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Eagles news: Jaelan Phillips signing with the Panthers; top wide receiver off the market; latest free agency rumors

Roseman has a number of big decisions to make ahead of the start of free agency Wednesday.

Eagles general manager Howie Roseman has big decisions to make on starters including A.J. Brown, Dallas Goedert, and Jaelan Phillips.
Eagles general manager Howie Roseman has big decisions to make on starters including A.J. Brown, Dallas Goedert, and Jaelan Phillips. Read more
David Maialetti / Staff Photographer
What you should know

  1. NFL free agency unofficially kicked off Monday at noon, with teams now able begin negotiations with agents. Here's our free agency tracker.

  2. Free agency officially begins on Wednesday at 4 p.m., but Howie Roseman's season begins today, writes columnist David Murphy.

  3. The Eagles locked down Jordan Davis with a three-year, $78 million contract extension. The move comes after the Baltimore Ravens gave up two first-round picks to land Raiders defender Maxx Crosby.

  4. Six Eagles starters are set to become free agents. Eagles fans should probably prepare to see some new faces on defense.

  5. As for which players the Eagles could add, here are some realistic free agent targets and potential trades the Birds could make.

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Jaelan Phillips signing with the Panthers in monster deal: reports

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), according to ESPN.

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 the position, according to Over The Cap.

At the combine, 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.

TE Cade Otton re-signing with the Bucs: reports

RB Kenneth Walker III signing with the Chiefs: reports

Colts re-signing WR Alec Pierce could be good news for the Eagles

The top free agent wide receiver is no longer on the market.

Alec Pierce told ESPN's Pat McAfee he is re-signing with the Indianapolis Colts. Pierce, drafted by the Colts in 2022, is coming off his first 1,000 yards season with Daniel Jones under center.

How this impacts the potential trade market for Eagles wide receiver A.J. Brown remains to be seen, though it removes one option for the New England Patriots, who reportedly had interest in Pierce.

Falcons making push to sign Tua Tagovailoa: reports

Travis Kelce expected to return to Chiefs for 14th season: reports

Texans re-sign DT Sheldon Rankins: NFL Network

Jets land safety Minkah Fitzpatrick in trade with Dolphins: reports

Cowboys acquire DT Rashan Gary in trade with Packers: reports

The Dallas Cowboys landed edge rusher pick Rashan Gary in a trade with the Green Bay Packers Monday, according to multiple reports. 

Acquiring the former first-round pick should help bolster the worst passing defense in the league last season, which allowed a league-high 511 points and 60 touchdowns. 

In exchange, the Cowboys are sending the Packers a fourth-round pick in the 2027 NFL draft, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter.

How confident are the Eagles that Jalen Carter will be here long term?

A year ago, you might’ve snickered at any answer less than 95%. Maybe that’s still the case. Elite talent is the ultimate arbiter in pro sports, and Jalen Carter has more of it than almost any other defender in the NFL.

He is a game-wrecker, the antidote for any offensive scheme. The defensive tackle position has exploded in value because it is the one position that can’t be schemed around. There is no easy solution for a man who can knock a double-team backward or flatten any interior lineman who attempts to handle him one-on-one. Aaron Donald showed everybody this during his prime with the Rams.

That’s the level of dominance that Carter has flashed during his first three years with the Eagles. I mean, the guy single-handedly makes a statistically significant impact on the make percentage of field goals.

Dolphins to release Tua Tagovailoa

Six Eagles starters could become free agents

As free agency nears, the Eagles need to make a decision on 20 players set to become free agents Wednesday.

Among those is veteran defender Brandon Graham, who came out of retirement to play nine games for the Birds last season. Graham has said he's open to playing an 18th season, but hasn't made a decision either way.

“Brandon Graham is always welcome in Philadelphia,” Eagles general manager Howie Roseman said at the NFL scouting combine last month.

'Roseman’s trying to be creative': The latest on A.J. Brown trade talks

The never-ending focus on A.J. Brown's future with the Eagles will be front and center this week as teams make moves ahead of free agency.

"I do not sense a lot of momentum toward an A.J. Brown deal," the NFL Network's Ian Rapoport said Sunday night. "That could be coming, but that situation is not reality just yet."

As The Inquirer's Jeff McLane has reported, the Eagles are assessing the market for Brown, with a steep asking price believed to be first and second-round draft picks. The New England Patriots and Baltimore Ravens are likely trading partners, McLane reported, with the Eagles inclined to deal with AFC teams.

Eagles look closer to re-signing Jaelan Phillips

It’s looking more and more likely Jaelan Phillips will be back with the Eagles next season. 

With Maxx Crosby off the market after being nabbed by the Baltimore Ravens, the Eagles have made “significant progress” on re-signing the 26-year-old free agent edge rusher, according to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport. 

“There is no decision, to my knowledge, and there is nothing final, but certainly there is some optimism that there’s going to be a deal,” Rapoport said on the NFL Network Sunday night. 

Free agency news: Travis Kelce, Trent McDuffie, Wan’Dale Robinson

  1. Could Travis Kelce play for a different team?: Jason Kelce's younger brother is reportedly expected to return for a 14th season, but The Athletic's Dianna Russini and Jesse Newell reported it "isn’t a sure thing" the 11-time Pro Bowler will re-sign with the Chiefs. Kelce's "representatives are expected to talk to multiple teams," per their report.

  2. Trent McDuffie becomes the hightest-paid corner in the league: The Rams have agreed to a contract extension with their newly-acquired defender, to the tune of $31 million a year for four years, according to multiple reports. McDuffie spent four years with the Chiefs prior to the blockbuster trade, which barring any complication will become official Wednesday.

  3. Bills trading cornerback Taron Johnson to the Raiders: Las Vegas will swap late-round draft picks with Buffalo, who were planning on releasing Johnson, according to the NFL Network's Ian Rapoport.

  4. Giants receiver Wan’Dale Robinson heading to the Titans?: NBC's Mike Florio reports there is "widespread belief in league circles" Robinson will sign with Tennessee once the free agency window opens Monday at noon.

— Rob Tornoe

A 'subtle but significant' NFL free agency rule goes into effect

2026 NFL calendar: Upcoming offseason dates

  1. Today: Players allowed to negotiate with teams beginning at noon

  2. March 11: New league year starts, free agency officially begins at 4 p.m.

  3. March 29 to April 1: Annual league meeting in Phoenix, Ariz.

  4. April 17: Deadline for restricted free agents to sign offer sheets

  5. April 23 to 25: NFL draft, Pittsburgh

— Rob Tornoe