The Philadelphia Eagles needed plenty of help in the pass-rushing department this season. That's why general manager Howie Roseman didn't hesitate to give up a third-round pick to get their hands on Miami Dolphins star disruptor Jaelan Phillips.
Now, even though the sample size is limited, it's become pretty evident that the Eagles need to bring Phillips back. It's not going to be entirely on them, though. According to a report by Eagles beat writer EJ Smith of PHLY Sports, Phillips is going to let his agents handle all the free-agency process.
"Jaelan Phillips said he hopes to stay with the Eagles long-term," Smith wrote on Monday. He’ll be an unrestricted free agent this offseason and said he will have to do what’s best for his family, but also said playing for a competitive team will be a priority for him in free agency."
Eagles Must Find a Way to Convince Jaelan Phillips to Stay
The fact that Phillips wants to play for a contending team is great news. He was a seamless fit for defensive coordinator Vic Fangio's unit, and finished the campaign with 28 tackles, seven quarterback hits, four tackles for loss, four passes defensed, two sacks, and one forced fumble in his eight regular-season games with the Eagles.
That being said, he's also making it sound as if he's going to prioritize money over everything else. That's not necessarily a bad approach, given that he's just 26 years old and needs to maximize his earning potential; there are no guarantees in the National Football League.
That might spell trouble for an Eagles team that will probably need to restructure A.J. Brown's contract and let several free agents, such as Nakobe Dean and Reed Blankenship, walk away to save up for Phillips.
Phillips is represented by WIN Sports Group, a group that's reportedly striving to make football players 'global stars.' That probably just translates into squeezing as much money as they can get in free agency.
Brandon Graham is most likely going to retire again, and the fact that he had to come back this season to help the Eagles' pass rush speaks volumes about their needs at the position. They might be able to replace Dean with Jihaad Campbell, but there's no one on the roster who can step up and do what Phillips does.
The Eagles may have to engage in a bidding war to make sure that Phillips stays in the City of Brotherly Love. And even though Phillips' agent may handle all of the process, it'll be up to the coaches, players, and executives to do their part and also convince him that he needs to stay in Philadelphia.