Monday was subtraction day for the Eagles. Get ready for Tuesday, because it is setting up to be an addition-filled day for general manager Howie Roseman.
Monday began the two-day period of legal tampering with free agents in the NFL, and teams came and plucked the Eagles quite a bit.
Gone are edge rusher Jaelen Phillips, considered to be the best available at his position in free agency; Nakobe Dean, who when healthy, spearheaded defensive coordinator Vic Fangio's stellar defense; Reed Blankenship, who played himself into a dependable starting safety in his four years here; Jahan Dotson, the third wide-receiver out of Penn State who didn't see the ball all that much in his two seasons.
It's a lot. Three defensive starters for a unit that pretty much carried the team the past two seasons. You have to believe Roseman will be very active in Day 2 as many holes opened for a team that will be looking to fill quite a few already.
During the two day window, teams can contact agents of any unrestricted free agent and try to negotiate a contract. Before, teams weren't allowed to directly contact players. But this year, teams are permitted to directly contact up to five free agents during the open window. Players can agree to terms, but can't sign a new deal until 4 p.m. Wednesday.
Phillips, 26, was lured away by the Carolina Panthers for a whopping $120 million over four years with $80 million guaranteed. It's understandable why Roseman didn't choose to match those numbers. In his eight games with the Eagles after a midseason trade with the Miami Dolphins, Phillips garnered a pair of sacks but was the Eagles most consistent pass rusher during his time here. The thought was big money was going to be commanded by his agency, but the numbers put up by Carolina were astronomical.
During his four seasons with the Eagles, Dean missed 21 of 68 regular season games due to a variety of injuries. He will sign with the Las Vegas Raiders for three years at $36 million, with $20 million guaranteed. When he was able to play for the Eagles, the Georgia product showed why many considered him a first-round talent, though the Eagles grabbed him in the third round of the 2022 draft. Dean's inconsistency to stay on the field was one of the reasons the Eagles drafted linebacker Jihaad Campbell in the first round of last year's draft. The Alabama product will most surely line up next to Zack Baun in replacing the 25-year-old Dean. Campbell did start 10 games last season to mixed reviews.
Blankenship became a fan favorite in a beloved secondary that still includes young star corners Quinyon Mitchell and Cooper DeJean. He started 46 regular season games over the past three seasons, and was in on 308 tackles during that time. While not a flashy safety, Blankenship, 27, evolved himself into a steady and reliable player backing the young corners. He will now go to the Houston Texans on a deal that is for three years and $24.75 million with $16.5 million guaranteed.
Three young starters on the same side of the ball will make it interesting as to how Roseman decides to fill those holes. Certainly, another edge rusher or two or three will be added, whether through free agency, trade or draft.
No matter what happens with A.J. Brown this offseason, the loss of Dotson shrinks an already thin receiving corps, with no proven pass catchers behind Brown and Devonta Smith. Brown, of course, has been the talk of the town in trade rumors and wonder of his desire to remain a Philadelphia Eagle. Dotson and the Atlanta Falcons agreed to a two year deal worth $15 million with $10 million guaranteed.
That's a lot of money paid out to former Eagles, and a lot of money not spent by Roseman. The focus will now move to tight end Dallas Goedert, who no doubt is garnering interest after his 11 touchdowns last season.
The NFL did announce that the Eagles were given four compensatory draft picks for the 2026 draft. The Eagles got one pick each in the third, fourth, fifth and sixth rounds, which will equate to 98th, 137, 178 and 215th overall.
We will see what Tuesday brings.
