Bradley Chubb Might Be the Eagles' Best Remaining Edge Rusher Option — Here's Why

The Eagles lost Jaelan Phillips. The trade market for Jonathan Greenard is a feeding frenzy with half the league calling Minnesota. The free agent edge rusher class has been picked over and overpriced. So where does Howie Roseman turn for pass rush help?

The answer might be sitting right there in the bargain bin: Bradley Chubb.

The former first-round pick was released by the Miami Dolphins as part of their salary cap teardown this offseason. At 30 years old with a shoulder injury in his rear-view mirror, Chubb isn't the same player who was considered one of the NFL's elite edge rushers. But he's still a legitimate starter, and more importantly, he might come cheap.

Why Chubb Makes Sense for Philadelphia

The math is simple. Jaelan Phillips got $30 million per year. Uchenna Nwosu got $20 million. Boye Mafe landed $20 million. Even second-tier edge rushers are commanding absurd money in this market. Chubb, because of his age (30) and injury history, probably lands in the high teens on a short-term deal — maybe two years, $35-38 million.

That's significantly less than what it would cost to trade for Greenard (day-two draft capital plus a $25 million per year extension) while still getting a legitimate pass rusher who can start from Day 1. Chubb posted 8.5 sacks in 2025 — not his best season, but respectable production that would immediately make him the Eagles' best edge defender.

The Case Against Greenard

Don't get it twisted — Jonathan Greenard is the better player. He's younger, more explosive, and has more upside. But the cost of acquiring him is prohibitive for an Eagles team that needs to reload on offense too.

Trading a second-round pick (or higher) for Greenard means losing a valuable draft asset during a retool. Then you're handing him $25 million per year on top of that. When the Eagles still need to figure out tight end, potentially address wide receiver if A.J. Brown is traded, and shore up the offensive line after Jeff Stoutland's departure, burning premium resources on one position feels shortsighted.

Chubb gives the Eagles 80% of the production at 60% of the cost, with no draft capital attached. In a retooling year, that's the smart play.

The Short-Term Bridge

Here's the real appeal of a Chubb signing: it's a bridge, not a commitment. Sign him for two years while Nolan Smith and Jalyx Hunt develop. If Smith breaks out in 2026 as the full-time starter, Chubb becomes a premium rotational piece who keeps everyone fresh. If Smith doesn't take the leap, Chubb is your insurance policy.

Meanwhile, the Eagles can use their 2026 draft picks — including pick 23 — on offensive needs or a young edge rusher who can be the long-term answer. Malakai Lawrence from Northwestern or another defensive end prospect in the first two rounds could develop behind Chubb and Smith.

The Bottom Line

Is Bradley Chubb a sexy signing? No. He's not going to get fans excited the way a Greenard trade would. He's not Jaelan Phillips. He's a 30-year-old coming off a shoulder injury who just got cut by a rebuilding team.

But he's also a former first-round pick who had 8.5 sacks last season, who knows how to rush the passer at the NFL level, and who would come at a fraction of the market rate. In a year where the Eagles need to be smart with every dollar and every draft pick, that combination of production, price, and flexibility is hard to beat.

Howie Roseman has built his reputation on finding value where others don't look. Bradley Chubb might be the ultimate value play in the 2026 edge rusher market.