McManus wrote. “OLB Jaelan Phillips. The Eagles acquired Phillips from Miami at the November trade deadline for a 2026 third-round pick, and he proved to be a sound schematic and locker room fit. He had 2 sacks, 7 QB hits, 4 passes defensed and a forced fumble in eight games and excelled at setting the edge against the run — a must in defensive coordinator Vic Fangio's system. Phillips' injury history might hold his value down some, but he's a young (26), productive edge rusher, which typically equals big money in free agency.
“Philadelphia has other contributors set to become free agents, including tight end Dallas Goedert, safety Reed Blankenship and linebacker Nakobe Dean. With players such as defensive tackles Jordan Davis and Jalen Carter eligible for paydays and only so much money to go around, the Eagles have some difficult decisions in front of them.”
Phillips experience also mattered and will matter in free agency. With a defensive front as good as the Eagles', Phillips might not be needed too much as of now. However, other teams that aren’t in this type of position would likely pay a pretty penny for him.
Elite edge rushers rarely reach the free agency market, and when they do, contracts are usually expensive. Even with injury concerns, Phillips checks many of the boxes teams pay for.