Entering the 2026 offseason, the Philadelphia Eagles have plenty of players who will be free agents, but the team will not be able to bring everyone back.
There have been four key free agents the fan base has been debating all offseason about whether to bring back. Those names include Jaelan Phillips, Reed Blankenship, Nakobe Dean, and Dallas Goedert.
What Eagles fans might be missing is that four other names should be included on that list. Even if they are back for just one year or are not necessarily starters, they are important role players who can help the team out.
Joshua Uche, EDGE
Unfortunately for Uche, he got lost in the shuffle of the defensive line when Phillips and Brandon Graham got added midway through the season, but once upon a time, Uche was the best pass rusher on the team. Uche had 23 pressures, 21 hurries, one quarterback hit, and one sack on the 2025 season, as Pro Football Focus graded him out at an 85.1. If the Eagles were smart, they would bring Uche back on a cheap one-year deal and get him back into the rotation because he proved in 2025 that even if he isn't getting sacks, he certainly knows how to pressure the quarterback.
Fred Johnson, RT
There is so much uncertainty with the offensive line, as Lane Johnson thought about retirement, and Landon Dickerson is still deciding on it. That makes Fred Johnson a very important player to bring back after stepping up at right tackle for Lane in the last eight games, and he played well. Despite finishing the year with 18 pressures and two sacks allowed, Fred Johnson has more than earned a new contract with the Eagles, as fans hope the team learned their lesson from letting him walk last offseason.
Marcus Epps, S
When Andrew Mukuba broke his ankle in Week 12 against the Dallas Cowboys and was out for the rest of the season, Marcus Epps stepped up in a big way and played incredibly well. Epps finished the season with 21 tackles and one tackle for loss in 12 games played and four starts. Depending on what happens with Blankenship, it might be safe to bring back Epps, no matter what, to have insurance in the secondary while bringing back a guy who can help on special teams.
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Adoree' Jackson, CB
Everyone has their own feelings about Adoree' Jackson, but no one can deny that over the last month of the season, he was very good, except in the San Francisco 49ers playoff game. Jackson ended up with 55 tackles, 11 pass deflections, and one interception in 14 games. The problem is the Eagles might not have many options at CB2 this offseason, so Jackson, similar to Epps, gives them an insurance policy in a veteran who can step in and start at any time.