Eagles at a Crossroads: Big Decisions Loom as Philly Eyes 2026 Reset
The Philadelphia Eagles are standing at a critical juncture heading into the 2026 NFL season. Fresh off a Super Bowl win in 2025-their third appearance in the big game over the last decade and first title under head coach Nick Sirianni-the franchise should, in theory, be riding high. They've got a Super Bowl MVP, arguably the top defensive coordinator in the league in Vic Fangio, and a roster packed with talent on both sides of the ball.
But beneath the surface, things feel far less stable.
The 2025 campaign, despite ending with hardware, was anything but smooth. The offense sputtered for long stretches, the locker room chemistry took noticeable hits, and the Eagles failed to land a top-tier offensive coordinator to help fix the issues.
Fangio flirted with retirement. Lane Johnson and Landon Dickerson might still walk away.
And Sirianni? Despite boasting the best win percentage in franchise history, his job could be on the line if the team doesn’t at least make it back to the NFC Championship Game.
That’s the razor-thin margin the Eagles are working with. And if Howie Roseman wants to steer this ship back into calmer waters, he may need to make some bold, potentially franchise-defining moves before the 2026 season kicks off.
Let’s talk about what those moves could look like-and why they might be necessary.
The A.J. Brown Dilemma
There’s no denying A.J. Brown’s talent.
When he’s locked in, he’s one of the most physically dominant wide receivers in the league. But the 2025 season exposed some cracks in the foundation of his relationship with the team-and possibly with the locker room.
Brown’s frustrations have been well-documented. He wants the ball early and often, and when that doesn’t happen, the tension is palpable. Whether it’s cryptic social media posts, podcast comments, or sideline body language, it’s clear that when things go south in the passing game, Brown doesn’t hide his discontent.
That frustration boiled over in the Wild Card loss to the 49ers. In a game where the Eagles needed their stars to shine, Brown came up short-dropping passes he usually hauls in, looking disengaged off the snap, and failing to make the kind of contested catches that have defined his career.
One bad game? Maybe. But in the context of a rocky season, it felt like something more.
Still, Brown’s value remains sky-high. He’s a proven commodity, and there are teams out there-particularly those drafting late in the first round-who would love to add a veteran playmaker to their offense. If Roseman believes there’s a player in this draft class who could be a long-term answer at a position of need-cornerback, offensive line, or even wide receiver-it’s not out of the question that Brown could be flipped for a first-rounder and maybe a mid-round sweetener.
It wouldn’t be the first time Brown was traded on draft night. And if the Eagles are serious about reshaping their identity and getting younger in key areas, this might be the moment to pull the trigger.
Maxx Crosby: The Perfect Fit for Philly’s Front
If there’s one player on the trade market who feels tailor-made for Philadelphia, it’s Maxx Crosby.
The longtime Raiders edge rusher is everything the Eagles value: durable, relentless, and productive. Over seven seasons, Crosby has logged a staggering 6,449 defensive snaps-five of those seasons with 900 or more.
That’s ironman stuff. He’s a versatile chess piece who can line up anywhere across the front, plays the run with power, and most importantly, gets home on the quarterback.
With 69.5 career sacks, including four double-digit seasons, Crosby is a game-wrecker.
And he does it all for a Raiders team that, frankly, hasn’t given him much help.
Now imagine dropping Crosby into a Vic Fangio defense that already features Jalen Carter, Jordan Davis, Nolan Smith, and Quinyon Mitchell. That’s not just a good unit-it’s a nightmare for opposing offenses. With Crosby anchoring one edge, the Eagles could rotate Smith and Jalyx Hunt on the other side and keep the pressure dialed up for four quarters.
The price? Likely a Day 2 pick-unless Crosby forces his way out or the Raiders decide to go full rebuild.
But here’s where things get interesting: Las Vegas desperately needs offensive firepower. If they’re intrigued by A.J.
Brown, a player-for-player swap could make sense for both sides. Philly would get a culture-setting edge rusher who never takes a play off.
The Raiders would add a dynamic receiver to help a stagnant offense.
It’s the kind of move that could redefine both teams.
Looking Ahead: A Franchise on the Brink
The Eagles aren’t in rebuild mode-not even close. But they are in a moment of transition. With aging veterans, looming contract extensions for young stars, and a coaching staff under pressure, the margin for error is slim.
Howie Roseman has never been shy about swinging big. If he sees a path to rejuvenate this roster-whether by moving on from a star receiver or adding a defensive cornerstone-he’s going to explore it.
And for a team that’s tasted the highs of a Super Bowl win and the lows of locker room dysfunction all within the same year, bold might be exactly what they need.