Today, the legal tampering period began in the NFL, where, although players and teams can't officially sign deals, terms can be agreed upon. This starts the wild wave of free agency that football fans have been waiting for.
The Eagles have a lot of decisions to make now that the window has opened for them to work with some of their key free agents.
Many of Philadelphia's free agents were valuable contributors last season, so it will be interesting to see how they decide to allocate their money as they attempt to build out their team for next season.
On the defensive side of the ball, some of the top free agents include Reed Blankenship, Nakobe Dean, and recently acquired edge pass rusher Jaelan Phillips. Early in the open tampering period, Phillips made his decision.
Jaelan Phillips Agrees to Contract With Carolina Panthers
It was announced by ESPN's Adam Schefter that Eagles pass rusher Jaelan Phillips had agreed to a massive deal with the Carolina Panthers to become their premier edge rusher.
The deal is reported to be 4 years and $120 million, with $80 million in guaranteed money. This is a massive payday for Phillips, and not one I'm sure the Eagles should have tried to match.
The Eagles traded for Phillips last year to assist with their lack of pressure off the edge, and in his time with Philadelphia, he played fairly well, recording two sacks in eight games and the pressure they were after.
By no means, however, was he 4 years $120 million good. With the Eagles recently extending defensive lineman Jordan Davis to the largest contract in the history of the NFL for that position, it would have been an interesting choice to re-sign Phillips, given what they still have to do.
It's been reported that the Eagles and other star interior linemen, Jalen Carter, have also been working on a contract extension. Paying Phillips in that ballpark would have simply been too much money paid into the defensive line.
Howie Roseman and the Eagles will now be faced with the same task as last year, however, as they now have to scour the market yet again for a reliable pass rusher off the edge. It will be interesting to see who they decide to bring in.
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