Eagles 2026 Free Agency: Who to Keep, Who to Let Walk, and Who's Already Gone

Free agency opens March 11. The Eagles have 21 players hitting the market. And if you think Howie Roseman is going to keep them all, you haven't been paying attention to how this front office operates.

The 2026 offseason is shaping up to be one of the most consequential in recent Eagles history. Not because of a splashy trade or a franchise-altering draft pick — but because of the sheer volume of decisions Roseman has to make in the next three weeks. Some of these are easy. Some are agonizing. Let's break down every tier.

Tier 1: Bring Them Back — No Debate

Dallas Goedert is the easiest call on this list. The tight end doubled his career high with 11 touchdowns in 2025, and at 31, he's still one of the most reliable targets in the passing game. He restructured down to $10 million last year, and all signs point to him taking a similar team-friendly deal to stay in Philly. You don't replace that production and that locker room presence for what he's going to cost. Get it done.

Nakobe Dean is the more interesting conversation, but the answer is the same: bring him back. After a career-high 128 tackles in 2024 and four sacks in 10 games last season, Dean has proven he belongs as a starter in this defense. More importantly, he's a chemistry guy. The defense feeds off his energy. With Zack Baun locked up on a three-year, $51 million deal, pairing him with Dean gives you one of the best linebacker tandems in the NFC. Dean wants to be here. Make it mutual.

Tier 2: The Tough Call — Reed Blankenship

This is where it gets uncomfortable. Reed Blankenship is a captain, a leader, and an undrafted success story that Philly fans love. He started 50 games for this team. But the market is going to price him somewhere around $7-10 million per year, and the Eagles have Cooper DeJean developing behind him with the versatility to play safety.

Here's the reality: the Eagles need to extend Jalen Carter, and Jordan Davis's contract situation looms large. Every dollar spent on Blankenship is a dollar that can't go toward locking up the interior defensive line that actually drives this defense. If Blankenship will take a two-year deal around $10 million per year, you do it. If another team offers him $14 million? You let him walk, wish him well, and trust your young secondary.

Tier 3: Let Them Walk — No Regrets

Jahan Dotson was a first-round pick. He has 37 catches in two seasons with the Eagles. That's the whole story. The acquisition was a swing and a miss, and there's no reason to compound it by overpaying a receiver who can't crack the rotation behind A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith. Let him find a fresh start somewhere else.

AJ Dillon played seven games and had 60 rushing yards. Sixty. On a team that runs the ball as well as any in football, Dillon couldn't carve out a role. He's 28 and coming off a neck injury. Move on.

Grant Calcaterra is a fine backup tight end. That's exactly what he is — fine. With Goedert coming back and C.J. Uzomah in the mix, there's no need to prioritize a sixth-round pick who maxes out at 15 catches a year.

Tier 4: The Farewell Tour — Brandon Graham

BG is a legend. The strip-sack in Super Bowl LII is etched into Philadelphia sports history forever. But this time, the retirement needs to stick. Graham gave everything to this franchise across 15 seasons, and there's nothing left to prove. Ring of Honor, jersey retirement, all of it — he's earned every bit. But the roster spot needs to go to someone who can rush the passer in 2026.

The Big Picture

The Eagles' 2026 offseason isn't about making a splash. It's about surgical precision. Roseman has to balance extending Carter and Davis against re-signing the complementary pieces that made this defense elite. The salary cap is projected around $279 million, but Howie's pre-restructured contract structures limit flexibility more than the raw numbers suggest.

The priority list should be clear: Goedert and Dean first, Blankenship if the price is right, and then use the draft and bargain free agency to fill the gaps. Jaelan Phillips is another name to watch — if Vic Fangio's defense can maximize his pass rush ability, keeping him could be more valuable than any external addition.

This is what separates good franchises from great ones. Not the big free agent signings — those are easy. It's knowing when to pay your guys, when to let them go, and having the draft capital ready to replace what you lose. The Eagles have the front office to get this right. Now they have to execute.