The Linc is going to look very different on the defensive side of the ball this September. Since the legal tampering window opened on March 9, the Eagles watched three foundational starters walk out the door. Edge rusher Jaelan Phillips took a massive four-year, $120 million bag from the Carolina Panthers, while linebacker Nakobe Dean headed to Las Vegas on a $36 million deal. Safety Reed Blankenship rounded out the exodus, signing with the Houston Texans.
This follows a 2025 spring where Philadelphia lost five other defensive starters. The sheer volume of departing talent is staggering. Fans at the South Philadelphia sports complex are used to Roseman’s “reloading” magic, but this feels like a total teardown of the defensive middle. The secondary still boasts Riq Woolen and Quinyon Mitchell, but the pass rush took a gut punch with Phillips’ departure.
“I wasn’t ready to say goodbye to this city or these fans. We’ve been through two Super Bowl runs together since I got here, and I know this offense has another gear. I’m here to help Jalen and this team get back to the top.”
— Dallas Goedert, Philadelphia Eagles Tight End
Despite the gaping holes at edge rusher and linebacker, the smart money says Philadelphia doubles down on offense during the April 23-25 NFL Draft in Pittsburgh. Goedert is 31, and while his 11 touchdowns in 2025 led all NFL tight ends, the team lacks a true successor. More importantly, the future of wide receiver A.J. Brown remains a cloud over the NovaCare Complex. Trade rumors continue to swirl around Brown’s $23.4 million cap hit.
Roseman knows the formula for 2026: protect the franchise quarterback and provide him with elite weapons. If the Eagles can snag a top-tier tackle or a dynamic slot receiver at pick No. 23, it forces opposing defenses to pick their poison. The defense can be patched with high-motor rookies and late-wave veterans, but the Eagles’ identity lives and dies with Jalen Hurts having enough firepower to outscore the NFC East. Expect the draft board to be littered with offensive playmakers when the clock starts on Thursday night.
