Eagles Cap Crunch: Why Philly's Free Agency Decisions Will Define the Dynasty

The Eagles just won a Super Bowl. They followed it up with an 8-2 start in 2025 before the wheels wobbled down the stretch. And now Howie Roseman is staring at a salary cap situation that's going to require some serious surgery.

Welcome to the price of winning in the NFL.

With the 2026 salary cap projected between $301 million and $305 million, Philadelphia has roughly $18 million in rollover cap space and a whopping $44 million in dead money already on the books. Compare that to teams like the Titans, Chargers, and Raiders sitting on $80-plus million in available space, and you start to understand the tightrope Roseman has to walk this March.

The free agent list reads like a who's who of contributors to this championship run. Dallas Goedert. Nakobe Dean. Reed Blankenship. Jaelan Phillips. Brandon Graham. Jahan Dotson. Twenty players total hitting the open market, and there's no universe where the Eagles keep them all.

So who stays, who goes, and where does the money flow? Let's break it down.

The Defensive Priority Is Real

Roseman said it himself during his end-of-season presser — the pendulum swings toward the defense this offseason. And he's right. Jalen Carter, Nolan Smith, Jordan Davis, and Moro Ojomo represent the future of this defensive front. Locking those guys down long-term is priority one, two, and three.

But the immediate question is Jaelan Phillips. Acquired from Miami mid-season in November 2025, Phillips generated 73 pressures across his full 2025 campaign and posted a 76.2 PFF pass-rush grade, ranking 22nd among qualifying edge defenders. In his time with Philly specifically, he added 17 quarterback pressures, four tackles for loss, a forced fumble, and a fumble recovery.

The franchise tag is still on the table. And frankly, it should be. Phillips is 26, he's healthy after the Achilles scare in 2023, and edge rushers don't grow on trees. If the Eagles let him walk without either tagging or signing him, they're creating a hole they can't easily fill — not in free agency at these cap numbers, and not in a draft where you need those picks for other positions.

The Goedert Question

Here's the one that's going to hurt. Dallas Goedert has been a cornerstone of this offense since 2018. But he's set to hit free agency, and with over $20 million in cap implications, a post-June 1 release or simply letting him walk might be the most practical move.

It's not personal. It's math. Goedert missed significant time in 2025, and the Eagles have Grant Calcaterra, Kylen Granson, and a deep tight end room behind him. At 31, Goedert's best years are behind him, and paying top-five tight end money to a guy whose availability has been inconsistent doesn't fit the window.

This is going to be unpopular. Goedert is beloved in Philly. But Roseman didn't build a champion by being sentimental with the checkbook.

Hurts Is Locked In — And Worth It

Let's put this debate to bed. Jalen Hurts posted a 25:6 touchdown-to-interception ratio in 2025, rushed for 421 yards and eight scores, and ranked sixth in total touchdowns with 33. He became one of just five quarterbacks since 2000 to post 30-plus total touchdowns in four consecutive seasons, joining Drew Brees, Josh Allen, Aaron Rodgers, and Russell Wilson.

His $51 million average annual salary made him the first quarterback to win a Super Bowl while making over $50 million a year. He's entering year three of his five-year, $255 million deal with $51.5 million guaranteed for 2026. The cap hit is manageable at roughly $32 million this year before jumping in 2027 and 2028.

You don't mess with this. You build around it.

The A.J. Brown Wild Card

The rumor mill never stops with A.J. Brown. Trade scenarios pop up every offseason, and they'll pop up again. But moving Brown would be franchise malpractice. When healthy, he's a top-five receiver in football, and Hurts needs that alpha target on the outside opposite DeVonta Smith.

Could the Eagles save cap space by trading him? Sure. Would they be worse for it? Absolutely. This isn't the move, and Roseman knows it.

The Bottom Line

This offseason is about discipline. The Eagles can't keep everyone, and they shouldn't try. The defensive core — Carter, Smith, Davis — gets paid. Phillips gets tagged or signed. Goedert probably walks. And the rest of the free agent class gets evaluated on a cost-per-win basis.

Roseman has navigated tighter spots than this. The 2026 cap is the highest in league history, and while $18 million in rollover isn't ideal, creative restructures and strategic cuts can open up room fast.

The championship window is wide open. The roster is loaded. The coaching staff has been retooled with Sean Mannion running the offense. Now it's about making the hard calls that keep this thing rolling.

Trust the process? Nah. Trust Howie. He's earned it.