Philadelphia, PA - The Philadelphia Eagles were unable to keep one of their star defensive players, while they also lost a useful member of their wide receiver group in the early stages of free agency.
Jaelan Phillips had been heavily connected with a contract extension to stay with the Eagles, however he managed to land a huge deal elsewhere. Having joined as part of a 2025 midseason trade with the Miami Dolphins, his time in Philadelphia comes to an end after a brief stint.
Phillips will head to the Carolina Panthers and bring his elite defensive skills with him after signing a 4-year deal that is reported to be worth $120 million. It is said that $80 million is guaranteed. It’ll be a devastating blow to the Eagles, as he was considered the best pass rusher in the league in 2025.
Indeed, his departure may impact how the team handles free agency and the NFL Draft moving forward, as well as their chances of competing for next season’s Super Bowl. Sports betting fans will already be looking to learn winning sports betting strategies ahead of the big game, as there is a lot that can happen in the NFL throughout the offseason, let alone the regular season and postseason.
Perhaps to a lesser extent, the departure of Jahan Dotson could also have an impact on the offensive side of the ball for the Eagles. The wide receiver is departing for the Falcons on a two-year deal, leaving another hole that Nick Siranni and his team must try to fill if they are to be a challenger for the Vince Lombardi Trophy after a disappointing year in which they tried to defend their title.
How impactful could the Phillips departure be?
Jaelan Phillips' departure to the Panthers on a 4-year, $120M deal creates a substantial gap in the Eagles' pass rush, where he ranked 9th league-wide with 73 pressures (18.8% rate) and a 77.1 PFF grade over 819 snaps in 2025.
Philly's defense surged post-acquisition (No. 2 scoring D after Week 10), but losing his elite burst and win rate (top-20) drops projected pressure rate by 15-20%, forcing reliance on less proven depth. He posted 28 tackles, 4 TFLs, 2.0 sacks, 4 PDs, and 1 FR in 8 regular-season games plus playoffs.
His departure could impact how Vic Fangio’s defense plays in 2026, especially if they don’t find a player able to fill the big shoes he has left. Fangio's scheme thrives on 4-man rotations. With Phillips, the Eagles ranked top-10 in sacks (47, 8th) and pressures (356, 5th) overall, accelerating to elite post-Phillips trade (e.g., Weeks 10-18: 2.1 sacks per game).
Dotson’s departure
Dotson is perhaps an underrated piece of the Eagles’ offense. The 25-year-old former Commanders first-rounder (2022) arrived via 2024 trade and managed a modest output.
He had 37 receptions on 55 targets, running 414 routes, totaling 262 yards (7.8 YPR), with 1 TD over 2024-25, a total of 37 games. He played in a slot/flex role and only saw low targets (7-8% share), with 2025 season yards at 216 and 15.4 air yards/target but no TDs; debut snaps showed adjustment struggles. He was a solid blocker and a yards after catch (YAC) option, but was arguably only a player with WR3 depth.
His exit isn’t surprising, as his fifth-year had already been declined by the team. Darius Cooper could be the option that Siranni looks toward as a direct replacement for Dotson. He is an emerging slot player, having had 9 receptions for 92 yards.
Jordan Davis signs new deal
In some positive news for the Eagles, they’ve managed to tie down one of the best defensive tackles in the position. Jordan Davis had a breakout year in 2025, and has since been rewarded with a three-year extension worth $78 million, $65 million guaranteed. It makes him the highest-paid nose tackle in the NFL.
Davis started all 17 games for the first time, logging 72 total tackles, including 34 solo stops, which marked his career high. He also recorded a personal best in sacks, with 4.5, along with 9 tackles for loss and 6 quarterback hits, contributing significantly to the Eagles' pass rush even from the interior. Most impressively, he racked up 40 defensive stops (4th among all defensive interiors) and 34 run stops (2nd), per PFF metrics, while tying for 2nd among IDLs with 6 pass deflections.
Despite no Pro Bowl nod, his historic contract locks the 25-year-old through 2029, providing DL stability amid Phillips' departure. Paired with Jalen Carter, Davis projects as an All-Pro caliber anchor, mitigating pass-rush losses and bolstering Super Bowl odds.
