The Philadelphia Eagles' season is officially over. Done. Finished. Dead. The reigning Super Bowl champions couldn't defend their turf in a game against a San Francisco 49ers team that was down to fifth and sixth-stringers on defense, falling at home on Sunday to begin the Eagles' offseason.
Clearly, plenty of things must change. Offensive coordinator Kevin Patullo cannot continue to call plays, and some believe it might also be time to move on from head coach Nick Sirianni. Then again, given his success with the team, he will probably get another chance.
Regardless, general manager Howie Roseman has some major decisions to make in the offseason. This team didn't live up to the hype, and the salary cap will force them to make tough decisions. With that in mind, we'll talk about four players who definitely won't be back in Philadelphia next season.
8 Eagles Who've Played Their Last Game in Philly
1. Brandon Graham, DL
This one's probably the most obvious player on the list. Brandon Graham retired at the end of the 2024 season and only came back to help his beloved franchise make a playoff push. Now, with the team out of contention and some uncertainty regarding the coaching staff, there's no reason to stay unretired.
Yes, Graham admitted to NFL insider Mike Garafolo that he hasn't ruled out playing next season. At the same time, this weekend proved that a Super Bowl is never guaranteed, and it remains to be seen if he wants to grind out another training camp only for a potential playoff run to end in a flash.
Graham is a franchise legend and will forever be a fan favorite. He may even stay close to the team in some capacity. But at his age, the Eagles can certainly do better, even though he proved to be in game shape.
2. Grant Calcaterra, TE
Grant Calcaterra has been a talking point for all the wrong reasons this season. His run-blocking skills — or lack thereof — have been a liability, and it's not like Patullo's predictable offense could afford to have anybody holding them back even further.
Calcaterra has never been a factor in the passing game, either. He had just nine receptions on 13 targets for 76 yards and one touchdown this season. He's been in the league long enough to prove what he brings to the table, and with Cameron Latu being a much more efficient run-blocker, there's simply no reason to keep him around.
3. A.J. Brown, WR
A.J. Brown has been a headache and a talking point for this team way too often, so it might finally be time to cut the losses and move on. The Eagles would save $7 million in cap space by trading him after June 1, according to Spotrac, and there should be no shortage of suitors for his services, even given his well-documented issues and power struggles.
The former Tennessee Titans star finished the season with disappointing numbers by his standards. He had 78 catches on 121 targets for 1,003 yards and seven touchdowns, and it's clear that he wasn't always on the same page with Jalen Hurts and Patullo. As good a player as he is, the Eagles can't afford all the constant distractions, and they might still get something valuable in return for his services.
4. Sam Howell, QB
Sam Howell didn't get to play a single snap for the Eagles this season, so the decision to move on from one another should be an easy one. He's an experienced backup who should gauge some interest in free agency.
The Eagles are still committed to Hurts, as they should be, because of his contract. And even if that weren't the case, Howell would still have to beat rookie Tanner McKee for the backup spot. That's without mentioning the potential arms Philly could add in free agency or the NFL draft.
Given how his career has panned out so far, Howell is likely as good as gone.
5. Lane Johnson, RT
Lane Johnson has already dismissed retirement talk. He claimed that he wants to play until his contract runs out in 2027. That being said, there comes a point when the players might not have the final say on that matter.
The Eagles will obviously welcome him back with open arms, but his body might not feel the same way. He missed the final eight games of the season, and even though he's a future Hall of Famer, Father Time simply spares no victims. He will probably try to get his body right, but it wouldn't be shocking to see him be forced to walk away from the game.
6. Adoree' Jackson, CB
Adoree' Jackson was one of the weakest links on the defense all year long. The No. 2 cornerback spot was a major headache, and the only reason he played so much was that Kelee Ringo wasn't much better. Now, with free agency looming, there are little to no incentives to get him back on the team.
Jackson was detrimental in coverage for the majority of the campaign. According to Pro Football Focus, he allowed 47 completions on 73 targets (64.4%) for 552 yards, two touchdowns, and a 90.7 passer rating. He only came down with one interception all year, showing just how ineffective he is at disrupting passes.
In other words, there's no reason for the Eagles to run things back.
7. Nakobe Dean, LB
Nakobe Dean was one of the best players on the field since he made his late-season debut because of an injury. Despite playing just 403 snaps, he still managed to log 55 tackles, seven tackles for loss, six QB hits, four sacks, two forced fumbles, and one pass defensed in ten games (eight starts).
Unfortunately, there's only so much money to throw around, and Dean may have played himself out of the Eagles' price range. The Eagles have already committed plenty of money to Zack Baun, and they will be wise to keep Jaelan Phillips around, given their needs at pass rush. That, plus Jihaad Campbell's presence, might make Dean the odd man out.
8. Reed Blankenship, S
Reed Blankenship went from a fan favorite and a feel-good story to a liability. He had his worst season as a pro and was often on the wrong end of some missed tackles of big gains. Unless he's willing to take a massive discount or a short-term 'prove it' type of deal, it's hard to envision him back on defensive coordinator Vic Fangio's unit.
The numbers and the eye test certainly don't back up his case. He finished the season with 83 tackles, 30 fewer than what he had in his breakout sophomore season. He allowed 26 receptions on 38 targets and gave up 318 receiving yards and two scores while also struggling against the run, missing five tackles in his last three games alone.
Unless the Eagles' front office sees something that fans don't, there's a good chance that Blankenship will be wearing another team's uniform in September.