With the Philadelphia Eagles, the offseason isn’t so much a break as it is a different kind of battleground. And for general manager Howie Roseman, February is when the real game begins - the one played behind the scenes, in contract negotiations and strategic roster moves.
Right now, the biggest piece on Roseman’s board? Jaelan Phillips.
A Midseason Bet That’s Now Up for Review
When the Eagles traded for Phillips at the deadline last October, the move was clear: bolster a pass rush that needed one more gear to make a Super Bowl push. Phillips wasn’t a flop, but he wasn’t a home run either - at least not yet. What he did show was exactly why the Eagles made the move in the first place: burst, disruption, and the kind of edge presence that forces quarterbacks to speed up their internal clock.
Phillips logged 44 pressures in just nine games with Philly, recording at least two in every appearance. That’s not just productive - that’s consistent disruption.
And in his debut? Seven pressures, leading all Eagles defenders.
That kind of immediate impact is hard to ignore.
But now comes the hard part: his contract is up, and keeping him won’t come cheap.
The $28 Million Decision
If the Eagles want to keep Phillips off the open market, the franchise tag is the most immediate tool at their disposal. But this year’s projected tag for edge rushers is no small number - somewhere between $27.5 and $28 million. That’s a steep price for a team that traditionally prefers to build its pass rush by committee rather than investing heavily in a single star.
Philly’s defensive philosophy has always leaned on depth - rotating fresh legs, keeping pressure constant from multiple spots. So committing nearly $30 million to one player, even one as talented as Phillips, would be a major pivot from the norm.
But there’s a case to be made.
Why the Tag Makes Sense
Roseman isn’t in the habit of giving up premium draft picks for short-term rentals. He spent a third-rounder to land Phillips, and tagging him gives the Eagles leverage - both in negotiations and in roster flexibility.
By applying the tag, the Eagles buy time. Time to work out a long-term deal that fits their cap strategy.
Time to build an extension with the usual Roseman hallmarks: void years, signing bonuses, and creative structuring that could drop Phillips’ 2026 cap hit to something closer to $8-$10 million. That’s a much more palatable number for a team that still has other roster priorities to manage.
The Tag-and-Trade Option
Of course, if the numbers don’t line up and Phillips is looking for something well beyond what the Eagles are willing to commit, there’s another play on the board: tag and trade.
Phillips is just 26 and has proven he’s fully bounced back from his Achilles injury. That makes him a hot commodity - especially for teams with cap space to burn and a need for a game-changing edge rusher.
Think Tennessee, Vegas, or the Chargers. All three could use a player like Phillips, and all three have the flexibility to make a move.
In that scenario, Roseman essentially flips his 2025 third-round investment into a potentially higher 2026 return. It’s a classic value play - not ideal, but smart business if a long-term deal isn’t in the cards.
What Comes Next
The Eagles are built in the trenches. That’s not just a mantra - it’s how they’ve structured their roster for years. And when you’ve got a 26-year-old edge rusher who’s consistently producing, you don’t usually let that kind of talent walk - especially when you’re still in a championship window.
So yes, expect the Eagles to use the franchise tag on Phillips. But don’t view it as the final move. More likely, it’s the opening gambit in a longer game - one that ends with Phillips in midnight green for the foreseeable future, possibly through 2030.
In Philly, the season never really stops. It just shifts to a different kind of pressure - and that’s something Jaelan Phillips knows a thing or two about.