The Eagles have constructed a powerhouse on offense and defense that is signed for the foreseeable future. How foreseeable? Let’s go through a year-by-year review of when these contracts are up and when we could see an extension. Defense today, after writing about the offense on Monday.
2025 (Players in the last year of their contract)
- Reed Blankenship: The Eagles run a tight (Blenken)ship which means they do not pay for being just good, they pay for great. Is Reed great? I don’t think so. There is a possibility that he stays though if Mukuba does not pan out at all. If there is simply no one else to play safety, the Eagles may be in a bind to give him an extension not usually within their range.
- Nakobe Dean: Poor Dean. Just when everything came together, he got hurt. Though he is up and running, he is going to likely start the season on injured reserve. After drafting Campbell and extending Baun, his role on the team is all of a sudden very expendable despite being the captain of the Georgia guys. Unless it is for a 1 year deal to show off his health, I do not see him coming back.
- Azeez Ojulari, Ogbonnia Okoronkwo, Josh Uche, Patrick Johnson: All four EDGE rushers were brought in on 1 year deals to prove themselves. While not all will make the team, the best of the group will likely get a much better contract somewhere else while one of them sticks around for another go next year.
- Adoree Jackson, Tariq Castro-Fields, Eli Ricks, Tristin McCollum, Lewis Cine, Parry Nickerson: All six are on expiring deals of some kind and probably three or four will make the team. As of right now, none of the six are in the mix to come back next season.
- Ben VanSumeren: Mr. Fullback probably has a spot on this team as long as he is willing to play for the minimum. He needs to stop getting hurt though.
- Braden Mann: Yes, we are including special teams on defense, mostly because I simply forgot about them when talking about the offense. Mann is a solid punter and way better than the guy he replaced, but not so special that he is a lock to be resigned. This is the one position that Howie has never gamed in some way. While it is relatively unimportant, if an opportunity to get someone special, even to punt, exists, Howie will consider it.
- Pre-Season Extension Candidates: Zack Baun was the one who needed to be resigned once Nakobe Dean went down, and he was. What stinks is that Dean would have been likely to receive that extension instead as crazy as that sounds. Jordan Davis was eligible to be extended too, but he needs to prove himself first.
2026 (2 Years Left)
- Jordan Davis (5th year option): Davis has dropped weight and still tantalizes with his size and athleticism, but he has a lot of work to do. By exercising his 5th year option, the Eagles obviously have not made a decision yet. Howie is just as torn on his future as we are right now.
- Sydney Brown: In some ways, I love the guy, but he is not a good football player. He plays like a lunatic but without actually accomplishing anything. I don’t see him having much of a future here other than at the minimum.
- Byron Young: The former 3rd round pick only lasted 1 season with the Raiders before being waived. He didn’t suit up last year and is currently injured. He is running out of time to prove himself.
- Kelee Ringo: As of right now, I wouldn’t bet on Ringo getting a 2nd contract with the team, but that’s not something I am running to Vegas right now. He is still incredibly young, incredibly athletic, and incredibly smart. That kind of combination doesn’t usually fail in the long run, but we are all still waiting for him to put it together. He has 2 years for it to click.
- Moro Ojomo: The star of Training Camp 2025 is going to make everyone forget about Milton Williams…until they remember that Williams got us a 3rd round comp pick when he signed with the Patriots. It is not out of the question for Ojomo to be on the same track. Much like how Jeff Stoutland makes finding offensive lineman easier, Jalen Carter does the same for his fellow defensive tackles. All the guy lined up next to him needs to do is win their matchup because Carter will always be double teamed. For that reason, expect Ojomo to thrive and then go elsewhere.
- Jakorian Bennett: Hello lottery ticket! Bennett turns 25 on August 23rd and is very athletic. He is going to get a shot at CB2 this season and could make Ringo’s raw talent expendable. As good as he could be though, getting a 2nd contract is an uphill battle with Quinyon Mitchell ready to set new heights for the CB market. The Eagles will be looking to the draft for CB again.
- Pre-Season Extension Candidates: This is the year we’ve all been waiting for and the one that will shape the team for years to come. Jalen Carter is eligible for an extension at the end of the 2025 season. It is going to be massive. Nolan Smith isn’t too far behind him depending on whether he breaks out again. They are the kind of great that makes Howie break the bank. Jordan Davis is entering his final year of team control and needs to get to “great” if he wants to stay with his Georgia buddies Carter and Smith. Otherwise, expect him to be traded instead of playing out his 5th year option.
2027 (3 Years Left)
- Jalen Carter (5th year option): Carter is a 1 of 1 talent that is destined to be the next highest paid non-QB in football. Expect a DPOY level season in 2025.
- Nolan Smith (5th year option): Going from playing garbage time in the preseason to the next Brandon Graham was some kind of jump for #3, but one we all knew he had in him. Smith is on a path to being great, but needs this season to truly cement greatness. Not worried at all.
- Zack Baun: The future comes at you fast, huh? The way Baun’s contract is designed, his final year is not guaranteed and only costs $12m against the cap. There is a possibility he gets cut or traded before the season leaving a $6m cap hit in 2027 and $9m in 2028. There’s also a possibility they agree to another year or two depending on his productivity. He will be 31 at the end of the deal.
- Cooper DeJean: As a 2nd round pick, Cooper does not have the same 5th year option as Quinyon Mitchell. If for money reasons they have to stagger these two extensions, expect DeJean’s to come first for this reason.
- Jalyx Hunt: Could Hunt join Nolan Smith as a foundation piece? I don’t think so. That’s not that I think Hunt couldn’t get there, it’s just that they won’t pay both guys top dollar because they probably can’t. Though Smith is the horse in the lead right now, there is some kind of possibility that Hunt passes him (imagine that?). Otherwise, expect him to take a trip to the compensatory pick factory.
- Jeremiah Trotter, Jr.: You could see Trotter sticking around as a backup LB in Philly forever, right? That is selling him short though. He is a smart player who could break out between now and 2027 which would make all Baun decisions that much easier. Jury hasn’t even started deliberating on Trot yet.
- Maxen Hook, Brandon Johnson, Lance Dixon: All will be restricted free agents at this point if they even make the team in 2025. Nothing to say yet.
- Pre-Season Extension Candidates: Since I would probably bet my house on Jalen Carter already being extended and possibly my car on the same for Nolan Smith, let’s focus on the other two up for record setting deals: Quinyon Mitchell and Cooper DeJean. These 4 guys are the reason the Eagles are a budding powerhouse on defense. All penny pinching and tough roster decisions are based on getting these 4 extended. There is a lot of time between now and then, but Howie is going to do whatever he can to get all 4 signed long term.
2028 (4 Years Left)
- Quinyon Mitchell (5th year option): Quinyon Mitchell has the kind of talent to make things very hard on the Eagles budget, but they will find a way.
- Andrew Mukuba: While he may be pushing Reed Blankenship out the door right now, it could be Mukuba getting pushed in 4 years. If he is a star, he stays. If not, he goes.
- Ty Robinson: Everyone is intrigued by the Vanilla Gorilla right? His high end destiny is to be a quality pass rusher from the middle that eventually gets overpaid in free agency by someone else. I can’t wait!
- Mac McWilliams, Antwaun Powell-Ryland, Smael Mondon: This is the next group of guys you hope flash at practice and then get the opportunity to start and become comp picks. Keep that assembly line going.
- Jake Elliot: Elliot will be 33 at this point and was already looking a little shaky. I don’t think he’ll be there by then, but as long as he is making them, we’ll have them back.
- Pre-Season Extension Candidates: Since Q will be extended by now, we can focus on the current draft class. Campbell and Mukuba are the guys you want to see getting extensions at this point as they will all be eligible as 3rd years.
2029 (5 Years Left)
- Jihaad Campbell (5th year option):
- Pre-Season Extension Candidates: Too far away? Nope. After the Eagles trade Tanner McKee, they will have a top 10 pick and the 32nd pick in the 2026 NFL Draft. Those guys are now up for new deals and they haven’t even been drafted yet!
Philly Front Office 
Leave a comment