Eagles Can Still Compete While Walking on the Compensatory Pick Tightrope
The Philadelphia Eagles sat out the first day of the NFL’s legal tampering period. Eagles general manager Howie Roseman watched as four starters departed Philadelphia and signed elsewhere in free agency. Yet none of this should come as a surprise, as the Eagles were expected to play the compensatory pick game this offseason.
The Eagles are essentially victims of their own success because Roseman has drafted so well in recent years. Philadelphia is focused on signing their own homegrown cornerstone players to contract extensions, which is what they did with Jordan Davis. Yet they also have to plan for likely upcoming contract extensions for Jalen Carter, Quinyon Mitchell, Cooper DeJean, Jalyx Hunt and possibly Nolan Smith Jr.
Roseman discussed the challenge of trying to retain key players, while also being prepared to find their potential replacements. Here’s what Roseman said during the team’s end-of-season press conference in January:
“We want to keep guys around here because they’re really good players, homegrown players that are really good people that are part of our core,” Roseman said.
“With that, you’re going to have to make sacrifices. That’s on me to make sure that the sacrifices we make are filled in with really good players again.”
We have already seen those sacrifices being made this offseason, as the Eagles have lost four starters in free agency. Yet in return, the Eagles are currently projected to receive the maximum of four compensatory picks in 2027.
Here are the current compensatory picks projections for Philadelphia’s departed players:
Third-round pick (Jaelan Phillips)
Sixth-round pick (Nakobe Dean)
Sixth-round pick (Reed Blankenship)
Sixth-round pick (Jahan Dotson)
There are still a few of Philadelphia’s free agents that could qualify for the compensatory pick formula, headlined by Dallas Goedert. That’s important to monitor as it would allow the Eagles to sign an external free agent for likely up to $12 million per year, while maintaining receiving the maximum of four compensatory picks in 2027.
Roseman understands that the Eagles have to walk on the compensatory pick tightrope this offseason and also made that message clear to Philadelphia’s fans during his end-of-season press conference.
“You can do whatever it takes to win now and still build for the future and still have those parallel paths,” Roseman said. “I just don’t want it to get confused that we can’t do whatever it takes to build a championship caliber team next year and also continue to have really good players on this team for the future.”
The possibility of receiving four compensatory picks in 2027 is exactly how the Eagles can build for the future and have those parallel paths. Philadelphia received the maximum of four compensatory picks in 2026 and they’re looking to replicate that plan this offseason. Yet they’ll obviously be aiming for more success during the season, of course.
Roseman will find creative ways to add talent while dodging the compensatory pick formula. The Eagles will likely go bargain bin shopping in free agency, while also making trades and signing players that have been released by other teams.
As of right now, Philadelphia’s biggest needs are likely at tight end, safety, edge rusher and cornerback. Here are a few players that fit the previously mentioned mold as potential targets for the Eagles in free agency:
Tight End
Johnny Mundt (released by JAX)
Jonnu Smith (released by PIT)
Will Dissly (released by LAC)
John FitzPatrick (UFA)
Ko Kieft (UFA)
Safety
Taylor Rapp (released by BUF)
Andrew Wingard (UFA)
Jaylinn Hawkins (UFA)
Geno Stone (UFA)
Nick Cross (UFA)
Edge Rusher
Bradley Chubb (expected release by MIA)
Arnold Ebiketie (UFA)
D.J. Wonnum (UFA)
A.J. Epenesa (UFA)
David Ojabo (UFA)
Cornerback
Marshon Lattimore (released by WAS)
Nate Hobbs (released by GB)
Cam Taylor-Britt (UFA)
Martin Emerson (UFA)
Rock Ya-Sin (UFA)
While many of those aren’t household names, that’s likely the range of players that the Eagles will be targeting in free agency. Philadelphia’s roster is still loaded with plenty of talent and Roseman will simply have to patch up the holes with relatively inexpensive options ahead of the 2026 NFL Draft.
The Eagles likely won’t break the bank for any of the top remaining free agents, as it would potentially jeopardize Philadelphia’s projected third-round compensatory pick. Therefore, Roseman will continue to operate along the margins and likely avoid any signings that would exceed roughly $12 million per year.
Yet that doesn’t mean that the Eagles won’t be able to compete next season. Philadelphia has made the necessary changes to their offensive coaching staff to take a massive step in the right direction in 2026. Now it’s Roseman’s turn to retool the roster and get the Eagles ready for a potential Super Bowl run next season.