The Eagles’ 2025 offseason wasn’t about splashy signings or headline-grabbing deals. In fact, it was one of the quietest under general manager Howie Roseman’s watch - and that’s saying something for a guy who’s never been afraid to swing big.
But instead of making bold moves, Philly played the long game, bringing in 12 players on one-year contracts. No long-term commitments, no major gambles - just veterans with something to prove.
The logic? Simple.
Bring in experienced players in their mid-to-late 20s, let them compete, and see who earns a spot beyond 2025. It was a low-risk, potentially high-reward approach.
But now that the season’s wrapped, it’s time to ask the real question: who made the most of their audition, and who left the Eagles still searching for answers?
Best of the Bunch: Quiet Contributions That Mattered
Let’s start with a name that probably won’t light up any highlight reels, but made a real impact - Charley Hughlett. The veteran long snapper stepped in for Rick Lovato, a Philly staple at the position, and while Hughlett battled some injury issues, when he was healthy, he delivered.
Special teams might not get much love, but consistency at long snapper is one of those things you only notice when it goes wrong - and with Hughlett, it didn’t. That’s a win.
Now, Adoree' Jackson might be a polarizing pick here, but hear this out. His first half of the season?
Rough. No sugarcoating it.
But in the back stretch, Jackson quietly turned things around. Outside of a tough outing in the NFC Wild Card loss to the 49ers, he held his own and filled in admirably as CB2 after Darius Slay’s departure.
He may not be back in 2026, but Jackson gave Philly some stability when the secondary needed it most.
Another early-season standout was Joshua Uche. Before Jaelan Phillips arrived via trade and took over the edge rotation, Uche was doing real damage.
In limited snaps, he racked up 23 pressures, 21 hurries, and a sack - numbers that speak to his disruptive potential. Unfortunately, once Phillips came in, Uche was pushed to the sidelines, relegated to special teams or inactive status.
Still, for a half-season rental, he showed flashes that teams around the league will remember.
The Misses: High Hopes, Low Impact
Of course, not every one-year deal pans out, and a few of these rentals simply didn’t click. Two names stand out in particular: Azeez Ojulari and A.J. Dillon.
Ojulari came in with buzz - a young edge rusher with upside who seemed like a classic Roseman reclamation project. But it never materialized.
He struggled to find a role on special teams, got buried in the edge rotation, and once he went down with an injury, his time in Philly was essentially over. A swing-and-miss, plain and simple.
Then there’s Dillon. The bruising back was expected to provide depth and physicality behind the starter, but a disastrous Week 6 against the Giants - a muffed kickoff and a fumble on offense within minutes - sealed his fate.
He was inactive the rest of the year, with Tank Bigsby stepping in as the backup. For a player trying to reset his career, it was a tough break - and a short stay.
The Bigger Picture: Rentals and Rebuilds
This wasn’t a free agent class built to carry the Eagles. Roseman’s strategy was clear from the jump: short-term deals, low financial commitment, and a focus on the draft. With Philly looking to retool and get younger, 2025 was more about plugging holes than building a foundation.
And that’s probably what we’ll see again this offseason - calculated, short-term additions while the front office continues to prioritize the draft and long-term development. Not every signing hit, but a few - like Hughlett, Jackson, and Uche - gave the Eagles just enough value to justify the approach.
In the end, Philly didn’t find any stars in this batch, but they also didn’t mortgage the future. And for a team trying to stay competitive while reshaping its core, that’s a trade-off Roseman seems willing to make again.