Jordan Davis Is Earning Every Dollar - And Then Some - as Eagles Face Tough Roster Decisions Ahead
Back in April, the Philadelphia Eagles made what looked like a calculated, short-term move: picking up the fifth-year option on defensive tackle Jordan Davis’ rookie deal. At the time, it was a smart bet on potential. Now, it’s looking like a steal.
That fifth-year option locks Davis in through the 2026 season at a fully guaranteed $12.9 million. For a player who’s been wrecking offensive lines all year, that number is starting to look like one of the best bargains on the roster.
Through 12 games, Davis had already set career highs in quarterback pressures, sacks, and tackles. But it was his Monday night performance against the Los Angeles Chargers that really turned heads - and maybe forced a few conversations inside the Eagles’ front office.
Jordan Davis vs. Chargers:
- 2 sacks
- 4 QB hurries
- 6 total pressures
- 4 run stops
That’s not just a productive night - that’s a defensive lineman taking over a football game. Davis was disruptive from the opening snap, collapsing the pocket, blowing up run plays, and making life miserable for the Chargers’ offense.
It was the kind of performance that gets a player paid. And if he wasn’t already on Howie Roseman’s extension radar, he should be now.
Because here’s the thing: the Eagles have been down this road before.
They’ve drafted and developed talent on the defensive line better than just about anyone in the league. But they’ve also let some of that talent walk.
Case in point: Milton Williams. The Eagles couldn’t match the $104 million deal he got in free agency, and now he’s thriving with the New England Patriots - even while sitting on IR with an ankle injury.
That one still stings.
And while rookie standout Moro Ojomo has been a pleasant surprise as a seventh-rounder, Philly can’t keep relying on late-round hits to replace ascending stars.
Roseman’s philosophy has long been to extend players early - before their market value explodes - often using multi-year deals with void years to keep the cap hit manageable. It’s how the Eagles have stayed competitive despite big-ticket departures like Williams and Josh Sweat. It’s also why players like Nakobe Dean and Reed Blankenship are already on the radar as possible cap casualties if extensions don’t materialize soon.
Jordan Davis isn’t a free agent until 2027, but the clock is already ticking. When the new league year begins, he enters that tricky middle ground - still under contract, but close enough to free agency that his value only goes up with every sack, every pressure, every dominant performance. Wait too long, and the Eagles could find themselves watching another homegrown star cash in elsewhere.
Extending Davis this offseason wouldn’t just be about locking in a rising star - it could also help the team financially. A new deal could lower his 2026 cap hit and give Roseman some much-needed flexibility. And flexibility will be key.
Because the Eagles have some big decisions looming.
Nakobe Dean turns 25 this month and is a vital piece in the middle of Vic Fangio’s defense. Jaelan Phillips, acquired at the trade deadline, has looked like a long-term fit off the edge.
And Jalen Carter - who helped anchor a Super Bowl-winning defense - becomes extension-eligible in 2026. He won’t come cheap.
Add in recent investments in Saquon Barkley, Lane Johnson, and Cam Jurgens, and the Eagles’ cap situation is getting tight. Over the Cap projects just $12 million in cap space for 2026. That’s not a lot of wiggle room for a team with so many high-level contributors.
So yes, there will be tough choices. There always are in Philly.
But Jordan Davis is making it harder and harder to justify waiting. He’s not just playing well - he’s becoming a cornerstone.
And if the Eagles want to keep building around that kind of talent, the time to act might be now.