Grading the Eagles' 2026 Free Agency: A Position-by-Position Breakdown

The first wave of NFL free agency is in the books, and the Eagles are sitting pretty with $32.9 million in cap space and a roster that looks fundamentally different than the one that went one-and-done in the NFC playoffs. Howie Roseman did what Howie Roseman does — played chess while half the league played checkers.

But did Philadelphia actually get better? Let's break it down position by position.

Defensive Line: A

This is where Roseman swung the biggest hammer. Jordan Davis locked in with a three-year, $78 million extension — and before you choke on your cheesesteak, understand what that number represents. Davis is 25 years old, a physical freak who clogs running lanes and generates interior pressure. Pair him with Jalen Carter, who's next in line for a monster deal, and Moro Ojomo continuing to develop, and this interior is terrifying for offensive coordinators.

The Eagles' defensive line has been their identity for years, and Roseman made it crystal clear: that's not changing. The depth with Milton Williams and the rotational pieces keeps everyone fresh for January. This group grades out as the best interior defensive line room in football. Period.

Edge Rushers: B-

Here's where it gets complicated. Jaelan Phillips bolting to Carolina hurts — there's no sugarcoating that. The man had double-digit sack potential when healthy, and now he's gone. But the Eagles aren't exactly panicking. Jalyx Hunt finished his second year with 52 tackles and 6.5 sacks, and he's stepping into that No. 1 role with legitimate star potential. Nolan Smith is now a projected starter on the other side, and the addition of Arnold Ebiketie provides experienced depth.

The concern? There's no proven 10-sack guy in this room right now. Hunt could get there — the tools are ridiculous — but banking on a third-year player to be your primary pass rusher is a calculated risk. If the Eagles don't address this in the draft, this grade drops to a C by September.

Secondary: B+

Roseman performed surgery here, and it was aggressive. Out went Reed Blankenship to Houston, Sydney Brown via trade, and Adoree' Jackson to the open market. In came Riq Woolen on a one-year deal, Jonathan Jones for veteran savvy, Marcus Epps, and J.T. Gray.

Woolen is the headline. The man is 6-foot-3 with elite ball skills and ran a 4.26 forty. If he plays to his ceiling opposite Quinyon Mitchell and Cooper DeJean, this secondary could be the best in the NFC East. Michael Carter II reworked his deal and could slide to safety, giving Vic Fangio more versatility in his packages.

The grade would be higher if they'd landed a true free safety with range. But the youth and athleticism in this room is undeniable.

Linebackers: C+

Nakobe Dean's departure to the Raiders leaves a real hole. Dean wasn't a Pro Bowler, but he was reliable, physical, and knew the system. The plan is for Jihaad Campbell, last year's first-round pick, to step into the starting role — but there's a catch. Campbell is rehabbing shoulder surgery and will miss the entire offseason program. That means Jeremiah Trotter Jr. gets all the reps this spring and summer.

Trotter showed flashes as a rookie, but asking him to anchor the linebacker corps while Campbell recovers is a lot. This position group needs a draft pick or a veteran addition before the Eagles can feel comfortable. Roseman knows it. Expect movement here before April is over.

Offensive Line: A-

The best news of the offseason might be the quietest: Lane Johnson and Landon Dickerson are back. When your franchise right tackle and your Pro Bowl left guard both return, you don't need to make splashy moves. You just exhale.

The interior remains elite with Jason Kelce's successor holding it down and Dickerson mauling people at guard. The depth took a hit with Brett Toth and Matt Pryor leaving, which means Drew Kendall and the swing tackle battle between Myles Hinton and Cameron Williams becomes critical. Roseman could easily grab an offensive tackle in the first or second round of the draft to shore this up.

The starting five? Best in football. The depth? That's where the minus comes from.

Tight Ends: B+

Dallas Goedert coming back on a one-year deal was massive — not just for the production, but because letting him walk would've triggered a $20.5 million dead cap charge. That's the kind of financial disaster that cripples a roster. Grant Calcaterra re-signed on a one-year deal, and Johnny Mundt brings the blocking ability this offense desperately lacked in 2025.

The run game suffered last year partly because there wasn't a reliable blocking tight end on the field. Mundt fixes that immediately. Goedert remains one of the best receiving tight ends in football when healthy. This room went from a question mark to a strength in two weeks.

Wide Receivers: B

Losing the Dotson brothers to Atlanta stings, but Hollywood Brown's addition and Johnny Wilson's return from injury give Jalen Hurts plenty of weapons. AJ Brown and DeVonta Smith are still the top duo in the NFL — that hasn't changed.

The depth is younger and less proven than it was a year ago. Darius Cooper's development will be key, and the Eagles need a reliable WR3 to emerge. This could be a draft priority as well, but the top of this room is so good it masks a lot of the depth concerns.

Quarterback: Incomplete (But Promising)

Jalen Hurts gets a new offensive staff with Sean Mannion as coordinator, Josh Grizzard, and Jerrod Johnson working with the quarterbacks. The 2025 offense was historically efficient in the red zone — a 70.5% touchdown rate that was the best in the NFL and a franchise record. Hurts doesn't need a radical overhaul. He needs schematic creativity and play-calling that keeps defenses guessing.

Mannion is widely credited with developing Malik Willis from a bust into the most coveted free agent QB on the market. If he can unlock another gear from Hurts, watch out.

The Bottom Line

The Eagles lost real players this offseason — Phillips, Dean, Blankenship, the Dotsons. Those departures matter. But Roseman's strategy is clear: lock up the core (Davis, Goedert), inject youth and upside (Woolen, Hunt stepping up), and keep $32.9 million in reserve for the draft and any mid-offseason opportunities.

Overall offseason grade: B+

The draft in Pittsburgh will determine whether this becomes an A. If the Eagles land an edge rusher or linebacker in the first round and an offensive tackle on Day 2, this roster is a legitimate Super Bowl contender. Again.

Howie's not done yet. He never is.