Eagles reportedly making ‘significant progress’ toward re-signing Jaelan Phillips

Eagles fans might finally be getting some good news on the pass rush front.

According to multiple reports from NFL insiders, the Eagles and edge rusher Jaelan Phillips have made “significant progress” toward a contract extension ahead of free agency. Nothing is finalized just yet, but there’s growing optimism that a deal could get done before Phillips even has the chance to hit the open market.

That would be a big development for a team that desperately needs stability along the edge heading into the offseason.

Eagles trying to keep a key piece of the defense

The Eagles are attempting to sign pass rusher Jaelan Phillips, according to @JFowlerESPN

“People inside the league believe Philly is attempting to re-sign Phillips to a deal that would pay him well above $20 million per year. But Phillips will have a strong market if he chooses… pic.twitter.com/95S2yTlCt6

— John Clark (@JClarkNBCS) March 8, 2026

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The Eagles clearly don’t want Phillips testing free agency if they can help it. Once the legal tampering window opens, all bets are off, and a player with Phillips’ profile would almost certainly have a strong market.

Reports suggest Phillips could command well north of $20 million per year, with some projections pushing his value close to $27 million annually. That would put him among the highest-paid edge rushers in the league, which tells you everything you need to know about how the market views him.

The Eagles aren’t exactly working with unlimited cap space, so this is a situation where both sides need to find a number that works. The good news is it sounds like negotiations are moving in the right direction.

One factor helping matters is Vic Fangio, who reportedly pushed hard for Phillips and is a big believer in his fit within the defense. Keeping a player your defensive coordinator values that highly tends to go a long way in negotiations.

Why this move matters for the Eagles

If the Eagles can get this done, it would likely be their biggest move of the offseason.

Philadelphia doesn’t exactly have a ton of depth at edge rusher right now. If Phillips were to walk, the Eagles would be staring at a rotation led by Nolan Smith, Jalyx Hunt, and Jose Ramirez, which isn’t exactly the most comforting scenario for a team that wants to contend.

In other words, losing Phillips would create a pretty massive hole in the defense.

That’s why there’s such a strong push to get something done now rather than risk letting him test the market.

Of course, keeping Phillips probably means the Eagles will have to make tough decisions elsewhere on the roster. Big-money extensions tend to have ripple effects, and it wouldn’t be surprising if other pending free agents wind up finding new homes as a result.

Still, if you’re going to spend big on one position, edge rusher is usually a pretty good place to start.

The clock is ticking

The Eagles are working against the clock here. Once the negotiating window opens, Phillips and his representation will be free to gauge interest from the rest of the league.

And if that happens, his price probably goes up in a hurry.

For now, though, the Eagles appear to be doing everything they can to keep one of their key defensive pieces in Philadelphia. If the progress being reported is real, there’s a decent chance this deal crosses the finish line before things get too crazy.

We’ll find out soon enough.