There are a lot of disappointed Philadelphia Eagles fans after all the buzz about the team potentially landing Maxx Crosby in a trade.
The rumor was that the Eagles were going to potentially trade two first-round picks and might even add two-time Pro Bowl defensive tackle Jalen Carter in the deal to get Crosby. Instead, the Las Vegas Raiders struck a deal with the Baltimore Ravens to send Crosby to Baltimore for two first-round picks.
Now the Eagles are left scrambling after missing out on the best available defensive player in the offseason. While many would say that the next move for Philly is to trade star wide receiver A.J. Brown away, there is another move they must make before the new season begins.
Eagles must get a deal done right now with Jaelan Phillips
Phillips was ninth in the NFL in pressures (73) and fifth in hurries (57) last season, playing for the Miami Dolphins to start the season and then being traded to the Eagles. He made a massive difference to an Eagles front seven that went from being one of the worst pass rushers to being one of the best by the end of the year.
Many have expected Phillips's next contract to be in the $17-18 million range per year. For the Eagles, that cost shouldn't matter, and they should get it done right now. Philly shouldn't let him test the free agency market at all.
No one can blame Eagles general manager Howie Roseman for taking a shot at bringing in Crosby, but that dream is gone, and the reality for Philly is scary if Phillips isn't back on the roster. He means too much to this defense and is a perfect fit for defensive coordinator Vic Fangio's scheme, so the Eagles have to get him back on the team.
Losing Phillips puts the Eagles back in the same position they were at last offseason, when they let Josh Sweat walk in free agency. Even if Nolan Smith and Jalyx Hunt improve in 2026, Phillips was a big reason those guys were playing as well as they did.
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Eagles fans can live without Crosby being in Philly since the first-round picks are still intact, but if Roseman misses out on Phillips, a bigger problem will pop up, and that would not be a good thing.