Report: Jaelan Phillips to sign with the Carolina Panthers
The Eagles had hoped to re-sign the edge rusher, who was ranked by ESPN as the No. 3 available free agent in the NFL.
Jaelan Phillips is reportedly on his way out of Philadelphia, agreeing to terms with the Carolina Panthers on a four-year, $120 million deal ($80 million guaranteed), ESPN reported Monday.
Phillips, who turns 27 in May, was set for the biggest payday of the Eagles’ free agents this offseason given his youth, his performance, and his premium position. His $30 million average annual value ranks eighth in the league at edge rusher, according to Over The Cap, coming in behind the San Francisco 49ers’ Nick Bosa ($34 million AAV) and the Baltimore Ravens’ Maxx Crosby ($35.5 million AAV).
» READ MORE: 2026 Eagles free agency tracker: All the Birds’ signings, trades, and other roster moves
At the NFL Scouting Combine last week, general manager Howie Roseman had expressed that it was a priority to re-sign Phillips. Ultimately, the Eagles did not lure him back, making their need to add edge rushers this offseason all the more pressing. Nolan Smith and Jalyx Hunt are the only two 2025 active-roster players at the position under contract in 2026.
Phillips joined the Eagles at the trade deadline from the Miami Dolphins in exchange for a 2026 third-round pick. He immediately slotted into the rotation with Smith and Hunt, playing 78% of the defensive snaps in his eight regular-season games.
He made his presence felt in the pocket, leading the Eagles with 34 pressures in that span, according to Next Gen Stats. But Phillips turned just two of them into sacks, good for a 5.9% pressure-to-sack conversion rate, which was the 10th lowest among 97 defenders with at least 15 pressures post-trade deadline.
By letting Phillips walk, the Eagles could recoup a 2027 draft pick through the compensatory system if they do not sign a player of a similar contractual value in free agency.
Phillips is the first domino to fall among the Eagles’ pending unrestricted free agents. Besides Phillips, the Eagles have a number of former starters set to hit free agency at the start of the new league year on Wednesday, including linebacker Nakobe Dean, safety Reed Blankenship, and tight end Dallas Goedert.
Roseman has also been busy keeping players in the fold, agreeing to terms with Jordan Davis on a three-year, $78 million extension ($65 million guaranteed) on Saturday. With Phillips no longer in the picture, Roseman could work to address other defensive players imminently eligible for extensions including Smith, Jalen Carter, and Moro Ojomo.