Jaelan Phillips agrees to four-year deal with Panthers as Eagles weigh free agency
Philadelphia edge rusher jaelan phillips agreed to terms with the Carolina Panthers on a four-year, $120 million deal as NFL free agency negotiations opened Monday at noon ET. The move reshapes the Eagles’ defensive priorities ahead of the official start of free agency Wednesday at 4 p. m. ET.
Jaelan Phillips deal with Carolina reshapes Philadelphia’s edge rusher outlook
Jaelan Phillips’ agreement with the Panthers includes $80 million guaranteed, leaving Philadelphia without a player the team had identified as a priority to re-sign. Phillips turns 27 in May, and his $30 million average annual value ranks eighth at his position, a figure cited in the context of his market value. With Phillips departing, Philadelphia’s need to add edge rushers became more pressing.
Philadelphia’s remaining contract outlook at the position adds to that urgency. Nolan Smith and Jalyx Hunt are listed as the only two 2025 active-roster players at edge rusher who are under contract in 2026, narrowing the team’s longer-term depth. The Eagles also have six starters set to become free agents, pointing to broader roster turnover on defense beyond the loss of jaelan phillips.
Howie Roseman navigates major decisions as free agency opens
General manager Howie Roseman faced a fast-moving market as teams began negotiating with agents at noon ET Monday, with free agency set to officially open Wednesday at 4 p. m. ET. A three-year, $78 million contract extension for defensive tackle Jordan Davis already is in place, underscoring the scale of financial decisions before the Eagles as the negotiating window unfolds.
That extension came in a news cycle that also included a major defensive trade elsewhere: the Baltimore Ravens gave up two first-round picks to acquire Raiders defender Maxx Crosby. Philadelphia’s situation on defense remains central, with the context emphasizing that Eagles fans should prepare to see new faces, and that the team is weighing realistic free agent targets and potential trades to address needs.
A. J. Brown chatter continues as Alec Pierce re-signs with Indianapolis
Trade discussions involving Eagles wide receiver A. J. Brown remained part of the broader roster conversation as the top free agent wide receiver market shifted. Alec Pierce said he is re-signing with the Indianapolis Colts after his first 1, 000-yard season with Daniel Jones at quarterback. The context noted that Pierce coming off the market removes one option for the New England Patriots, a team said to have interest in Pierce.
League activity at edge rusher also continued Monday, with the Dallas Cowboys acquiring Rashan Gary from the Green Bay Packers in a trade that sent a fourth-round pick in the 2027 NFL draft to Green Bay. The move was framed as help for a defense that allowed a league-high 511 points and 60 touchdowns last season, highlighting the competitive market Philadelphia now faces as it looks to replenish pass-rush depth after losing jaelan phillips.
Free agency officially begins Wednesday at 4 p. m. ET, after the negotiating period that opened Monday at noon ET, with Philadelphia set to make further decisions on how to replace departing talent and manage a roster that has six starters headed to the market.
