Eagles Could Set Off Fireworks Ahead of Training Camp
The holiday weekend is here and many often celebrate the Fourth of July by enjoying time with friends and family, firing up the barbecue and setting off fireworks. Philadelphia Eagles general manager Howie Roseman has already set off plenty of fireworks this offseason. The Eagles traded up for rookie wide receiver Makai Lemon, traded for Pro Bowl edge rusher Jonathan Greenard and traded away All-Pro wide receiver A.J. Brown.
Yet Roseman is never content and he could certainly have other fireworks that he’s ready to set off soon. There are still several questions surrounding the team in the City of Brotherly Love and it’ll be interesting to see how Roseman addresses those concerns in the coming weeks. Here are five potential moves to watch for ahead of training camp.
Jalen Carter Contract Extension
The biggest domino that has yet to fall in Philadelphia this offseason involves All-Pro interior defensive lineman Jalen Carter. The 25-year-old former first-round pick is eligible to sign a massive contract extension in 2026. Yet given Carter’s rocky performance last season, it seems like both sides have been unable to agree to a new deal.
It’s quite an odd situation given how Roseman and the Eagles are usually proactive and like to sign their young, core players to massive contract extensions as soon as they are eligible to do so. Yet here we are in July and while Carter was present at mandatory minicamp, he didn’t participate during team drills. While he is coming off a season that was plagued by a shoulder injury, Carter may also be holding in until he receives a new deal.
To further complicate things, the Tennessee Titans signed interior defensive lineman Jeffery Simmons to a three-year, $105.8 million contract extension. Simmons’ deal reset the interior defensive linemen market and now the Eagles are playing from behind, which they aren’t used to doing. While many expect Philadelphia to sign Carter to a new deal prior to training camp, I have my doubts.
Big-Time Safety Trade
Eagles defensive coordinator Vic Fangio has said all of the right things regarding Philadelphia’s current safety situation. Fangio seems content moving forward with Andrew Mukuba and Cooper DeJean as the starting safeties in base defense, while Marcus Epps and Michael Carter II will compete for the second spot in nickel defense. Despite Fangio’s positivity, I’m not buying it.
Roseman is always looking to make a deal and looking from the outside in, it feels like there is still a major void at safety in Philadelphia. Even if the Eagles are excited about DeJean playing safety in their base defense, that will only account for about 20% of their total defensive snaps. While Epps stepped up as a starter late last season, I don’t see how the Eagles are essentially comfortable running it back with the same safety room minus Reed Blankenship.
There are several teams around the NFL that have invested relatively high draft picks at safety in recent years, while also rostering an established veteran safety that could become available. Therefore, I’d keep my eyes on the following players as potential trade targets at safety ahead of (or during) training camp.
Grant Delpit, Cleveland Browns
Justin Reid, New Orleans Saints
DeShon Elliott, Pittsburgh Steelers
Jessie Bates III, Atlanta Falcons
Budda Baker, Arizona Cardinals
DeVonta Smith Contract Extension
While many are rightfully focused on Carter’s contract situation, Philadelphia may consider rewarding another key player this offseason. Following the departure of Brown, DeVonta Smith is expected to step into the WR1 role in 2026 and beyond for the Eagles. Yet according to Over The Cap, Smith ranks just 19th among all wide receivers in average salary per year at $25 million.
While the wide receiver market continues to explode, Smith has seemingly been left in the dust since he signed his contract extension two years ago. The 27-year-old wide receiver is entering his prime and many expect that he’ll receive the team captain patch again in 2026. Therefore, it would make a ton of sense to reward Smith now before he possibly places his name among the top five wide receivers in the NFL with his performance next season.
Trade Tanner McKee
Following an underwhelming performance in Week 18 last season, it’s clear that the Eagles weren’t fully comfortable handing the QB2 job to Tanner McKee in 2026. Therefore, Philadelphia traded for veteran quarterback Andy Dalton and drafted rookie quarterback Cole Payton. The addition of Dalton was especially interesting given his connection to Eagles quarterback coach Parks Frazier.
Fast forward to OTAs and mandatory minicamp, where Dalton was getting reps at QB2 ahead of McKee. That conveniently changed in the next practice open to reporters after Eagles head coach Nick Sirianni was asked about the situation. While McKee could certainly still be Philadelphia’s top backup quarterback in 2026, it’s fair to wonder if he will eventually be traded this offseason.
McKee is 26-years old and heading into the final year of his rookie contract. The Eagles aren’t going to keep four quarterbacks on the 53-man roster and won’t risk putting Payton on waivers. Therefore, it’ll come down to one of McKee or Dalton being moved. There are several teams with questionable quarterback situations around the NFL. It wouldn’t surprise me at all if McKee is eventually traded as teams get a chance to further evaluate their current quarterback rooms.
Bargain Bin Signing(s)
While this would moreso qualify as a sparkler instead of a full-blown firework, but Roseman will certainly still be scouring the free agent market for any potential bargain bin signings. Following the end of mandatory minicamp, the Eagles signed edge rusher A.J. Epenesa and guard Michael Jordan to help add depth ahead of training camp. Yet that wasn’t all for Roseman as his team headed into the lull of the offseason.
Philadelphia also signed two former UFL players in wide receiver Eric Ezukanma and defensive back Shaun Wade. Therefore, I’d expect Roseman to continue to work through the free agent market and sign at least one more player ahead of training camp. Here are five current free agents that stand out to me.
Dare Ogunbowale, RB
Taylor Rapp, S
Will Dissly, TE
Larry Ogunjobi, IDL
Noah Brown, WR