The Philadelphia Eagles made a flurry of moves on the defensive side of the ball this season, and they were able to see them in game action for the first time against the Packers.
Edge rusher Jaelan Phillips made his presence felt in his Eagles debut and was all over the field for the Birds. In 53 defensive snaps, Phillips had six total tackles, seven hurries, seven pressures (game-high), a forced fumble, and a fumble recovery. He also had a 19.4% pressure rate, highlighting what he'll bring to this defensive front.
Not only was he productive as a pass rusher, but Phillips also had six run tackles (team-high), including the game-sealing tackle on Josh Jacobs on a late-game 4th and 1 run. Phillips takes pride in stopping the run, as evidenced by his quote to Zach Berman of The Athletic.
"It's a bit of pride thing. Pass rush is more finesse, more sexy. But stopping the run is gritty. It's hard. It takes toughness," Phillips said.
Phillips looks like a massive difference maker and was snagged for a 2026 third-round pick. While the Eagles are focused on the remainder of the season, the offseason price to retain Phillips has already gone up after just one game.
Eagles Price to Keep Jaelan Phillips Has Gone Up After 1 Game
Phillips has consistently flashed the ability to make plays in the backfield, but has been hindered by injuries. Nonetheless, he'll be a 26-year-old pass rusher hitting the open market at a premier position. Teams around the league can't wait to add a player of this caliber to their roster and would gladly take the chance despite his injury history.
The Eagles were aggressive in trading for him, and if he continues to produce at this level for the remainder of the season, they'll have no other choice but to hand him a massive extension. It also helps that defensive coordinator Vic Fangio coached him for a period in Miami and played a role in his acquisition.
Phillips has been fired up ever since he arrived in the City of Brotherly Love. Following his first practice, the pass rusher made it known just how much joining the Eagles meant to him.
"This is literally the greatest thing that’s happened to me in my whole life, probably," Phillips said.
A big factor working in Philadelphia's favor is that they are the defending Super Bowl champions and look primed to compete for another Lombardi Trophy this season. This is the exact situation that players dream of finding in the league, so that will give the Eagles some wiggle room. Regardless, based on how Phillips looked in his debut, he's going to be an issue for opposing teams, and that'll only increase his price tag for a deal this spring. But that's a welcome problem to have for the Eagles.