The Philadelphia Eagles’ offseason has been a turbulent one so far, with several players leaving town after a disappointing 2025 campaign. While many are focused on whether A.J. Brown will be the next key Eagle to book his flight out of Philadelphia, those who have already left have created a ripple effect, including linebacker Nakobe Dean.
Dean’s departure was expected before he agreed to a three-year, $36 million contract with the Las Vegas Raiders last week. Although he was a trusted member of Vic Fangio’s defense, the departure also comes with multiple benefits that can help Philadelphia retool its roster and continue to compete in a difficult NFC race next season.
Nakobe Dean’s Departure Should Benefit Eagles in the Long Run
Dean was a pleasant surprise for the Eagles last year after coming back from a torn patellar tendon. While there was some initial fear his recovery would linger into the second half of the season, Dean returned in October and finished the year with 55 total tackles, seven tackles for loss, and four sacks in 10 games. Dean also had the second-best pass-rushing grade (92.4) among qualifying linebackers according to Pro Football Focus, helping him earn a big second contract with the Raiders.
While Dean signing with the Raiders is a big departure, the Eagles have enough reasons to believe it could benefit them in the long run. Jihaad Campbell is the biggest beneficiary after taking a backseat to Dean when he returned from injury, but played well when given the chance, posting a 76.2 overall grade on 712 defensive snaps and generating 14 pressures on 57 pass-rushing snaps according to PFF.
Campbell’s impact could be slowed by a shoulder injury that could have him out for most of the offseason program, but even if it takes him a while to get going to start the 2026 season, the Eagles can benefit in other ways.
The Eagles need a pass-rusher after Jaelan Phillips departed for the Carolina Panthers in free agency. While the free-agent market has dried up during the opening week, the Eagles could open themselves up to filling the void via trade with $28.4 million in cap space, according to Over The Cap.
Even if that doesn’t lead to a trade, that money could be used to keep core pieces together. Philadelphia already put some of that future savings to use, agreeing to a three-year, $78 million extension with defensive tackle Jordan Davis, and there could be similar agreements on the way with cornerbacks Cooper DeJean and Quinyon Mitchell.
Fangio may be mourning the loss of another trusted veteran, but letting Dean go could be the best move for Philadelphia in the long run. While they’ll have to find a way to replace him, the benefits could show up in the coming months and help the Eagles compete again in 2026 and beyond.