The 2025 season just wrapped up – a bitter Wild Card loss to the Cowboys, 24-20, after a promising 11-6 regular season record. Now, the real work begins for Howie Roseman. He’s got some tough decisions coming in 2026 free agency, especially with a few key veterans aging and some younger talent pushing for bigger roles. This isn't just about filling holes; it's about changing the roster around Jalen Hurts, who'll be entering his prime at 27.
Let’s start with the obvious: Darius Slay. He’ll be 35 by the start of the 2026 season. Slay still logged three interceptions and 10 pass breakups in 2025, but his cap hit will be substantial. Roseman loves his veterans, but there comes a point where even the most loyal general manager has to make a business decision. My money says Slay is either restructured into oblivion or playing elsewhere. It’s a tough pill, but the Eagles need to get younger and faster in the secondary. Reed Blankenship, who signed a three-year extension back in 2023, is still under contract, providing some stability at safety. Look for the Eagles to target a younger, high-upside cornerback in the 2026 draft to pair with Kelee Ringo, who really started to flash in the latter half of the 2025 season, recording two picks in the final five games.
Then there’s Brandon Graham. The man is an Eagles legend, plain and simple. He played 17 games in 2025, even notching 4.5 sacks. But he'll be 38. Real talk: B.G. likely retires an Eagle, maybe on a one-day contract. His playing days, however, are almost certainly behind him. The defensive line, always a priority for Roseman, will need fresh blood. Nolan Smith, a first-round pick in 2023, needs to show he can be a consistent edge presence. He managed just 3 sacks in 2025, which isn't enough for a player with his athletic gifts. The Eagles can’t afford to wait forever for him to develop into a consistent starter.
Jason Kelce retired after the 2023 season, and Landon Dickerson’s monster extension in 2024 locked him in at guard. Jordan Mailata is still a pillar at left tackle. The big question mark is Lane Johnson. He’ll be 36. Johnson only missed one game in 2025, proof of his incredible durability, but the Eagles have to start thinking about his successor. Tyler Steen, drafted in 2023, has been developing, but he hasn't looked like a natural right tackle heir apparent. I predict the Eagles will draft a tackle high in 2026, possibly even in the first round, to groom behind Johnson. They might try to get Johnson to take a significant pay cut to stay for one more year, but that's a long shot.
At wide receiver, DeVonta Smith's big extension from 2024 keeps him here. A.J. Brown is signed through 2026 as well. But what about the third receiver? Parris Campbell, signed to a one-year deal for 2025, didn't exactly light it up, only catching 28 passes for 301 yards. The Eagles need speed and a legitimate deep threat, a role they’ve struggled to fill consistently since DeSean Jackson’s first stint. They will absolutely be looking for a free agent slot receiver or a speedster in the draft to complement Brown and Smith.
Here's my hot take: Howie Roseman, in a move that will shock some but make perfect sense for his long-term vision, will let both Slay and Johnson walk in free agency. He’ll use the significant cap space generated to aggressively pursue a top-tier pass rusher, possibly someone like Micah Parsons if the Cowboys somehow let him hit the market (unlikely, I know, but a man can dream), or a younger, established Pro Bowl corner. He’ll double down on youth in the draft for the offensive line and secondary, believing he can develop talent cheaper than paying aging stars. The Eagles will finish 10-7 in 2026, making the playoffs as a Wild Card, but with a much younger, faster defense.