The Eagles Have 24 Players in Contract Years — Here's How Howie Should Prioritize Them

The Philadelphia Eagles just finished a free agency period that reshaped their secondary, extended Jordan Davis, and brought back Dallas Goedert on a prove-it deal. But the real story isn't what Howie Roseman did in March — it's the avalanche of decisions barreling toward him over the next 12 months.

Twenty-four players on this roster are entering the final year of their contracts. Some are foundational pieces. Some are one-year rentals. And a handful will determine whether this championship window stays wide open or starts closing fast.

Let's tier them out.

Tier 1: Pay These Men Whatever They Want

Jalen Carter, DT — This isn't a debate. Carter is the most dominant interior defender in the NFL not named Aaron Donald, and Donald's retired. The fifth-year option buys time, but Roseman should get this extension done before the 2026 season starts. Every snap Carter plays on a rookie deal is a steal. The longer you wait, the more expensive he gets.

Nolan Smith, EDGE — Smith's development from raw first-rounder to legitimate edge threat has been one of the best stories on this defense. Exercise the fifth-year option immediately and start extension talks. With Jaelan Phillips gone to Carolina, Smith is the guy opposite Josh Sweat's replacement. You cannot let him walk.

Quinyon Mitchell, CB — Yes, technically Mitchell's extension window is 2027, but the planning starts now. Mitchell and Cooper DeJean form the best young cornerback tandem in football. Roseman knows that paying them both will be expensive. Start budgeting for it yesterday.

Tier 2: Bring Back, But at the Right Price

Dallas Goedert, TE — Goedert proved last season he's still elite when healthy. Eleven touchdowns and a franchise record for tight ends. But he's 31, and the one-year deal was smart business from both sides. If he stays healthy and produces in 2026, you bring him back on a reasonable two-year extension. You don't overpay for age-32 tight end seasons.

Moro Ojomo, DT — The unsung hero of this defensive line. Ojomo does the dirty work that lets Carter feast. He's not a $15 million-a-year player, but he's a $8-10 million-a-year player who makes everyone around him better. Lock him up before someone else figures out what they're missing.

Tier 3: The One-Year Fliers That Could Change Everything

This is where Roseman's free agency strategy gets interesting. Six of those 24 contract-year players signed one-year deals this offseason. They're essentially auditions.

Riq Woolen, CB — The most fascinating gamble on the roster. Woolen has the physical tools of a Pro Bowl corner — 6-foot-3, elite speed, ball skills. Seattle gave up on him, and Philly pounced. If he plays like the guy who had six interceptions as a rookie, this becomes one of the best signings of the offseason. If he doesn't, the Eagles get a compensatory pick when he walks. That's smart roster construction either way.

Arnold Ebiketie, EDGE — Sixteen and a half sacks in four years with Atlanta, but only 12 career starts. Ebiketie is a pass-rush specialist who could thrive in Vic Fangio's system. At worst, he's rotational depth. At best, he's the edge rusher this team has been missing since Brandon Graham hung it up.

Marquise Brown, WR — Hollywood Brown catching passes from Jalen Hurts should terrify defensive coordinators. He still separates at an elite level, and with A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith drawing double teams, Brown could feast underneath. The question is durability — it always is with him.

Andy Dalton, QB — Don't overthink this one. Dalton is a veteran backup who knows how to manage a game if Hurts goes down. The interesting subplot is what his presence means for Tanner McKee's development. McKee should be worried.

Jonathan Jones, CB — Veteran nickel corner who started 14-plus games three straight years in New England. Depth and experience at a position where the Eagles lost bodies this offseason. Low risk, solid floor.

Tier 4: Let the Market Decide

Chance Campbell, LB — Rotational linebacker on a cheap deal. If he balls out, great. If not, the draft is deep at the position.

Johnny Mundt, TE — Blocking tight end who fills a real need. Not a sexy signing, but the run game suffered without a mauler at TE2 last season. If Mundt does his job, he'll get another deal somewhere.

The Big Picture: Roseman's Chess Match

Here's what makes this offseason different from the last few: the Eagles aren't just managing one year. They're managing three.

The Jordan Davis extension at three years and $78 million sets the market for Jalen Carter, who will command significantly more. Locking up Carter, Smith, Mitchell, and DeJean over the next two offseasons will eat a massive chunk of cap space. That $32.9 million in current cap room sounds like a lot until you realize it needs to fund a draft class, potential midseason acquisitions, and the beginning of those extension conversations.

Roseman's track record says he'll find a way. The Michael Carter II renegotiation freed up space without losing the player. The Goedert one-year deal avoided a long-term commitment to an aging tight end. These are the kinds of moves that keep the machine running.

But the margin for error is thinner than it's been since the 2022 Super Bowl run. Every one-year flier needs to hit. Every extension needs to be team-friendly. And the 2026 draft — especially with the Eagles picking in the late first round again — needs to produce immediate contributors.

Twenty-four contract-year players. A salary cap that rewards creativity and punishes sentimentality. And a GM who's proven he can navigate both.

This is Howie Roseman's most important offseason yet. And it's barely even started.