As NFL teams begin to piece together their draft boards and reevaluate their pending free agents, ESPN NFL writer Matt Bowen broke down the top 50 free agents, with three Philadelphia Eagles players making the list.
Bowen's list includes players who are set to hit unrestricted free agency; however, they can still be signed by their 2025 team or placed on a franchise tag. Bowen listed Jaelen Phillips (fifth), Reed Blankenship (32nd), and Nakobe Dean (48th) on his current list.
Jaelan Phillips, EDGE
Phillips was an instant difference maker for Philadelphia going into the back stretch of the 2025 season. Familiar with Vic Fangio's scheme from Miami, Phillips stayed healthy during the 2025 campaign after two injury-plagued 2023 and 2024 seasons in Miami. With a 6-foot-5 frame, Phillips played extensively off the edge, serving as an edge setter and pass disruptor.
After being traded to Philadelphia, he registered 27 pressures and two sacks while elevating an Eagles pass-rushing unit that was desperately in need of a revamp midseason. Phillips is set to demand a high AAV once free agency opens, and with the Eagles not rostering his replacement, Howie Roseman may need to finagle some "cap magic" to keep him around.
Reed Blankenship, S
A homegrown undrafted free agent since 2022, Blankenship has been a consistent force in the Eagles' secondary. He could be considered a "poor man's" Harrison Smith; however, with the additional pieces in the secondary, he is often put in positions to succeed.
Blankenship is a force in the Eagles' run defense, often filling the alley, bringing an extra hat to the ball in the run fit. Blankenship may be able to secure a short-term deal with the Eagles while they look for a younger upgrade. With Marcus Epps filling in for the injured Andrew Mukuba, it may make Blankenship expendable.
Nakobe Dean, LB
The Eagles may be more comfortable allowing Dean to walk, with the drafting of his replacement in Jihaad Campbell. While the Eagles leaned on Dean once healthy over Campbell, it's clear that despite his ability to add pressure from the inside, the Eagles did invest at his position during the 2025 draft.
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While the Eagles are almost certainly in talks with agents about their pending free agents right now, teams are allowed to discuss new deals with other teams during the 9 and 10 of March, which is the "legal tampering period". NFL free agency officially opens up on March 11 at 4:00 pm EST.