The Philadelphia Eagles just wrapped up a 2025 campaign that saw them clinch a fifth consecutive winning season, but honestly, the vibe in the NovaCare Complex right now isn’t exactly celebratory. It’s business. Cold, hard, "how do we fit these extensions under the cap" business.
Howie Roseman is currently staring at a spreadsheet that would give most people a migraine. We’ve got cornerstone players like Jalen Carter and Jordan Davis approaching massive payday conversations, while the cliff for veterans like Lane Johnson and Brandon Graham is getting uncomfortably close. Predicting the Eagles projected 53 man roster for 2026 isn't just about picking the best athletes; it’s about navigating a massive shift in the team's financial DNA.
Basically, the "cheap" years are over.
The Quarterback Room and the McKee Dilemma
Jalen Hurts is the guy. That’s settled. He’s signed through 2028, and while there’s always talk about restructuring to kick the cap hit down the road, his spot is ironclad. But the real drama is at QB2.
Tanner McKee has basically become the league’s most talked-about trade chip. Some insiders think he’s worth a second-round pick at this point. If Howie gets an offer like that, he’s taking it. He can’t afford to let that kind of value sit on the bench for one more year and then walk for nothing.
- Jalen Hurts (Starter)
- Sam Howell (If re-signed as a cheap veteran backup)
- Draft Pick/Rookie (Howie loves a developmental project)
If McKee is moved, expect a mid-to-late round rookie to fill the QB3 slot. Sam Howell is an impending free agent, but Philly might try to bring him back on a team-friendly deal if they move McKee for assets.
Running Backs: Saquon and the Kids
Saquon Barkley is still the engine. He’s 28 now, which is "old" in RB years, but he’s still playing like a freak of nature. Behind him, it’s all about youth and cost control.
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Will Shipley has shown enough juice to be the definitive RB2. Tank Bigsby is under contract and provides that North-South thumping style that Vic Fangio (and any offensive coordinator) loves for closing out games. A.J. Dillon is a free agent, and honestly, unless he takes the veteran minimum, I don't see him back.
- Saquon Barkley
- Will Shipley
- Tank Bigsby
Wide Receivers: Is the "Big Two" Era Changing?
A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith are the best duo in the league. Period. But AJ’s cap hit is starting to look like a mountain. There’s been some chatter—mostly smoke, but some fire—about whether the Eagles would consider a blockbuster trade if the locker room chemistry gets weird. I don't buy it. You don't trade a top-5 talent like AJ unless you're rebuilding, and the Eagles aren't rebuilding.
The real hole is the WR3 spot. Jahan Dotson is a free agent. Britain Covey is a free agent. Johnny Wilson and Ainias Smith are still just "potential" at this point.
The Projected Group:
- A.J. Brown
- DeVonta Smith
- Draft Pick (Round 1 or 2) – It's time to find the long-term WR3.
- Johnny Wilson (Cheap depth/Red zone threat)
- Quez Watkins (Back on a futures deal, but he’s gotta fight for a spot)
- Darius Cooper
The Great Tight End Reset
This is where things get scary. Dallas Goedert is a free agent in 2026. Grant Calcaterra? Free agent. Kylen Granson? Free agent.
Literally, as of today, the Eagles have almost zero tight ends under contract for the 2026 season. Goedert is 31. He’s still elite, but does Howie want to pay $15M+ a year for a tight end entering his 30s? He might have to, or this position becomes a massive liability.
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I expect Goedert to get a short-term extension, but don't be surprised if the Eagles use a high draft pick on someone like Gunnar Helm or Oronde Gadsden.
Offensive Line: Transitioning Away from Legends
Lane Johnson is 35. He’s still a brick wall, but the end is near. Jordan Mailata and Landon Dickerson are the new "Old Guard."
The interior is where the questions live. Tyler Steen hasn't quite locked down the RG spot with total authority. Cam Jurgens is the center, no doubt there. But the depth is thin. Guys like Fred Johnson and Matt Pryor are free agents.
I’m projecting the team to keep 9 or 10 linemen, likely including a high-round tackle who can sit behind Lane for a year—the classic Roseman "draft-and-stash" move.
Defensive Line: The $100 Million Question
This is the heart of the Eagles projected 53 man roster. Jalen Carter and Jordan Davis are the future, but the future is getting expensive.
Moro Ojomo has played his way into a bigger role, which is huge because he's cheap. But the Edge rusher situation is a mess. Brandon Graham is 37—he’s a legend, but he can’t play forever. Jaelan Phillips was a great trade-deadline acquisition, but he’s a free agent. Nolan Smith needs to prove he’s a double-digit sack guy this year or he might be trade bait.
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Defensive Front Locks:
- Jalen Carter
- Jordan Davis
- Moro Ojomo
- Nolan Smith
- Jalyx Hunt
- Ty Robinson (Drafted for this exact transition)
Linebackers and the Secondary
Zack Baun was the steal of the century, but his new $51M contract means he has to be the leader now. Nakobe Dean is an impending free agent, and his injury history makes an extension risky. Jihaad Campbell is the young guy everyone is excited about.
In the secondary, Quinyon Mitchell and Cooper DeJean are the stars. They are the best young corner duo in Philly since... maybe ever?
But safety is a ghost town if Reed Blankenship isn't re-signed. Sydney Brown is back from his injury, but they need a veteran presence.
Actionable Insights for the 2026 Offseason
If you’re looking at how this roster actually comes together, watch three specific things:
- The Goedert Extension: If it doesn't happen by March, the Eagles are 100% drafting a TE in the first two rounds.
- The Tanner McKee Trade: If he's moved, it signals Howie is hunting for draft capital to replace the expensive veterans he's about to cut.
- The Safety Market: Look for a "boring" veteran signing here. Howie doesn't like spending big on safeties, but he needs a body next to Sydney Brown.
The Eagles projected 53 man roster for 2026 is going to look a lot younger and a lot faster, but it’s also going to be much more top-heavy with big contracts. Howie’s "roster malpractice" in the 2025 draft (according to some critics) means he has no margin for error this spring. He needs to hit on at least three starters in the upcoming draft just to keep the Super Bowl window cracked open.
Stay tuned to the transaction wire. The moves made in the next eight weeks will define the next three years of Eagles football.