Nolan Smith enters the 2026 season with more hanging over him than just his spot on the depth chart.
The Eagles picked up the 2023 first-rounder’s fifth-year option earlier this offseason, which keeps him under contract through at least the 2027 season. That gives Philadelphia some control, but it doesn’t erase the bigger question around Smith: what kind of future is he building in Philly after a season that went sideways?
There’s still a real player here. When Smith is healthy, he’s one of the NFL’s better run-defending edge rushers.
He also showed real finishing power late in 2024, piling up 10 1/2 sacks over the final 16 games of the season, playoffs included. He was a major piece of the Eagles’ Super Bowl LIX run.
Then came the injury in that game against the Chiefs. Smith suffered a triceps injury, opened the 2025 season on IR and ended up limited to 12 games, with three sacks and 11 QB hits. That’s the version of the story that has him at a crossroads now: a bounce-back year could put him on the path to a long-term deal, while another setback could make him a trade candidate.
Philadelphia is expecting more from him in 2026 if he can stay on the field. At 6-foot-2 and 238 pounds, Smith is a little undersized for the position, but his game is built on aggression and fearlessness.
That style can be a weapon. It can also take a toll.
The competition around him won’t make things any easier. Smith has a chance to lock down the second starting edge spot next to Pro Bowl trade acquisition Jonathan Greenard, but he’ll have to beat out Jalyx Hunt, who broke out in 2025.
The Eagles also brought in Arnold Ebiketie and A.J. Epenesa to add more juice to the rotation.
And there’s another layer here, too. Smith was arrested in May in Georgia and charged with speeding and reckless driving after reportedly going 135 mph in a 70 mph zone.
So when camp opens, Smith isn’t just fighting for snaps. He’s trying to answer questions about his contract, his health, his role and his off-field situation all at once.
In Other News...
Howie Roseman Has Become The NFL GM Nobody Wants To Face
Howie Roseman has spent years building a reputation as one of the NFLs most aggressive and efficient dealmakers, and around the league, that means other teams tend to stay on alert whenever Philadelphia gets involved. The Eagles general manager has become known for squeezing value out of negotiations, managing the cap with unusual precision and keeping his team in position to strike when the price is right.
Even rival executives acknowledge how difficult that can be to navigate. Chiefs GM Brett Veach recently praised Rosemans draft-day instincts on a podcast, the kind of respect that comes from knowing a call from Philadelphia can change the shape of a board in a hurry. Roseman has kept that pressure on with recent moves, including the A.J. Brown deal and a small climb in the 2025 draft to secure linebacker Jihaad Campbell, another reminder that the Eagles are rarely passive when a target is in reach. [Read more 🡒]
Eagles Suddenly Have A Trade Watch Fans Wont Feel Great About
With the NFL trade deadline set for Nov. 10, the Eagles are at the point in the roster cycle where depth charts start carrying real meaning. Philadelphia has already spent the summer and early part of camp sorting out competition at quarterback, tackle, special teams and defensive tackle, and that kind of internal traffic can create a few names worth monitoring if the right opportunity comes along.
Tanner McKee, Fred Johnson, Kelee Ringo and Thomas Booker Robinson all sit in different kinds of roster jams, and each has a path to becoming more valuable to another team than to the Eagles if the pecking order shifts. The bigger picture is that Philadelphia does not have a shortage of movable pieces, which is usually a sign a front office can be active if it wants to be, even if the most interesting conversations are still waiting to happen. [Read more 🡒]
Eagles Suddenly Have A Troubling Question Up Front
The Eagles guard picture looked stable enough on the surface with Landon Dickerson and Tyler Steen penciled in as the starters, but the concern is what comes after them. Dickersons injury history has long made that spot worth watching, and Steen now has a real chance to turn his first extended run into something more permanent if he takes another step in pass protection.
Michael Jordan was brought in at the end of minicamp to help shore up the depth chart, which tells you how unsettled the backup situation still is. For a team that wants to keep its offensive line among the leagues best, the question up front is not just who starts in Week 1, but who the Eagles trust if one of those two has to miss time. [Read more 🡒]