Philadelphia Eagles general manager Howie Roseman has many players who will be free agents, which will only make the decision to bring them back harder.
The biggest names on the Eagles that are about to be free agents are edge rusher Jaelan Phillips, tight end Dallas Goedert, safety Reed Blankenship, and linebacker Nakobe Dean. All those guys have different skill sets, making it almost impossible for Roseman to decide who can help the team and who might end up too expensive to bring back. "Almost" is the keyword.
FOX NFL reporter Greg Auman shared his top 100 free agents, and their potential fits, with Phillips landing as the highest-rated Eagles free agent at number 10. Auman proposed an interesting deal that Phillips might have to settle for.
"Phillips, 26, got traded at the deadline when the Dolphins decided they weren't going to be able to keep him, but it was an underwhelming 2025 — two sacks in eight games with the Eagles after three sacks in nine games with the Dolphins. He's had injury concerns in the past and has 28 total sacks in five NFL seasons, peaking with 8.5 as a rookie in 2021. Phillips' pressure rates were solid and he's drawn praise from Vic Fangio. Could a one-year, $15 million deal get it done and allow him to reset himself at a higher value in 2027?"
Jaelan Phillips could land a more favorable deal for the Eagles
It was a great bounce-back season for Phillips after injuries had held him back from playing full seasons in 2023 and 2024. He finished in the top 10 in pressures (73) and hurries (57) while adding 11 quarterback hits and five sacks with the Dolphins and Eagles.
Phillips' importance to the Eagles in 2025 can't be understated enough, as he turned the worst pass-rushing team in the NFL into one of the best in the NFL. He singlehandedly helped Philly land in the top 15 in total defense and in the top five in points allowed.
Everyone has been arguing that the Eagles need to find a way to bring him back, but his estimated market value has been about $17.3 million per year. If the Eagles could get him to settle for a one-year, $15 million deal, that would be the dream scenario for Philly, and they would agree to it in a heartbeat.
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A $2 million difference might not sound like much, but it could make a world of difference for the Eagles and alleviate any stress about putting him on a long-term deal, given his durability concerns. The fan base can only hope that the price tag ends up being