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After adding Sean Mannion and Josh Grizzard to the coaching staff, the Eagles' roster will likely undergo further changes, changing the dynamic of Nick Sirianni's team. The Birds have 21 players who'll test the restricted or unrestricted free-agent market during the 2026 NFL offseason. Several key factors include a pending contract extension for Jalen Carter, Jordan Davis and the contract status for star tight end Dallas Goedert.
Reed Blankenship is one of the biggest names on the list, and the defense could look drastically different with Nakobe Dean entering the final year of his rookie deal.
With the off-season officially underway in Philadelphia, we're making the case for and against re-signing key free agents.
Unrestricted: "Any player with four or more accrued seasons and an expired contract; free to negotiate and sign with any team."
Reason for: Goedert is a warrior, and when he's healthy, the talented pass catcher is one of the top tight ends in the NFL. In one of the healthiest seasons of his career, Goedert started 15 games, catching 60 passes for 591 yards and a career-high and Eagles franchise high 11 touchdown catches. Goedert had touchdowns in the playoff loss.
Reason against: Goedert is 31 years old, and despite his overwhelming talents, the tight end has never had a 1,000-yard season or made the Pro Bowl.
Reason For: Following last year's Super Bowl win, Johnson signed with Jacksonville in free agency, but after not earning a starting role, the Eagles traded for him in August. Johnson, 28, played in all 17 regular-season games and started eight games in relief of Lane Johnson as the swing tackle.
Reason Against: Johnson couldn't land the starting offensive tackle role in Jacksonville, and then posted a 58.6 PFF grade (69th out of 89).
Reason For: A versatile and solid lineman, the 29-year-old played 363 snaps at center and guard, allowing two sacks.
Reason Against: Toth has never been a starter in the NFL, and his 59.7 PFF grade is among the worst in the NFL.
Reason Against: The 27-year-old Uche played in 12 games, logging 1 sack.
Reason For: Uche played 244 snaps in 2025 due to injury and Vic Fangio, but when in the lineup, the pass rusher had 23 pressures and an 85.1 overall grade from PFF.
Reason for:Dean earned All-Pro votes with his performance during the Super Bowl season. After rehab from a torn patellar tendon he suffered in the NFC Wild Card win over Green Bay, Dean returned in Week 7 and logged 55 tackles, four sacks, and two forced fumbles in ten games. A free agent, Dean will have his suitors on the open market.
Reason against: Dean saw action in all 17 games as a rookie, but has missed seven games twice in his career.
Reason for: The Eagles traded a 2026 third-round pick to acquire Phillips, who came to Philadelphia on the final year of his contract. The former Dolphins first-round pick finished with 28 tackles and two sacks in 8 games. Phillips didn't put up all-world sack numbers, but he put pressure on the quarterback, and his 73 were the 9th-best in the NFL according to PFF. Phillips played 819 snaps at edge rusher in 2025, while posting a 77.1 pass rush grade, 20th best in the NFL.
Reason against: Phillips is a talented player who has dealt with injuries but has been impactful when healthy. In the four years prior to joining the Eagles, Phillips had never played more than nine games.
Reason for: A Former college teammate of Jalen Hurts at Oklahoma, eaching the end of his rookie contract. Calcaterra appeared in 62 games, including 22 starts, and is familiar with the system.
Reason against: A below-average blocker, Calcaterra played over 400 snaps and only caught nine passes on the season.
Reason against: A former Commanders' first-round pick, Dotson spent two unproductive seasons with the Eagles, playing in 34 games and recording 37 catches on 69 targets for 478 yards and one regular-season touchdown.
Reason for: Before joining the Eagles, Dotson had two productive years in Washington, catching 35 passes for 523 yards and seven touchdowns in 12 games. In 2023, he caught 49 balls for 518 yards and four touchdowns. The Packers spread the football around, and Mannion could be the offensive coordinator who can unlock Dotson and incorporate the former Penn State star into the passing game.
Reason for: The 26-year-old Blankenship has been a starter the last three seasons, playing 50 games and logging 9 interceptions.
Reason against: Blankenship is a liability in coverage, and 2025 may have been his worst season.
Reason he must stay: One of the best in the NFL this season, Mann punted 72 times in the regular season with a 49.9 average and a 43.1 net average, with 20 landing inside the 20-yard line.
Reason for: The 30-year-old veteran signed a one-year deal with the Eagles in the offseason and improved for Vic Fangio as the season went on, outplaying Kelee Ringo and Jakorian Bennett.
Reason against: Jackson is over 30 and had moments with Philadelphia where he was a liability.
Reason he must return: The 16-year veteran came out of retirement midway through this season to help the Eagles' defensive line depth and ended up playing both edge rusher and defensive tackle this season.
This article originally appeared on Eagles Wire: Making the case for and against the Eagles re-signing key free agents
Continue reading...
Reed Blankenship is one of the biggest names on the list, and the defense could look drastically different with Nakobe Dean entering the final year of his rookie deal.
With the off-season officially underway in Philadelphia, we're making the case for and against re-signing key free agents.
Unrestricted free agents (20)
Unrestricted: "Any player with four or more accrued seasons and an expired contract; free to negotiate and sign with any team."
TE Dallas Goedert- Void
Reason for: Goedert is a warrior, and when he's healthy, the talented pass catcher is one of the top tight ends in the NFL. In one of the healthiest seasons of his career, Goedert started 15 games, catching 60 passes for 591 yards and a career-high and Eagles franchise high 11 touchdown catches. Goedert had touchdowns in the playoff loss.
Reason against: Goedert is 31 years old, and despite his overwhelming talents, the tight end has never had a 1,000-yard season or made the Pro Bowl.
OL Fred Johnson - UFA
Reason For: Following last year's Super Bowl win, Johnson signed with Jacksonville in free agency, but after not earning a starting role, the Eagles traded for him in August. Johnson, 28, played in all 17 regular-season games and started eight games in relief of Lane Johnson as the swing tackle.
Reason Against: Johnson couldn't land the starting offensive tackle role in Jacksonville, and then posted a 58.6 PFF grade (69th out of 89).
OL Brett Toth UFA
Reason For: A versatile and solid lineman, the 29-year-old played 363 snaps at center and guard, allowing two sacks.
Reason Against: Toth has never been a starter in the NFL, and his 59.7 PFF grade is among the worst in the NFL.
OLB Josh Uche-Void
Reason Against: The 27-year-old Uche played in 12 games, logging 1 sack.
Reason For: Uche played 244 snaps in 2025 due to injury and Vic Fangio, but when in the lineup, the pass rusher had 23 pressures and an 85.1 overall grade from PFF.
LB Nakobe Dean-UFA
Reason for:Dean earned All-Pro votes with his performance during the Super Bowl season. After rehab from a torn patellar tendon he suffered in the NFC Wild Card win over Green Bay, Dean returned in Week 7 and logged 55 tackles, four sacks, and two forced fumbles in ten games. A free agent, Dean will have his suitors on the open market.
Reason against: Dean saw action in all 17 games as a rookie, but has missed seven games twice in his career.
OLB Jaelan Phillips: UFA
Reason for: The Eagles traded a 2026 third-round pick to acquire Phillips, who came to Philadelphia on the final year of his contract. The former Dolphins first-round pick finished with 28 tackles and two sacks in 8 games. Phillips didn't put up all-world sack numbers, but he put pressure on the quarterback, and his 73 were the 9th-best in the NFL according to PFF. Phillips played 819 snaps at edge rusher in 2025, while posting a 77.1 pass rush grade, 20th best in the NFL.
Reason against: Phillips is a talented player who has dealt with injuries but has been impactful when healthy. In the four years prior to joining the Eagles, Phillips had never played more than nine games.
TE Grant Calcaterra- UFA
Reason for: A Former college teammate of Jalen Hurts at Oklahoma, eaching the end of his rookie contract. Calcaterra appeared in 62 games, including 22 starts, and is familiar with the system.
Reason against: A below-average blocker, Calcaterra played over 400 snaps and only caught nine passes on the season.
WR Jahan Dotson- Void
Reason against: A former Commanders' first-round pick, Dotson spent two unproductive seasons with the Eagles, playing in 34 games and recording 37 catches on 69 targets for 478 yards and one regular-season touchdown.
Reason for: Before joining the Eagles, Dotson had two productive years in Washington, catching 35 passes for 523 yards and seven touchdowns in 12 games. In 2023, he caught 49 balls for 518 yards and four touchdowns. The Packers spread the football around, and Mannion could be the offensive coordinator who can unlock Dotson and incorporate the former Penn State star into the passing game.
DB Reed Blankenship- Void
Reason for: The 26-year-old Blankenship has been a starter the last three seasons, playing 50 games and logging 9 interceptions.
Reason against: Blankenship is a liability in coverage, and 2025 may have been his worst season.
P Braden Mann- Void
Reason he must stay: One of the best in the NFL this season, Mann punted 72 times in the regular season with a 49.9 average and a 43.1 net average, with 20 landing inside the 20-yard line.
CB Adoree' Jackson-Void
Reason for: The 30-year-old veteran signed a one-year deal with the Eagles in the offseason and improved for Vic Fangio as the season went on, outplaying Kelee Ringo and Jakorian Bennett.
Reason against: Jackson is over 30 and had moments with Philadelphia where he was a liability.
OLB Brandon Graham: UFA
Reason he must return: The 16-year veteran came out of retirement midway through this season to help the Eagles' defensive line depth and ended up playing both edge rusher and defensive tackle this season.
This article originally appeared on Eagles Wire: Making the case for and against the Eagles re-signing key free agents
Continue reading...
