ASHBURN, Va. — The checkbook is open, the need is glaring, and the target is playing for the enemy. After a 2025 season where the Washington Commanders’ defense crumbled to a 27th-ranked finish, GM Adam Peters isn’t just looking for help—he’s looking for a heist.
With the No. 7 overall pick in the upcoming draft and a mountain of cap space, Washington is primed to overhaul its edge rotation. The name circling the front office? Jaelan Phillips. The 26-year-old edge defender is set to hit the open market, and stealing him from the Philadelphia Eagles wouldn’t just plug a hole in Daronte Jones’ new defense—it would weaken a direct rival.
The “Double Win” Scenario
You don’t often get to fix your biggest weakness while simultaneously wrecking a division rival’s depth chart. That’s the unique opportunity here. Phillips arrived in Philadelphia at last year’s trade deadline and immediately made his presence felt. In just eight games for the Eagles, he tallied 28 tackles, seven QB hits, and four pass breakups. He was a disruptor.
Washington felt the absence of that kind of disruption. While future Hall of Famer Von Miller defied Father Time to lead the team with nine sacks, reliance on a 36-year-old rotation player exposed the unit’s lack of youth and explosive power. The defense finished with a measly 53.7 grade, one of the worst marks in franchise history. Miller is likely gone, and the “younger, faster” mandate is in full effect.
Beyond the Sack Sheet
Don’t let the raw sack numbers fool you. Phillips posted a career-high 8.5 sacks back in 2021, and critics point to that as a ceiling. They’re missing the point. In 2025, Phillips posted a 19.1% pass-rush win rate, the seventh-highest among all qualifying edge defenders. He consistently wrecks pockets, flushing quarterbacks into the arms of others.
New defensive coordinator Daronte Jones needs versatile chess pieces, and Phillips fits the bill. He graded out at 77.1 in pass rush last season and holds his own against the run. Slotting him opposite Dorance Armstrong gives Washington a legitimate bookend duo for the first time in years.
“We need guys who can wreck the game on third down without us having to blitz the house. You look at the teams playing deep in January—they get home with four. That’s the standard.”
— Daronte Jones, Commanders Defensive Coordinator
What’s Next: The Free Agency Frenzy
The legal tampering period opens in less than a month. PFF already projects Phillips to land in Washington, and the fit is seamless. If Peters pulls the trigger, expect a deal in the range of $22-$24 million annually. It’s a steep price, but for a premier edge rusher entering his prime, it’s the cost of doing business in the NFC East.
Adding Phillips allows Washington to use the No. 7 pick on a premier tackle or corner, rather than forcing a reach for an edge rusher. It’s the kind of “fireworks” insiders have been predicting for weeks.
