Philadelphia Eagles general manager Howie Roseman has some big decisions to make during the offseason with multiple starters about to hit the free agent market.
Some of those guys include Reed Blankenship, Nakobe Dean, Braden Mann, and Jaelan Phillips. The one pending free agent who might cost Philly the most is Phillips, after just a half-season with the team, thanks to a midseason trade from Roseman.
Bleacher Report's Alex Kay wrote an article on some of the big free agent names, including Phillips. This list, though, has a buyer-beware tag, as Phillips' injury history and lack of sacks during the 2025 season might make him a bit of a risk to sign.
"Spotrac pegged his market value at $17.3 million per year, a bargain for a top-flight edge-rusher but potentially a massive overpayment for a player who couldn't stay healthy for several years and underwhelmed when he was on the field for a large stretch of his career.
While teams always need more talent on the edge to combat the elite quarterbacks consistently winning championships in the modern era, Phillips could set a franchise back significantly if he doesn't continue playing at the same level he displayed in Philly."
Should Howie Roseman re-sign Jaelan Phillips on a new deal with Eagles?
Phillips had a decent run with the Eagles, but he made a significant impact on Philly's pass rush, which desperately needed it. In his eight games with Philly, Phillips had 28 tackles, 17 quarterback pressures, seven quarterback hits, four tackles for loss, four pass deflections, two sacks, one forced fumble, and one fumble recovery.
What Phillips did for the Eagles' defense was dramatic, as the Eagles' pass rush had struggled mightily before the Green Bay Packers game. Phillips was the one who got the unit in much better shape as the Eagles finished the season as one of the best defenses in the NFL.
The concern with Phillips is the injuries, as he had a torn Achilles injury in 2023 and a knee injury in 2024 with the Miami Dolphins that caused him to miss 22 games in those seasons combined. He somewhat addressed durability concerns, playing 17 games in 2025.
Phillips has already expressed that he would like to be back with the Eagles next season. Roseman has a tough decision to make as the Eagles evaluate the roster and might not have the money to spend on Phillips with multiple young defensive players needing to get paid in the next few years.
Read more: One survey will certainly help quiet the Jalen Hurts negative chatter
At an estimated cost of $17.3 million per year, that might be too high a price, but the Eagles have to decide whether Phillips' immediate impact on the defense in 2025 is worth the risk of a big contract.