Eagles 2026 Free Agency Report Card: Grading Every Major Move Howie Roseman Made

Howie Roseman entered 2026 free agency with roughly $12.5 million in salary cap space, three defensive starters headed for the exit, and the entire NFL world wondering whether the Eagles were about to punt on the season. A week into the frenzy, we have enough data to grade the work. Some of it is genuinely smart. Some of it stings. All of it matters.

Let's break down every significant move and assign grades.

The Wins

Jordan Davis Extension — 3 years, $78 million | Grade: A

This was the first domino and it was the right one. Davis is 25 years old, a physical freak at 6-foot-6 and 340 pounds, and he's the anchor of a defensive line that defines this team's identity. Locking him down through 2029 while also lowering his 2026 cap hit is textbook Howie Roseman cap engineering. The price tag — roughly $26 million per year — is fair market value for an elite interior defender. He's not Chris Jones money, and he shouldn't be. But Davis is the kind of player you build around, and the Eagles did exactly that.

The real question now is Jalen Carter. Davis's deal suggests Carter is next, and reports indicate those talks are active. If Roseman can lock down both Georgia Bulldogs on team-friendly-ish deals, this defensive interior could be the best in football for the next half-decade.

Michael Carter II Renegotiation | Grade: B+

Carter II was staring at being cut with a $10 million cap hit. Instead, the Eagles reworked his deal to keep a versatile defensive back who can play nickel and safety — two positions where they just lost starters. It's not glamorous, but it's smart roster management. Carter II isn't a star, but he's a reliable piece in Vic Fangio's system, and keeping him at a reduced number gives the secondary some stability while the Eagles figure out longer-term answers.

Arnold Ebiketie Signing — 1 year | Grade: B

Ebiketie became expendable in Atlanta after they doubled up on edge rushers in the 2025 draft, but talent doesn't just disappear. The former second-round pick has legitimate pass-rush ability — 15.5 sacks in his first three seasons — and at 26, he's entering his physical prime. On a one-year prove-it deal, the risk is minimal. If he produces, the Eagles get a cheap edge rusher. If he doesn't, they move on. This is exactly the kind of signing a cap-strapped team should be making.

Riq Woolen Signing — 1 year, up to $15 million | Grade: B-

This one's trickier. Woolen is an absolute physical specimen — 6-foot-3 with 4.26 speed — and he was a revelation as a rookie with the Seahawks back in 2022. But his play has declined significantly since then, and there's a reason Seattle let him walk. The "up to" language in that $15 million deal matters. If the incentives are structured intelligently, this could be a low-risk flier on a ceiling player. If most of that money is guaranteed, it's an overpay for a guy who hasn't been a consistent starter in two years. The grade here depends heavily on the fine print.

The Losses

Jaelan Phillips to Panthers — 4 years, $120 million | Pain Level: High

This is the one that hurts. Phillips was a dominant pass rusher when healthy, and pairing him with Nolan Smith Jr. and Brandon Graham gave the Eagles one of the most dangerous edge rotations in football. But $120 million is an enormous commitment for a player with a significant injury history, and the Eagles clearly decided that was a bridge too far. The problem isn't the decision — it's the replacement plan. Ebiketie is fine as a rotational piece, but he's not Jaelan Phillips. The Eagles are banking heavily on Nolan Smith taking a Year 3 leap and Jalyx Hunt developing into a consistent contributor. If either of those bets misses, this defense has a pass-rush problem.

Nakobe Dean to Raiders — 3 years, $36 million | Pain Level: Medium

Dean was a fan favorite and a legitimate leader in that locker room. But the Eagles have Jihaad Campbell waiting in the wings — a rookie who flashed All-Pro potential and won PFWA All-Rookie honors. At $12 million per year, the Raiders overpaid for Dean relative to his production, and the Eagles were right not to match. This is a case where losing a good player isn't the same as making a bad decision. Campbell's ceiling is higher than Dean's, and Zack Baun isn't going anywhere. The linebacker room will be fine.

Reed Blankenship to Texans — 3 years, $24.75 million | Pain Level: Medium-High

Blankenship was the ultimate undrafted success story — a guy who went from nobody to starting safety on a Super Bowl contender. Losing him creates a genuine hole. The Eagles don't have an obvious replacement on the roster, and they didn't address safety in free agency beyond the Carter II renegotiation. This position needs to be addressed in the draft, period. If the Eagles enter training camp without adding a legitimate safety, that's a problem.

The Quiet Moves

Braden Mann's four-year, $14 million extension gives the Eagles stability at punter — not exactly a headline, but Mann has been a significant upgrade over the revolving door they had at the position. Johnny Mundt adds a blocking tight end, which this offense desperately needed. Grant Calcaterra coming back is fine. Jonathan Jones is a veteran corner who'll compete for a roster spot.

None of these moves individually are exciting, but collectively they represent a team filling gaps at the margins while keeping its powder dry for the draft.

Overall Grade: B

The Eagles didn't have the cap space to make a splash, and they didn't try to. Instead, Roseman played the hand he was dealt: lock down the defensive interior, add low-cost upside plays at edge and corner, rework deals to create flexibility, and let the market overpay for your departing players. That's smart football operations.

The concern is what happens next. This team still needs a safety, could use another edge rusher, and hasn't addressed wide receiver depth behind A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith after losing Jahan Dotson to Atlanta. The 2026 NFL Draft — where the Eagles hold picks in every round — suddenly becomes the most important draft of the Roseman era. If they nail it, this offseason will look like a masterclass in roster building. If they whiff, those defensive departures will haunt them all season.

For now, the grade is a B. Ask again after April.