The Philadelphia Eagles made a big move at the 2025 trade deadline for Miami Dolphins edge rusher Jaelan Phillips, who more than held up his end of the bargain during his short time in Philadelphia.
Unfortunately for the Eagles, Phillips might end up being just a short term rental as he is set to become one of the most sought-after edge rushers in the 2026 free agent cycle.
That means the Eagles still need edge rushers and preferably ones with high upside, like Phillips. Bleacher Report’s Kristopher Knox thinks general manager Howie Roseman could dip into his treasure trove of draft picks to get another one with New York Jets edger rusher and former first round pick Jermaine Johnson II in a trade.
In Knox’s scenario, the Eagles might seem to pay a fairly steep price for Johnson, sending a 2026 third round pick and 2027 fifth round pick to the lowly Jets, but it’s really a bargain.
It’s a bargain because Johnson would be playing on his fifth-year option in 2026, which amounts to a paltry $13.6 million. That’s incredible value for an edge rusher with his upside.
“The Eagles acquired Phillips from Miami and are widely expected to extend him this offseason,” Knox wrote. “However, it wouldn’t be a shock to see Philly also make a move to add Johnson. Philadelphia could use additional edge depth, and it could give New York back the third-round pick it owes for the Haason Reddick trade. Eagles senior personnel director Joe Douglas was also the Jets’ general manager when Johnson was drafted.”
Johnson Followed Pro Bowl With Terrible Injury
In 2023, Johnson put up a career high 7.5 sacks and 23 QB pressurues and earned his first Pro Bowl selection. Looking to build on that in 2024, he tore his Achilles tendon just 2 games into the regular season.
The lingering effects of that injury — and of playing for the Jets — were on full display in 2025 when he had just 3.0 sacks in 14 games.
At just 27 years old and 2 years removed from his Achilles injury, there’s a good chance Johnson could thrive in a new environment and playing for a winner for the first time in his career.
If he does well, the Eagles could offer him an extension, with Spotrac predicting his market value in the range of a 4-year, $73.8 million contract.
Eagles Could Just Go All In On Phillips
When the Eagles made a move to trade for 6-foot-5, 265-pound Phillips at the trade deadline, it served to address a void created after Super Bowl hero Josh Sweat left for a 4-year, $76.4 million free agent contract with the Arizona Cardinals.
Phillips took on a starring role down the stretch for the Eagles — enough so the franchise might not want to let another high profile edge rusher walk out the door.
In just 8 regular season games for the Eagles, Phillips had 2.0 sacks, 4 TFL and 17 QB pressures — Pro Bowl-type numbers. That might put the former No. 18 overall pick in the 2021 NFL draft in line for a deal in the range of a 3-year, $80 million contract.
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