Jaelan Phillips’ half-season cameo in Philadelphia ended with a playoff loss and a locker room he called home, yet his future with the Eagles is suddenly a blank page.
At a Glance
- Phillips, acquired from Miami for a 2026 third-round pick, will hit free agency in March
- He logged 2 sacks, 7 QB hits and 34 pressures in eight regular-season games for Philadelphia
- The 26-year-old played 819 snaps and appeared in 17 games, proving he can stay healthy after back-to-back season-ending injuries
- Why it matters: If the Eagles re-sign him, they keep a productive edge rusher; if he walks, they could gain a 2027 compensatory pick
Uncertain Future After Strong First Impression
The Eagles swung the trade in November to give their pass rush a late-season jolt. Phillips arrived with familiarity-he had already played for defensive coordinator Vic Fangio-and the fit clicked immediately. While the box scores never exploded, the tape showed a player who could tilt blocking schemes.
Across eight regular-season contests, Phillips produced:
- 2 sacks
- 7 quarterback hits
- 4 tackles for loss
- 34 total pressures
Only rookies Jalyx Hunt and Nolan Smith generated more pressure for Philadelphia this season, underscoring how quickly Phillips carved out a role.
Health Concerns Put to Rest
Durability was the silent stat line. After rupturing an Achilles in 2023 and suffering another serious injury in 2024, Phillips answered the bell every week in midnight green. He took 78 percent of the defensive snaps after the trade and absorbed 819 total regular-season snaps-no small workload for a mid-season arrival.
“I don’t really know,” Phillips said the day after Philadelphia’s 23-19 wild-card defeat in San Francisco, when asked about free agency. “It’s up to my agent and ultimately up to me too. But it’s my first experience with it so I’m not really sure how it plays out. But we’ll see. I’m excited.”
Family, Wins and Culture Top Wish List
The former first-round pick out of UCLA now weighs football and fatherhood. His partner is expecting their first child, adding urgency to the upcoming decision.
“Obviously, I’ve got a family now,” he said. “I’ve got a kid on the way so I’ve got to think about that. But also I want to be on a competitive team, in an environment where I love the guys I’m around and love the organization that I’m playing for. I feel like I feel that here. So, yeah, we’ll see.”
No In-Season Talks Part of Team Policy
Phillips revealed the Eagles have not approached him about an extension. That silence is intentional. General manager Howie Roseman has skipped in-season negotiations for two straight years, citing chemistry concerns when only selected players receive new deals during playoff pushes.
If Philadelphia lets Phillips test the market, his departure would slot into the compensatory-pick formula. A lucrative contract elsewhere could return a 2027 draft choice to the Eagles, softening the sting of losing a rotational pass rusher.
Ready for Next Chapter, Wherever It Leads
The emotions of leaving Miami still linger. Phillips called the late-October trade “the greatest thing that’s happened to me in my whole life,” but he also recognizes roster turnover is part of the business.
“Yeah, I think it would be difficult,” he admitted when asked about potentially departing Philadelphia. “But that’s kind of what just happened with the Dolphins too. I fit in with those guys very well, I was very close with those guys and came here and fit in with these guys. Ultimately, I’m confident in myself that wherever I do end up, I’ll be able to make the most out of it.”
Key Takeaways
- Phillips’ durability rebound boosts his market value after two injury-shortened years
- The Eagles hold no exclusive rights beyond March, making his return a pure negotiation
- A compensatory pick hangs in the balance if another team pries him away
- Philadelphia’s edge room would lose proven depth, pressuring the front office to find replacements either in free agency or April’s draft
