Eagles Free Agency Target Board: Edge Rushers

The Eagles' 2025 season ended in the NFC Championship Game, and while the sting of that loss still lingers, the front office can't afford to dwell. Free agency opens March 11, and Howie Roseman has approximately $13.8 million in cap space to work with under the new $301.2 million salary cap. That's not a lot of room — but Roseman has never let tight caps stop him from making moves.

Over the next five articles, we're breaking down the Eagles' free agency target board position by position. We're starting where the need is most urgent: edge rusher.

The Current State of the Edge

This is where things get scary. After the new league year starts, the Eagles could be looking at just two edge rushers under contract: Jalyx Hunt and Nolan Smith Jr. That's it. Brandon Graham, Joshua Uche, Azeez Ojulari, Ogbo Okoronkwo, and — most importantly — Jaelan Phillips are all pending unrestricted free agents.

Hunt showed flashes as a rookie but is still developing. Smith has the athleticism but hasn't translated it into consistent production. Neither is ready to be a featured pass rusher on a team with championship aspirations. The Eagles need to add at least two edge rushers this offseason, and free agency is where the quickest solutions exist.

Priority No. 1: Re-Sign Jaelan Phillips

Phillips is the domino that has to fall first. Acquired from the Miami Dolphins at last year's trade deadline, the 26-year-old edge rusher didn't put up gaudy sack numbers (two in eight regular-season games), but his impact went beyond the stat sheet. He disrupted passing lanes, set the edge against the run, and made everyone around him better — exactly what Vic Fangio's defense demands.

The price tag is the concern. The Athletic projected his next deal at four years, $98 million — roughly $24.5 million per year. Spotrac is more conservative at three years, $52 million ($17.3 million per year). The reality probably lands somewhere in the middle, but even the low end eats most of Philadelphia's available cap space.

Phillips' injury history is real. He tore his Achilles in 2023 and missed the entire 2024 season. But he made it through 2025 healthy while playing over 70% of defensive snaps between Miami and Philadelphia. If the medical staff is comfortable, this should be Roseman's top priority. Phillips is young, talented, and already integrated into Fangio's system. Letting him walk would create a hole that's nearly impossible to fill adequately.

External Target: Bradley Chubb

If Phillips departs — or even as a complement alongside him — Bradley Chubb makes a lot of sense. The Dolphins released Chubb on February 16, making the 29-year-old available immediately without any compensatory pick implications.

The Fangio connection is the headline. Chubb played under Fangio in Denver from 2019 to 2021, earning a Pro Bowl nod in 2020. He knows the scheme inside and out. After bouncing back from his own ACL tear to post 8.5 sacks in 17 games last season, Chubb proved he still has gas in the tank. His last contract paid $18 million annually, but at 30 this June, he should be available in the $12-14 million per year range — a much more cap-friendly figure.

Chubb would give the Eagles a proven veteran who can step in and produce immediately while Hunt and Smith continue to develop. The scheme familiarity alone shortens the learning curve to almost zero.

Dream Scenario: Trey Hendrickson

The Bengals let Trey Hendrickson walk without using the franchise tag, and he immediately becomes the crown jewel of this free agent class at edge rusher. Hendrickson has been one of the most productive pass rushers in football over the past four seasons, and at 30, he's still in his prime.

He'll command top dollar — likely north of $25 million per year — which makes him a long shot given Philly's cap situation. But Roseman has a history of making cap space appear when a difference-maker becomes available. If there's any way to swing it, pairing Hendrickson with Jalen Carter on the interior would give the Eagles one of the most terrifying defensive fronts in football.

Veteran Insurance: Khalil Mack

Khalil Mack just turned 35, and his best days are behind him — but "past-prime Khalil Mack" is still better than most of the league. Like Chubb, he has extensive experience in Fangio's system from his time with the Chicago Bears. On a one-year deal at a reasonable number, Mack could provide veteran leadership and situational pass-rush help while the young guys take the next step.

The concern: the Eagles already have an aging edge legend in Brandon Graham. Roseman probably doesn't want two 35-plus pass rushers on the roster. If Graham returns for one more season, Mack is less likely. But if BG decides to hang it up, Mack fills that veteran presence role at a fraction of the cost.

The Bottom Line

Edge rusher is the position that will define the Eagles' offseason. With the majority of the room set to hit free agency, doing nothing is not an option. The ideal scenario: re-sign Phillips on a deal that doesn't cripple the cap, add a Fangio-system veteran like Chubb on a mid-range deal, and supplement through the draft. The nightmare scenario: Phillips walks, the Eagles whiff on the external market, and Hunt and Smith are suddenly being asked to carry the pass rush for a team trying to get back to the Super Bowl.

Roseman doesn't usually let nightmares happen. But with $13.8 million in cap space and a deep list of needs, something's going to have to give. Edge rusher is where the Eagles can least afford to come up short.

Next up in the Eagles Free Agency Target Board series: Secondary — where Philly's championship-caliber cornerback duo needs reinforcements behind it.