When the Philadelphia Eagles traded for Jaelan Phillips prior to the trade deadline, it was considered to be a relatively low-risk, high-reward move. The cost was a single third-round pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, and so far the reward has indeed been high.
Phillips immediately stepped into a starting spot for Philadelphia, and he’s been very productive during his first four games with the franchise, tallying 15 combined tackles, 5 QB hits, 2 tackles for loss and a fumble recovery.
Eagles urged to re-sign Jaelan Phillips before the offseason
Given the fact that he's on the final year of his current contract, the Eagles will have to make a decision regarding Phillips over the offseason. Given the fact that he plays at a position that is at a premium in the league today, Phillips will likely command a large contract, but bringing him back should be a no-brainer for the Eagles.
In fact, the Eagles should come to terms on an agreement with Phillips before the offseason even begins, according to Kristopher Knox of Bleacher Report. Knox recently listed one impending free agent that every team needs to prioritize re-signing before the offseason, and Phillips was the pick for the Eagles.
From Bleacher Report:
“The Philadelphia Eagles acquired pass-rusher Jaelan Phillips from the Dolphins just before the trade deadline. The 26-year-old wasn't producing eye-popping numbers in Miami but was finally healthy after missing extended stretches in both 2023 and 2024 due to injuries. … Howie Roseman would be foolish for letting him test free agency after landing him for a third-round selection.”
Phillips, 26, would certainly like to remain with the Eagles moving forward, as he was ecstatic about being traded to Philadelphia and has already expressed that he'd like to continue his career as an Eagle.
“I would just love to be in any position where I’m around great guys, on a great team with a great culture," Phillips said of his future. "That’s definitely what the Eagles organization is. If they would want to have me back, I would love to be here."
Eagles general manager Howie Roseman almost assuredly traded for Phillips with the intention of re-signing him in the offseason, and after seeing how well he's fit in on Vic Fangio's defense, that stance likely hasn't changed. If anything, Roseman might feel more of a sense of urgency to lock Phillips up before any other team could get an opportunity to do so.