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Eagles Edge Rusher Options in 2026 Free Agency: Who's Still Available?

With Trey Hendrickson gone to Baltimore and Bradley Chubb signing cheap in Buffalo, the Eagles' edge rush market is collapsing fast. Here's who's left and what the real options look like.

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The JAKIB Staff

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The Edge Rush Market Is Disappearing

The Eagles needed a pass rusher before free agency started. Three days in, the situation has gotten worse, not better.

Trey Hendrickson agreed to a monster deal with the Baltimore Ravens after they backed out of the Maxx Crosby trade with Las Vegas. The Eagles were involved late, but late wasn't good enough. Bradley Chubb signed in Buffalo on a team-friendly deal. And Jaelan Phillips — the player most often linked to Philadelphia — is commanding $30 million annually.

So what's left?

The Remaining Options

Jaelan Phillips remains the biggest name available, but the price tag is a problem. At $30 million per year, you're paying elite money for a player coming off a significant injury. The talent is there, but the Eagles have to decide if the contract fits their window.

Jonathan Greenard is generating trade buzz, with the Eagles reportedly among the teams interested. A trade would cost draft capital on top of a new contract, but Greenard is a proven producer in his prime.

Adefope-Awoye at $25 million represents a mid-tier option — solid but not a game-changer. For a team that needs someone who can win one-on-one against elite tackles, that might not move the needle enough.

Did the Eagles Have a Contingency Plan?

The uncomfortable question hanging over this offseason is whether the Eagles had a real backup plan after moving on from Bryce Huff. The answer, based on three days of free agency, appears to be no.

Getting involved late on Hendrickson suggests reactive thinking, not proactive planning. When your biggest offseason need is pass rusher and the top options are signing elsewhere before you make a serious push, that's a process problem.

The Draft Looms Large

At this point, the NFL Draft in April may be the Eagles' best path to a difference-maker on the edge. This is a deep class for edge rushers, and the Eagles have the draft capital to move up if needed.

But banking on a rookie to fix your pass rush in Year 1 is a risk, especially for a team with Super Bowl aspirations. The clock is ticking, and the options are getting thinner by the hour.

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