Roseman didn’t wait for the market to settle. He struck with a flurry of one-year deals aimed at veteran stability. After a 2025 season that ended in a frustrating 23-19 Wild Card loss to San Francisco, the front office identified a clear weakness: the second unit. The arrival of Riq Woolen on a one-year, $15 million max deal immediately transforms the secondary. Woolen joins an elite young core featuring Cooper DeJean and Quinyon Mitchell, creating a “no-fly zone” in South Philly that looks terrifying on paper.
On offense, the speed dynamic shifts. Marquise “Hollywood” Brown signed for $6.5 million to replace the departing Jahan Dotson. Brown brings a vertical threat that forces safeties to respect the deep ball, opening lanes for Saquon Barkley. Roseman also secured Dameon Pierce on Thursday to provide the “hammer” in the backfield. While 2025 was defined by top-heavy talent that faded late, the 2026 Eagles look built to survive a 17-game grind. The trade for 38-year-old Andy Dalton—acquired from Carolina for a 2027 seventh-rounder—provides the ultimate “in-case-of-emergency” glass for Jalen Hurts.
“When I watched that game and I seen the way [Mitchell] and Coop were tackling, they were covering, they were strapping guys up, it was pretty cool to see. Now that I’m able to be a part of that, it’s awesome because it’s like, dang, where can you throw the ball to?”
— Riq Woolen, Eagles Cornerback
These moves signal a team that believes its championship window is wide open right now. By leaning on “prove-it” veteran deals, Roseman keeps the 2027 and 2028 salary cap flexible for the massive extensions looming for Jordan Davis and Jalen Carter. However, the elephant in the room remains the future of A.J. Brown. While the team officially denies trade talks, the Hollywood Brown signing provides a tactical insurance policy. If Roseman decides to move the superstar wideout after June 1 for cap relief, he already has a viable deep threat in the building. For now, the Eagles have reclaimed the title of NFC East favorites, daring the rest of the division to keep pace with their track-speed overhaul.
