The Philadelphia Eagles are heading into 2026 with a familiar core but a roster that’s about to see some real turnover. After a disappointing end to their 2025 campaign - a Wild Card exit at the hands of the 49ers - the Birds are staring down a pivotal offseason.
And while stars like Jalen Hurts, Saquon Barkley, and the entire offensive line remain under contract, the team has more than a dozen players set to hit free agency. Not all of them will be back in midnight green.
Let’s break it down.
The Core Is Intact - But Change Is Coming
On offense, the Eagles are still built around Jalen Hurts, with Barkley in the backfield and a rock-solid offensive line that continues to be one of the league’s best units. Defensively, young standout Jalen Carter returns up front, and the secondary still boasts All-Pro talent in Quinyon Mitchell and Cooper DeJean. Zack Baun remains under contract as well.
But the list of pending free agents is long, and the front office - led by Howie Roseman - has some tough decisions to make.
Jaelan Phillips and Nakobe Dean: On the Bubble
Jaelan Phillips, acquired midseason for a third-round pick, is a strong candidate to return. The Eagles didn’t trade for him just to let him walk months later. His pass-rushing upside is too valuable, especially given the team’s need to generate more consistent pressure.
Nakobe Dean is another name to watch. He quietly turned in some of his best football late in the year and, at times, looked like the most impactful defender on the field. If the Eagles want to maintain continuity at linebacker - a position that’s been a revolving door in recent years - Dean makes a lot of sense.
Still, not everyone will be back. And for some players, that playoff loss might’ve been their final snap in Philly.
Is This the End of the Road for Dallas Goedert?
Dallas Goedert has been a fixture in the Eagles' offense for eight seasons - a reliable, tough, do-it-all tight end who helped the team reach two Super Bowls and win one in 2024. Drafted in the second round after the Eagles’ first Super Bowl title, Goedert was once the prototypical modern tight end: big enough to block, athletic enough to stretch the field.
But time and injuries have taken their toll.
While he’s still a savvy route-runner and a trusted target for Hurts, Goedert’s impact in the run game has diminished. That’s forced the Eagles to lean on players like Grant Calcaterra in blocking situations - not exactly ideal when you’re trying to keep your offense balanced.
At 31, Goedert’s future in Philly is uncertain. It’s not unlike what we saw with Zach Ertz back in 2021 - still talented, still productive in spots, but no longer the long-term answer.
If the Eagles are looking to inject youth into the tight end room, the draft could be their best bet. And unless the market is unusually quiet, it’s tough to see Goedert returning in 2026.
Reed Blankenship: A Development Win, But a Question Mark Moving Forward
Reed Blankenship is one of the best stories to come out of Philly’s recent player development pipeline. Undrafted out of East Tennessee State, he climbed the depth chart quickly and became a full-time starter, bringing energy, leadership, and a knack for finding the football.
On the stat sheet, he’s been productive - nine interceptions and 23 passes defensed over four seasons. But the tape tells a more complicated story.
Blankenship was the lowest-graded starter on the Eagles defense last year, and his struggles were especially glaring in the playoff loss to San Francisco. Missed tackles, blown assignments - it was a rough outing at the worst possible time.
With Christian Parker now the defensive coordinator in Dallas, there’s already buzz that Blankenship could follow him to the Cowboys. And if that happens, it’s hard to imagine the Eagles engaging in a bidding war. They’ve got depth in the secondary, and while Blankenship’s leadership is valuable, the performance on the field has to match.
WR3 Still a Problem: Jahan Dotson’s Time Likely Up
If there’s one starting spot that absolutely needs to be upgraded, it’s WR3.
Jahan Dotson was brought in from Washington with plenty of hype. The Eagles gave up a third-round pick and more to land him, hoping he’d be the final piece in a high-powered receiving trio alongside A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith.
It didn’t pan out.
Dotson’s numbers over two seasons in Philly were underwhelming - 19 catches in 2024, 18 more in 2025. Even when Brown or Smith missed time, Dotson didn’t step up the way the team hoped.
The targets were there. The production wasn’t.
Could he revive his career elsewhere? Absolutely.
We’ve seen it before - Olamide Zaccheaus, the guy Dotson replaced, bounced back with Washington and played a key role in Chicago’s Super Bowl run last year. But after two seasons of limited impact, a fresh start feels inevitable for both Dotson and the Eagles.
What’s Next?
The Eagles aren’t blowing it up. Their foundation is still strong, and with Hurts under center and plenty of talent on both sides of the ball, they’ll remain in the playoff mix. But this offseason will be a test of Roseman’s ability to retool on the fly - something he’s done well in the past.
Replacing aging veterans, making smart draft picks, and hitting on a few key free agents will be critical if the Eagles want to get back to the Super Bowl conversation in 2026.
The pieces are there. Now it’s about making the right moves.