Eagles Free Agency: Why Jalen Phillips Should Be Priority One

The Case for Jalen Phillips

Every offseason has a player who becomes 'the guy' — the in-house free agent who sets the tone for everything else. Last year it was Zach Baun. This year, it might be Jalen Phillips.

Phillips is 26 years old — right in the sweet spot for a free agent edge rusher. He's coming off his best season in Philadelphia after arriving via trade. The question isn't whether he's good. It's whether the Eagles will pay him.

The Injury Concern

Phillips has had significant injuries — back-to-back Achilles issues that would scare most teams. But he looked healthy last season. The modern NFL has gotten better at managing these injuries, and Phillips proved he can still be dominant.

The edge rusher market is thin. If you let Phillips walk, you're either paying a 30-year-old like Trey Hendrickson or hoping to find someone in the draft. Neither option is better than keeping your own guy.

Get It Done

The Eagles are disciplined with contracts, but sometimes you have to pay your guys. Jalen Phillips earned it. Lock him up before someone else does.