No matter what a player may have contributed to a franchise during their respective professional career, money always catches up with them as their performance declines with age, all while their cost to employ goes up.
Lane Johnson has been an Eagles lifer, joining the franchise in 2013 after being selected with the No. 4 overall pick. However, entering the 2026 offseason, his name is included among the potential salary cap casualties to depart Philadelphia in the coming weeks and months as Howie Roseman looks to maneuver around salary cap restrictions to build a roster that can compete for a championship.
The 35-year-old is coming off a Lisfranc foot injury he suffered in November, which only complicates what his future in the City of Brotherly Love could hold, as there have been retirement rumblings since the 2025 campaign ended. Given the cap hit of just north of $24 million, a tough conversation will need to take place if Johnson does not elect to retire.
Releasing Lane Johnson Opens Legitimate Cap Space for Philadelphia
Long story short, the Eagles should not do anything regarding Johnson or his future with the team until after June 1 passes. If Roseman were to release or attempt to trade the veteran before then, Philadelphia would be saddled with $40 million in dead cap money and a net savings of -$16.15 million.
On the other hand, if Roseman is patient enough to wait until after June 1, the Eagles could save $9.38 million by releasing or trading the veteran, making the necessary roster additions more feasible. Philadelphia has $20.5 million in available cap space, but its ability to create additional space via restructuring deals is essentially nonexistent.
There are always feelings involved when the possibility of parting ways with a legend like Johnson is raised. Those emotions need to be checked at the door, though, if Roseman and the front office want to lift this team back to the top of the NFC. Whether or not a player with the miles on his body that Johnson has entering the offseason, coupled with the injury he is attempting to come back from, is worth keeping around at such a high price point is a legitimate question.
This past season, Johnson was an effective player when he was able to take the field, especially in pass-blocking opportunities. Pro Football Focus issued Johnson a overall grade of 77.4 for the 2025 season, the 18th-best of all eligible offensive tackles. His pass-blocking grade of 80.4 ranks ninth-best among players at his position. Run blocking, though, was less of a strong suit as Johnson's grade of 69.8 was a much more average 33rd-best among offensive tackles.
With Johnson having the 20th-highest cap number of all offensive tackles for the 2026 season, Philadelphia will be banking a large amount on the soon-to-be 36-year-old bouncing back from an injury that clearly impacted his ability to take the field to end the 2025 campaign.
That is an expensive risk for Roseman to take, especially if the potential for cap relief of more than $9 million is an alternative.