PHILADELPHIA — For the second consecutive offseason, the Eagles may not re-sign a couple of their top free agents.
Edge rusher Jaelan Phillips could be one of those players.
Phillips, who was acquired by the Eagles from the Miami Dolphins at the NFL trade deadline for a third-round pick, bolstered Philadelphia’s run defense and pass rush during the second half of the 2025 season.
But Phillips never became the missing piece of a championship defense, leaving the Eagles to decide whether he’s worth top-tier money.
The Eagles will have to extend Phillips before free agency if they want him back. Pass-rush-needy teams may consider Phillips one of the best players available.
“I mean, I don’t really know,” Phillips told reporters last week about his free agency plans. “It’s up to my agent and ultimately up to me, too. But this is my first experience with it, so I’m not really sure how it plays out, but we’ll see. I’m excited.”
Before this past season, Phillips’ career appeared to be spiraling after he suffered consecutive season-ending injuries in 2023 and 2024. Now back on an upward trajectory, the 26-year-old pass rusher stayed healthy for all 17 games in 2025 and proved he could still be an impactful pass rusher.
In the coming years, the Eagles will likely need to pay up for several of their young defensive players, which could limit how much they are willing to offer Phillips. He could receive offers of $20 million or more per year.
While the Eagles would have a better defense with Phillips next year than without him, he remains a replaceable player to an extent. He only recorded three sacks this year and has never developed into an elite rusher.
“I think it would be difficult, but that’s kind of just what happened with the Dolphins, too,” Phillips said about potentially moving on from the Eagles. “I fit in with those guys very well, was very close with a lot of guys and came (to Philadelphia) and fit in with these guys. So ultimately, I’m confident in myself that wherever I do end up, I’ll be able to make the most out of it.”
Phillips declined to say whether the Eagles have initiated contract talks with him. If he leaves for another team, Philadelphia would likely receive a compensation pick in the 2027 NFL Draft.
Over the next few months, Phillips plans to weigh all of his options, and the Eagles must come up with a plan B at edge rusher if they aren’t able to retain him.
“Obviously, I got a family now,” Phillips said about his free agency priorities. “I got a kid on the way, so I think about that. But also, I want to be on a competitive team, in an environment where I love the guys that I’m around and love the organization I’m playing for.”