This is part three of my off-season mock series where – after setting my off-season priorities and taking care of extensions and our free agents – I’ll give my free agency targets ahead of the draft.
It’s tough laying out a free agency plan in January as many of the players we want may re-sign and never hit free agency. But, we will take a shot and set our priorities and options.
Part 1: 2026 Roster Outlook and Priorities Summary:
Part 2: 2026 Salary Outlook, Extensions, and Our Free Agents:
As the prior articles laid out, we have a difficult off-season with more critical roster spots to fill than in recent years. We’ve made some progress – freeing up some cap space, locking in our core (Jalen Carter, Jordan Davis, and Nolan Smith), and bringing back Jaelan Phillips – but there are still major holes we need to fill ahead of the draft.
Here’s an updated rank order of positional priorities after these moves, with CB, TE, and OL depth the most important ones:
- CB2 – Still a need as the answer isn’t on the roster.
- TE – With both Dallas and Calcaterra hitting free agency, we have zero TEs under contract.
- OL – We have to prepare for Lane Johnson to retire after the 2026 season and I do not plan to extend Tyler Steen – we have the upside guys from last draft but we don’t have definite solutions yet.
- WR – After letting Dotson go, the depth chart is AJ Brown, DeVonta Smith, Darius Cooper, and Johnny Wilson coming back from an undisclosed knee/ankle injury that cost him all of 2025.
- EDGE – Previously an urgent need with only Nolan and Jalyx under contract for next season, re-signing Jaelan Phillips now returns EDGE to a longer-term need where we can be more deliberate
With not bringing back Reed Blankenship (the most unpopular move from my last article…) we’ve created a need there. But in a weak safety class, I’m assuming he’s going to go for more than we are willing to pay. Epps filled in well and we’ll look to bring him back cheaply and possibly add another in the draft.
As a reminder, below is where the Eagles salary cap stands after this off-season’s moves and planned extensions next year.
| 2026 | 2027 | 2028 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cap space | $15.9M | $82.0M | $57.2M |
Here’s how to think about the cap:
- 2026 is lean but has room for a few moves – With how Howie structures multi-year deals with only ~12% of the deal hitting in year one and ~17% in year two, theoretically you could sign around $100M of total contract value this off-season (we won’t) but the issue is the remaining guaranteed amount (~37%) lands in 2028 which consumes the majority of 2028’s cap – we have to keep an eye on both 2026 and 2028.
- Some of the 2027 cap space will need to roll over into 2028 – 2028 cap space of $57M looks like a lot but really isn’t considering it’s three years out. Prepare for the 2027 off-season to be one where Howie intentionally doesn’t spend everything and rolls cap over..
- Cap must be preserved in case it’s needed for OT or WR – We have to replace an all-time RT and WR1 in Lane Johnson and AJ Brown over the next 1-2 years and while we will try in the draft, you can’t be guaranteed to hit there… just as we needed to trade for AJ (and extend him), we have to preserve cap in case one or both of those positions need the same.
On to free agency…
Free agency targets
Tight End
Target: Charlie Kolar, 3-year $14M ($9M guaranteed)
It’s a good TE class and TE is actually a comparatively good position to get in free agency for three reasons:
- TEs have one of the lower hit rates in the draft (the all-time 2025 TE class aside which looks to have five good TEs and still angers me we didn’t take anybody…)
- TEs have historically developed slower than other positions and often provide more value on their second contracts
- And, they are very cheap in free agency with the second lowest AAV, above only RB. Even the top free agents are cheap, rarely going above $10-11M AAV in recent years.
Top 2026 TE free agents:
| Player | Age | Rec/Yds | Blocking Grade | Est. Contract AAV |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kyle Pitts | 25 | 82/870 | 39.4 | $14-15M |
| Travis Kelce | 36 | 73/839 | 56.1 | $10-11M |
| David Njoku | 29 | 33/293 | 45.9 | $10-11M |
| Dallas Goedert | 31 | 60/591 | 49.6 | $11-13M |
| Isaiah Likely | 26 | 25/275 | 61.7 | $9-10M |
| Chigoziem Okonkwo | 26 | 54/558 | 28.9 | $12-13M |
| Tyler Higbee | 33 | 20/190 | 59.2 | $4-5M |
| Noah Fant | 28 | 33/283 | 60.5 | $3-4M |
| Austin Hooper | 31 | 20/258 | 48.9 | $4-5M |
| Cade Otton | 26 | 52/478 | 51.7 | $7-8M |
| Charlie Kolar | 26 | 10/142 | 76.7 | $3-4M |
In a good and deep 2026 TE free agency class, I’m making a name buried on most free agent rankings my top priority – Baltimore’s Charlie Kolar.
Kolar’s numbers won’t pop out because he was buried behind Mark Andrews and Isaiah Likely, who combined for over 90 targets. But when Kolar was targeted he:
- Had a 1.42 Y/RR, better than Goedert
- Had over 13 Y/Rec career average, second best in the NFL this season and a number Goedert hit only once in his career
- Caught everything, with only two drops in his four-year career
- Was the best blocking TE in this free agent class
He’s an underrated TE target that is highly athletic, high character, and known as the smartest guy in the locker room. At only 26 years old, he’s a guy that can be in place for several years. I loved him coming out in the draft and still think he’s a really solid player that has upside with more usage, which he has not gotten in Baltimore.
Other options:
- Noah Fant who will likely be on a prove-it deal after a down season
- Cade Otton is a bit more expensive option but you are getting more proven production
- Returning Grant Calcaterra on a near-minimum deal.
Cornerback
Like every year, there aren’t easy answers in free agency at cornerback as you have guys at or nearing the age cliff, rentals, or overpriced guys. And almost never is a CB1 available, but that’s not what we need.
Top 2026 CB free agents:
| Player | Age | Passer Rating Allowed | Est. Contract AAV |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jamel Dean | 29 | 46.9 | $17-19M |
| Riq Woolen | 26 | 81.5 | $15-17M |
| Cor’Dale Flott | 24 | 71.0 | $16-18M |
| Greg Newsome II | 26 | 107.2 | $15-17M |
| Jaylen Watson | 27 | 67.5 | $13-15M |
| Cam Taylor-Britt | 26 | 134.5 | $12-15M |
| Eric Stokes | 27 | 77.4 | $17-19M |
| Alontae Taylor | 27 | 105.6 | $14-16M |
I expect CB free agent prices to exceed current projections, so you will see higher numbers above than Spotrac and others have right now. Dallas’s 4-year, $92M ($23M AAV) DaRon Bland extension may be an overpay, but it isn’t going to help keep the open market prices down. Last off-season, there were four $18M AAV CBs and another six that were $10M or more, reversing a long trend of CB prices trailing the overall market – I expect the top guys to push the top end from last year.
Jamel Dean may have had his best season despite his age and will likely lead this class. Eric Stokes I don’t expect him to hit the market. Alontae Taylor has been transitioning to slot in 2025 and has traits, but was the fourth-lowest graded CB in the league when he played outside full-time for much of 2024. Flott has some appeal with his age but will likely be overpriced.
Here are my top two targets – sign one, not both, but listing two because I expect a good portion of the free agent CB class to re-sign and not actually hit free agency.
Target 1: Jaylen Watson, 3-year $42M ($28M guaranteed)
This would be my biggest move for the 2026 off-season. And I’m still not super comfortable with it.
Jaylen Watson has some risk for sure – he dealt with a groin injury in late 2025, is 27 years old and, yes, was the CB that DeVonta beat for the Dagger, but making him movable after two years lessens the risk. And he is still good – he was 10th in the league in passer rating allowed this past season.
The Eagles have cap room in 2026-27. We remain in a Super Bowl window and it’s a worthwhile free agent pay while we look to invest again in the draft. Do I expect the Eagles to actually do this? No. But he would be a dependable, stabilizing corner option for two years while a longer-term option developed and one I would go get if his price was in this range.
Target 2: Montaric Brown, 3-year $28M ($18M guaranteed)
Jacksonville’s Montaric Brown is an under-the-radar name, but he’s been reliable (playing over 1,500 snaps the past two seasons) and played well this year, allowing a 73.5 passer rating. He is aggressive in coverage, tackles well, and is known to be a good teammate and hard worker.
Signing Montaric and pairing with somebody in the draft or another 1-year signing is probably the smarter financial move than Jaylen Watson. The risk on Montaric is if he can sustain his 2025 and are you buying him high?
Jacksonville, a contender, needs secondary help and I’d normally say Montaric Brown at only 26 years old would never hit free agency, but the Jags are in a tough cap situation, $15M over the cap in 2026 and only $36M free in 2027, both near the bottom of the league. With 17 free agents including 6 starters (Devin Lloyd, Travis Etienne, Dyami Brown, Andrew Wingard, Greg Newsome II, Matt Dickerson, and Brown), they just aren’t going to be able to sign all of them.
Other options:
- Cor’Dale Flott or Alontae Taylor if they stay in the $13-14M range but neither probably will
- Attempt to trade for Juju Brents as a low-cost lottery ticket – Miami is $33M over the cap in 2026, starting a rebuild, and Brents has not stayed healthy as he enters his final year. This couldn’t be more than a day 3 pick or player swap given he’s only played 6 games the last two seasons, but the Eagles did have interest pre-draft in Brents.
- Returning Adoree Jackson on a 1-year deal
Offensive Line
Target: Brady Christensen, 1-year $2M
Our plan for free agency? No big moves but it would be nice to get some depth at guard / center, especially with Jurgens’ struggles this year. Matt Pryor and Brett Toth are both UFAs, each could come back on a min deal, but both can be (and should be) upgraded. But the real answer here is probably the draft, especially at IOL which looks to be a good class.
Brady Christensen is a guy I wanted last year – he can play all five spots on the line including both RG, C, and both OT spots over the past two seasons and has a better blocking efficiency than all Eagles, except Lane and Mailata. His 3.3% pressure rate allowed is half Steen’s, Pryor’s, and Toth’s (all over 6% in 2025). Brady did tear his Achilles in October which may mean he isn’t ready for the start of the season.
Other options:
- Matt Hennessy, who was briefly with the Eagles prior to the 2024 season and can play center and guard. In 2025, he allowed a 4.5% pressure rate.
Wide Receiver
Target: Jalen Nailor, 1-year $2M
In an attempt to have all of the NFL’s Jalens/Jaylens/Jaelans, I’m bringing in Jalen “Speedy” Nailor whose has had a couple of solid years in Minnesota.
I may be being optimistic on his cost as it only takes one team to value a guy higher, but looking at comps from last off-season (Elijah Moore, Nick Westbrook, Van Jefferson), he should be in the $2-4M range, tops.
Nailor fits exactly the type that the Eagles have brought in during the AJ / DeVonta era – low cost, slot-heavy, willing to do the dirty work and can fill in if AJ or DeVonta are out. Here are Howie’s WR signings the past four seasons:
| Year | Player | FA Contract | Prior Performance |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Terrace Marshall | $1.2M | Averaged 255 yards / yr in CAR, injured in 2024 |
| 2024 | Parris Campbell | $1.3M | Coming off down year with 20/104 yds |
| 2023 | Olamide Zaccheaus | $1.2M | 40/533 in prior season in ATL |
| 2022 | Zach Pascal | $1.5M | Averaged 484 yds / yr in ATL over 4 seasons |
Nailor profiles similar to Dotson, but is a bit bigger, more explosive, and better after the catch. His 1.4 YAC over expected is the 11th best in the league (better than any Eagle) and he’s 16th in the league in average air yards per target (again, better than any Eagle), showing he’s much more than a quick-hitting slot. He blocks well and has played selfless this season. Nailor may not be a major upgrade, but he’s an upgrade.
Other options:
- Tyquan Thornton likely returns to KC and his market is probably in the $7-8M AAV range which isn’t affordable with an expensive CB, but if you want a deep threat and a guy that could hedge if AJ leaves next off-season, he’s the guy to get. 64% of his targets were over 20 yards (top in the league) with a silly 37 yard ADOT (third highest in the league)
- Greg Dortch is another small, shifty, slot WR but brings a lot of kick / punt return experience (173 career returns). His market would likely be around $2M.
Long Snapper
Target: Andrew DePaola, 1-year $1.5M
Bonus position!
I can’t believe I’m including a long snapper in my off-season mock but the Eagles have been a mess, with a lot of Jake Elliott’s issues being Cal Adomitis and Charley Hughlett.
Go get Andrew DePaola, one of the steadiest and best long snappers with a 76.5 special teams grade, 5th best in the NFL. All the long snappers sign for a year and $1.3-1.4M.
Will he leave Minnesota for Philly? I have no idea, but he grew up in Maryland and went to Rutgers. I’m firing up the jet, turning on the charm, and getting him to come back to Philly.
What 2027 comp picks could look like
Always important to Howie, the comp picks…
Your own free agents signed prior to free agency don’t count in the comp pick formula, so the big move bringing back Jaelan Phillips doesn’t hurt us.
If the free agents land where their contracts are projected, the Eagles could net a 2027 5th and two 7th round comp picks (with Jaylen Watkins cancelling out Reed, Kolar cancelling out Nakobe, and Brady and Nailor not counting) – nowhere near last year’s haul, but a better net than any of the prior several years.
| Round | FAs Lost | FAs Signed |
|---|---|---|
| R3 | ||
| R4 | Reed Blankenship | Jaylen Watkins |
| R5 | Dallas Goedert | |
| R6 | Nakobe Dean | Charlie Kolar |
| R7 | Jahan Dotson Azeez Ojulari |
Where the roster and salary cap stand after these moves
We’ve addressed most of the priority needs ahead of the draft and can confidently say each should be an upgrade except Goedert, which we aren’t going to upgrade without spending much more or hitting in the draft:
| From 2026… | …to 2027 | |
|---|---|---|
| CB2 | Adoree Jackson Kelee Ringo | Jaylen Watson |
| TE | Dallas Goedert Grant Calcaterra | Charlie Kolar Grant Calcaterra |
| OL | Matt Pryor Brett Toth | Brady Christensen |
| WR | Jahan Dotson | Jalen Nailor |
EDGE still has a depth need as we only have Nolan Smith, Jalyx Hunt, and Jaelan Phillips under contract for 2026, but we will fill in with either draft picks or minimum deal guys like Uche or Ojulari.
As for the cap, you can see the 2026 cap is nearly depleted, even with fairly limited and modest moves. While there’s still $7.2M left, we can’t take it to zero as we need to keep some room for any in-season moves.
| 2026 | 2027 | 2028 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Free agent signings | $8.7M | $9.5M | $12.9M |
| Cap space | $7.2M | $72.5M | $44.3M |
We’ve been responsible on long-term spend and even the bigger moves this off-season (Jaelan Phillips and Jaylen Watson) are really two-year deals that are affordable ahead of the big extensions.
More importantly, the off-season positional needs are back to 1-2 year needs, not urgent 2026 holes, as we got a TE and CB2 in free agency and an EDGE with the Phillips re-signing. Next, in the draft we can be smart and invest for future, not immediate, needs.
As we get closer to free agency and some of these guys undoubtedly re-sign with their current teams, I will update the free agency targets.