The Philadelphia Eagles’ coaching search may have dominated headlines lately, but with Sean Mannion stepping into the offensive coordinator role, the spotlight now shifts to a much bigger challenge: navigating a pivotal offseason with some major roster decisions looming.
The good news for Eagles fans? The front office just got a significant boost in its financial toolkit.
According to NFL insider Tom Pelissero, the league has informed teams that the projected 2026 salary cap will land somewhere between $301.2 million and $305.7 million. That’s a jump of about $20 million from the 2025 cap-and nearly $100 million more than what teams were working with back in 2022. In short, the financial landscape is expanding, and few general managers are better positioned to take advantage of that than Howie Roseman.
More Cap Space, More Options
This cap increase couldn’t come at a better time for Philly. The Eagles are staring down the possibility of losing key defensive contributors in free agency, including Jaelan Phillips, Nakobe Dean, and Reed Blankenship. With more room to maneuver financially, Roseman and the front office have a better shot at retaining some, if not all, of those core pieces.
Phillips figures to be the most expensive of the trio, and arguably the most essential to keep. His ability to disrupt opposing offenses and set the tone up front makes him a foundational piece of the Eagles’ defense moving forward. Dean and Blankenship bring their own value-Dean with his sideline-to-sideline range and leadership, and Blankenship as a reliable presence in the secondary-but it’s Phillips who will likely command the biggest chunk of that expanded cap.
Strategic Moves Still on the Table
Even with the cap boost, it’s not as simple as opening the checkbook. The Eagles still need to be strategic, especially with long-term planning in mind.
One of the more drastic options reportedly under consideration is trading wide receiver A.J. Brown.
Now, let’s be clear: moving a player of Brown’s caliber would be a seismic shift. It would generate a significant dead cap hit, but if executed in the summer, it could also free up around $7 million in space.
Another lever the Eagles could pull? Restructuring Jalen Hurts’ contract.
Hurts is the franchise quarterback, and any move involving his deal would need to be carefully crafted to maintain flexibility while keeping the team’s long-term stability intact. But a well-structured adjustment could provide immediate relief to help retain key talent or pursue upgrades.
Eyes on the Future
The Eagles’ front office can’t afford to think only in the short term. Yes, the $20 million cap bump gives them breathing room this offseason, but they’ll need to keep an eye on future extensions for their rising stars. The last thing Roseman wants is to be handcuffed a year or two down the road because of overly aggressive spending now.
Still, this is the kind of scenario where Roseman thrives. With more financial flexibility than expected and a roster that’s a few smart moves away from contending again, the Eagles are in a position to make some noise this offseason. If Roseman plays his cards right-and history suggests he often does-Philadelphia could walk away from the coming months with a reloaded, reenergized roster built to compete deep into January.
Bottom line: the rest of the NFL should be paying attention. With a bigger cap and Howie Roseman calling the shots, the Eagles are about to get very interesting.