Howie Roseman's 3 Priorities Before Free Agency Opens

Nine Days to Shape the Roster

March 11 is coming fast, and Howie Roseman has more questions than answers. The Eagles are $5 million over the salary cap, losing players left and right, and facing the most consequential free agency period in recent memory.

As discussed on The National Football Show, three priorities stand above everything else.

Priority 1: Lock Down Jaelan Phillips

The Eagles want Jaelan Phillips. The inside information points to a real commitment to keeping the pass rusher in midnight green. But there's a walk-away number, and it's somewhere around $25 million per year.

The debate isn't whether Phillips is good — he is. It's whether his production justifies the contract. Six and a half sacks on a rookie deal versus paying $35 million for a veteran with nine sacks. The math matters.

There's a real argument for taking the gamble on Jalen Carter instead. Let Phillips walk, develop Carter as the centerpiece, and save the cap space. It's risky, but the upside is enormous.

Priority 2: Resolve AJ Brown

Trade him or commit to him — the middle ground is killing this team. Every day without a resolution is another day of distraction, another media cycle, another reason for players to wonder if the organization has control.

The asking price needs to come down. A first and a second isn't happening. Get the best deal you can and reinvest.

Priority 3: Nail the Draft

With potentially three players leaving in free agency — Goedert, Phillips, and possibly Brown — the 2026 draft becomes the most important in years. The 23rd pick needs to be a contributor immediately.

The Maxx Crosby trade rumors are intriguing but ultimately a distraction. You're not paying $35 million for a 29-year-old edge rusher when you could draft one. Kayden Proctor at 23 makes more sense — a premium position, a Day 1 starter, a building block.

The Bottom Line

Howie Roseman has built a reputation as one of the NFL's best GMs. The next nine days will test that reputation more than any draft or trade deadline ever has. The moves he makes — or doesn't make — will define the Eagles for the next three years.