The Philadelphia Eagles’ season ended with a loss to the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday, immediately shifting focus to a critical offseason filled with roster decisions.
At a Glance
- 25 Eagles players are set to become free agents this offseason
- GM Howie Roseman intentionally avoided in-season extensions for all players
- Free agency negotiating window opens March 9, with the new league year starting March 11
- Why it matters: The Eagles must decide which of their key contributors to retain while managing salary cap space for 2026
The Eagles enter the 2026 offseason with 25 pending free agents across offense, defense, and special teams. General manager Howie Roseman maintained his recent strategy of not extending players during the season, creating a compressed timeline for negotiations once the offseason begins.
“We have a lot of good players who are free agents after this year,” Roseman said after this year’s trade deadline. “I think when you start picking favorites when you’re trying to compete for championships, there are other issues that come along with that. And so I think there’s going to be plenty of time to handle our business, however long the season lasts, and hopefully it’s a very long time. We’ll deal with all that when the time comes.”
Offensive Free Agents
Tight end Dallas Goedert headlines the offensive free agents after a resurgent 2025 season. The 31-year-old initially appeared unlikely to return before agreeing to a one-year deal for his eighth NFL season. Goedert played in 15 games, catching 60 passes for 591 yards and a career-high 11 touchdown catches, adding two more touchdowns in the playoff game.
Wide receiver Jahan Dotson completes his rookie deal after the Eagles acquired him from Washington ahead of the 2024 season. Serving as the WR3 behind A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith, Dotson’s production suffered in an offense that struggled to distribute targets effectively.
The offensive line faces potential changes with multiple free agents:
- Fred Johnson: Started 8 regular season games plus the playoff game after returning via trade from Jacksonville
- Brett Toth: Played more in 2025 than his previous six NFL seasons combined, filling in at center and guard
- Matt Pryor: Returned on a one-year deal but remained a backup at multiple positions
Other offensive free agents include:
- Grant Calcaterra: Fourth-year tight end who played in 62 games with 22 starts
- Kylen Granson: Special teams contributor who had minimal offensive role
- Sam Howell: Quarterback acquired via trade who was active just four times without playing
- A.J. Dillon: Running back with just 12 rushing attempts for 60 yards before losing his role
- Ben VanSumeren: Fullback lost for the season on the first kickoff against Dallas
Defensive Free Agents
Linebacker Nakobe Dean presents a significant decision after returning from a torn patellar tendon. The 25-year-old began the season on the PUP list before returning in Week 7 and playing well down the stretch. The 2022 third-round pick just completed his four-year rookie deal.
Outside linebacker Jaelan Phillips made an immediate impact after arriving via trade from Miami for a 2026 third-round pick. The former Dolphins first-round pick expressed early interest in making Philadelphia his long-term home and fit well both on-field and in the locker room.
The secondary faces potential overhaul with key starters hitting free agency:
- Reed Blankenship: Full-time starter for three seasons with 50 starts and 9 interceptions in four regular seasons
- Marcus Epps: Became starting safety after Drew Mukuba’s injury
- Adoree’ Jackson: CB2 who improved throughout the season after signing a one-year deal
The defensive line includes several veteran edge rushers on expiring contracts:
- Brandon Graham: Franchise games-played leader who came out of retirement mid-season
- Joshua Uche: Played 12 games with 1 sack
- Azeez Ojulari: Appeared in just 3 games before landing on IR
- Ogbo Okoronkwo: Played one game before IR designation
Special Teams
Punter Braden Mann enters free agency after a career year in his third season with Philadelphia. Mann punted 72 times in the regular season with a 49.9-yard average and 43.1-yard net average, placing 20 punts inside the 20-yard line.
Timeline and Next Steps
The Eagles face a compressed timeline for evaluating and negotiating with their free agents:
- March 9: Free agency negotiating window opens
- March 11: New league year officially begins
With 25 players set to hit the open market, Philadelphia must balance retaining key contributors with maintaining financial flexibility. The decision not to extend players during the season, while allowing focus on championship contention, now creates an urgent offseason agenda.
The Eagles’ front office must evaluate which players proved their value during the 2025 campaign and determine market values for potential re-signings. Several players, including Goedert, Phillips, and Dean, demonstrated their importance to the team’s success and could command significant interest from other franchises.
Key Takeaways
- The Eagles have 25 pending free agents across all position groups
- Dallas Goedert leads offensive free agents after an 11-touchdown season
- Nakobe Dean and Jaelan Phillips headline defensive decisions
- Braden Mann enters free agency following a career-best punting season
- All negotiations must be completed between March 9-11 after the Eagles’ purposeful in-season extension strategy
