It was a tough decision by the Philadelphia Eagles to take a chance and let edge rusher Jaelan Phillips walk in free agency, but it continues to look like another great move by general manager Howie Roseman.
Phillips signed with the Carolina Panthers for four years and $120 million, while the Eagles traded with the Minnesota Vikings to get Jonathan Greenard and extend his contract to a four-year, $98 million deal. Bleacher Report writer Moe Moton looked at the most overpaid players at each position, and Phillips found himself on the list at edge rusher.
"The Carolina Panthers should be concerned about Jaelan Phillips' injury history. He's played three full seasons in five years, missing 22 outings between 2023 and 2024. Even when healthy, Phillips produced solid numbers that fall short of spectacular. He's yet to finish a campaign with double-digit sacks or tackles for loss, which is what most of the highest-paid edge-rushers have on their resumes.
The Panthers made a logical move in signing Phillips to a four-year, $120 million contract, but based on his career production, he's overpaid at that rate. Carolina won't regret taking a swing at a top edge-rusher on the free-agent market, but it's odd to see that Phillips will earn more in cash than star edge-rushers Danielle Hunter, Will Anderson Jr., T.J. Watt and Maxx Crosby this year."
Not re-signing Jaelan Phillips was 100% the right call
To start, Greenard has had two seasons with 12 or more sacks in the last three years, while Phillips has never had more than 10 sacks in one year. Also, the Eagles saved themselves $22 million by deciding to pick Greenard over Phillips.
It's a great decision by Roseman, as the Eagles are getting a great pass rusher in Greenard, who has been to the Pro Bowl and is considered one of the best edge rushers in the NFL. Phillips is talented in his own right, but durability issues, along with the fact that he can't produce sacks, made the decision to get Greenard easier.
The fact that the Panthers wasted $120 million on Phillips shows how desperate they are and how much they believe the Eagles have on the roster. Jalyx Hunt is coming off a career season with 6.5 sacks and three interceptions (both led the team in 2025), and while Nolan Smith struggled with injury and an off-year, he is still more than capable of helping the Eagles out.
Entering 2026, the Eagles' front four is in good shape with Greenard, Hunt, and Smith coming off the edge, while Jalen Carter, Jordan Davis, and Moro Ojomo hold strong in the middle. This might be the best the unit has looked since their Super Bowl title run two years ago.
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No matter what happens in 2026, the Eagles made the right decision in letting Phillips sign elsewhere, as the future of the franchise needed it. Now the focus is on making sure Greenard gets back into 2024 Pro Bowl form, while getting either Hunt or Smith to break out this year.
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