By typical NFL standards, the Philadelphia Eagles played 2025 free agency about as close to the vest as it gets.
Aside from All-Pro linebacker Zack Baun, they let their top pending free agents — like Milton Williams and Josh Sweat — walk for lucrative contracts elsewhere. They then doubled down on their cautious approach by signing a bunch of second-tier free agents, like Azeez Ojulari and Adoree’ Jackson, on cheap, one-year deals.
True to form, general manager Howie Roseman and the Eagles committed the majority of their offseason spending to extensions, rather than new contracts. Lane Johnson, Cam Jurgens, and Saquon Barkley all had years and cash added to their deals, looking up some premier offensive talent while simultaneously clearing the books for future contract extensions on defense (starting with Jalen Carter in 2026).
With that said, the Eagles aren’t exactly set up to spend big on free agents in 2026. Due to their heavy future commitments on the offensive side of the ball, they’re currently projected to have somewhere in the range of $20 million and $25 million in salary cap space, per Over the Cap, depending on where the NFL’s maximum is set for the new year.
The elephant in the room? The Eagles could be facing another tight year financially, due in part to a contract that was applauded but never really in the team's best interest.
Saquon Barkley’s NFL record extension could end up costing the Philadelphia Eagles in the long run
When Barkley’s record two-year, $42.1 million contract extension with the Eagles was announced in March, the NFL world erupted on Roseman — in the best way possible.
Philadelphia’s decision to reward Barkley after arguably the greatest single-season rushing performance in NFL history stood out as a rare show of good faith in what can be a cut-throat business. The Eagles had no reason to extend the 28-year-old Barkley after just one year, as he was under team control through 2026 and coming off a massive 436-touch season.
This one was all about doing right by the player, and it’s just another reason for Eagles fans to love their GM. That doesn’t mean it was the right move, though, as Barkley hasn’t come close to living up to his new $20 million per year deal.
Barkley enters Week 13 ranked fifth in the NFL in rushing attempts with 185, but he’s just 14th in yards gained with 684. His current 3.7 yards per carry average is his lowest in five years, and down significantly from his career-high 5.8 in 2024.
Adding to the problem this year is Tank Bigsby, the living embodiment of why NFL teams tend to draw a hard line with running backs at the negotiating table. Bigsby’s not close to the same class as Barkley in terms of talent, but he’s younger (23), has fresh legs, and is averaging 9.1 yards per carry for the Eagles in a complementary role.
Barkley is now tied to the Eagles through the 2028 season, but it’s worth noting that the Eagles can bail on the deal a year early, for a dead-cap hit of $31.4 million, per Spotrac. There’s obviously plenty of football to be played between now and then for Barkley to break out of his “funk,” as he called it this week.
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But if his current struggles continue through 2025 and into next season, Roseman could be forced to cut bait on the deal everyone celebrated just eight months ago.