Updated Jan. 25, 2026, 5:09 p.m. ET

Howie Roseman has built a juggernaut, paying his star players while geniusly circumventing the salary cap and keeping cap hits below the league average. Last February, after Philadelphia won the Super Bowl, Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow made comments about the “Eagles paying their players.”

“The Eagles are paying everybody,” Burrow said. “That seems like the way. Whatever they’re doing.”

During his end-of-season press conference, Howie Roseman offered insight into the process, what takes place, and how the pendulum will swing toward the defense. Dallas Goedert, Nakobe Dean, Reed Blankenship, Jaelan Phillips, Adoree’ Jackson, Marcus Epps, Fred Johnson, Brandon Graham, and Jahan Dotson are among 20 free agents who’ll hit the open market. Dean and Phillips are the only two who had hold priority, and both would depart depending on the market.

Still, Jalen Carter, Nolan Smith, Jordan Davis, Moro Ojomo, and others are just a few of the defenders GM Howie Roseman wants to keep around long term.

The Eagles are really good at roster building, and when you succeed, you risk losing talent.

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With the new league year fast approaching, we’re looking at five players who could be on the chopping block, and their contract numbers via Over The Cap.

DB Michael Carter II

Only Howie Roseman and Vic Fangio actually know how they view the former Jets cornerback. Back in October, Philadelphia sent John Metchie and a 2027 sixth-round pick to the New York Jets for CB Michael Carter and a 2027 7th round pick. Carter II, a fifth-year veteran, struggled in coverage this season but is under contract through 2027. Carter signed a three-year, $30.75 million extension with the Jets through the 2027 season, and will be under team control for the next 2.5 years. Carter II played 106 snaps after joining the Eagles, with the most coming in Week 12 against the Cowboys (25), and the Week 18 loss to the Commanders (65). In those games, Carter II had a 75.5 grade from PFF.

Salary cap savings: $8,736,000

DB Sydney Brown

Brown will enter year four with most of his success and playing time coming on special teams. The Eagles drafted Andrew Mukuba in the second round last spring, and felt so uneasy with Brown in the lineup that Marcus Epps eventually regained a starting role. Brown played 249 snaps on defense and had a 58.1 grade in coverage. Overall, Brown posted 20 tackles (11 solo) across 249 defensive snaps in 17 appearances (three starts), and also added 14 special teams tackles.

Salary cap savings: $1,533,969

DB Kelee Ringo

Like Brown, Ringo is most productive on special teams. Ringo played 312 defensive snaps and had a 49.2 grade in coverage, 104 out of 114 NFL cornerbacks.

Salary cap savings: $1,145,000

DB Jakorian Bennett

Acquired via trade from the Las Vegas Raiders, Bennett missed six games with a pectoral injury, and when he did play (101 total snaps), Bennett had a 29.8 grade in coverage. Bennett lay in 11 games (one start), producing 7 tackles (6 solo) and one pass defended across 69 defensive snaps.

Salary cap savings: $1,145,000

Wild Card: WR A.J. Brown (Trade)

Eagles GM Howie Roseman offered a strong response when asked about potentially trading the All-Pro wide receiver. Since arriving in Philadelphia, Brown has earned All-Pro honors, Pro Bowl honors, 1,400+ yards twice, and amassed 5,000+ yards receiving since joining the Eagles. We don’t think Brown should depart, but it would take massive compensation, and Jeffery Lurie would need to be okay with a massive salary cap implication. According to Over The Cap, if Brown gets traded before June 1, the Eagles would incur a dead cap charge of $43,515,106. If he remains on the roster in 2026, Brown would count for 23,393,497 against the salary cap. If he’s traded after June 1, the dead cap hit would be $43,515,106, with $27,161,609 counting towards 2027’s cap as well.

Salary cap (-$20,055,206) with a $43,448,704 dead cap hit