Feb. 13, 2026, 4:49 a.m. ET

Most of the Philadelphia Eagles‘ recent offseasons have felt like a referendum. That isn’t simply because of the approval ratings attached to the team and its head coach. That isn’t just about quarterback Jalen Hurts. That’s just how this city rolls.

Windows in the NFL don’t stay open long. When you’ve tasted a Super Bowl and followed it with frustration, every decision, contractually or otherwise, suddenly carries more weight.

Free agency isn’t about sentiment. It isn’t about who we like. It’s about who helps you get back to late January. Who can you afford to lose without feeling it in December? The Eagles have big names, useful depth pieces, and a few under-the-radar contributors hitting the market. Some are luxuries. Some are glue guys. A few are foundational.

Jahan Dotson, more than likely, won’t be around. The Eagles have had a revolving door at the slot wide receiver position for pretty much the entirety of the Nick Sirianni coaching era. Plus, Philadelphia didn’t exercise the fifth-year option on his rookie deal.

That’s more evidence that he’s out, so we excluded him from this list. Here’s how we rank everyone else.

Expert NFL picks: Exclusive betting insights only at USA TODAY.1. Braden Mann, punter

Some of you will see Braden Mann’s name at the top of a list like this and dismiss it as unexciting, but one can argue that there aren’t five Eagles from last year’s offensive squad who did their individual jobs as well as Braden Mann did his.

What a weapon he turned out to be! He pinned opposing offenses back toward their own goal line. He flipped the field position. Every team needs a punter, and the Eagles would be wise to re-sign this one lest they risk adding another Arryn Siposs. Come on! Did you watch this team play offense last season?

2. Jaelan Phillips, EDGE

Injuries are a constant concern, but that’s true of just about anyone playing football at its highest level. The Eagles need consistent play from their edge rushers, and Jaelan Phillips moved to the head of the class as soon as he entered the NovaCare Complex.

There’s plenty of tread left on the tire here, and he has succeeded twice in Vic Fangio’s system as part of two different rosters. This is a no-brainer. If continuing last season’s defensive success is part of next season’s business model, all efforts must be made to ensure Jaelan Phillips is part of that unit.

3. Dallas Goedert, tight end

He’s still one of the league’s better tight ends and a trusted Jalen Hurts target. Replacing Dallas Goedert’s talent, production, and reliability is a costly and risky proposition. All three of the Eagles’ top three tight ends from last year’s roster are impending free agents, and Grant Calcaterra and Kylen Granson don’t measure up to the TE1.

Goedert’s position on this list can change depending on what happens with A.J. Brown. If the latter leaves, Goedert’s continued stay appears increasingly important. DeVonta Smith will need help as the new unquestioned WR1, and Philadelphia probably won’t be finding a tight end as good as he is in Round 2 or later, assuming they address other more important needs earlier.

4. Nakobe Dean, linebacker

Look, we all love Nakobe Dean. There’s no guarantee he will leave, but there’s no guarantee that he’ll stay either. If forced to gamble, we’d probably bank on him leaving. The Eagles are stocked with linebackers now, but if most had their way, Dean would be on next year’s roster with a team-friendly deal.

5. Brandon Graham, defensive lineman

It stands to reason that ranking Brandon Graham this high is a decision fueled by emotion, but ask yourselves a question. If you didn’t know how old he was and you knew nothing about his story, would you be ready to move on from the guy we watched play football in the Number 55 jersey last season?

The Eagles won’t find a better fourth or fifth edge rusher in the NFL than this guy. Plus, he proved he can play inside if needed. That type of versatility and the leadership B.G. displays are welcome on any roster.

He won’t play forever, but if he wants to play next season, and it appears that he does, all things considered, he’s still playing at a higher level than most of the guys the Eagles had playing on an expiring contract next season.

6. Fred Johnson, swing tackle

While we realize that some of you are disappointed in Fred Johnson’s performance last season, we’d remind you that most of the offensive line had a rough year for one reason or another. Still, the Eagles’ o-line needs depth. Truth be told, they may wind up needing some starters.

Johnson is still one of the top ten linemen on the Eagles roster. We’ve also learned through trial and error that high-quality backup swing tackles are hard to find.

7. Reed Blankenship, safety

Reed Blankenship seems to have peaked already. He can’t cover anyone. He may have lost a step, but he’s still currently the best safety the Eagles have.

Glancing at other free-agency options leads us to conversations about Jabrill Peppers, Kamren Curl, Andre Cisco, Alohi Gilman, and Kevin Byard. That last guy was already in Philly once, and that didn’t work out too well. Dare we say? Re-signing Blankenship might be the best and safest option for the Eagles.

Worth mentioning, but probably heading elsewhere:8. Marcus Epps, safety

How about a double-play at safety? The top two from last year’s roster are both impending free agents. Marcus Epps has value.

A second-round draft pick was used on Andrew Mukuba. He’s injury-prone. Andre’ Sam is young and raw. So is Brandon Johnson. Both are signed to future deals.

Sydney Brown is out, which brings us back to Epps, who played well last season. It makes sense to sign him as a bridge player until the Eagles sign someone else.

9. Brett Toth, offensive lineman

The Eagles have many young linemen on this roster, but until further notice, the jury is still out on Myles Hinton, Drew Kendall, and Cameron Williams.

Brett Toth is simply better than Matt Pryor. If it came down to a decision between the two, keep the former, but Philadelphia must address the offensive line with at least two of its draft choices in April.

10. Ben VanSumeren (linebacker/fullback/special teams)

While we all know the Eagles can win without Ben VanSumeren, and he’s easy to forget about when absent, he still brings value as a versatile player. He can play fullback and linebacker, and he’s good on special teams. We’d address every other need first, but if a few coins remain, he’s worth an inexpensive investment.

Also worth mentioning: Sam Howell (quarterback)

Keep an eye on Sam Howell. He can be added to this list if, for whatever reason, Tanner McKee is dangled as trade bait. That has been mentioned in conversations before. Most Eagles fans hope that he stays, but one can never tell. We wouldn’t mind if the ‘quarterback factory’ drafted one, but keep an eye on Sam Howell as the offseason progresses either way.