With the 2025 season ending in a wild-card loss to the 49ers, the Philadelphia Eagles entered an offseason with clear priorities. Now, with OTAs about to open, it is worth taking stock of what Howie Roseman set out to address and what he actually did about it.
1. Wide Receiver Depth
The priority: The A.J. Brown situation loomed large heading into the offseason. Whether he was traded or stayed, the Eagles needed to add receiver talent, particularly with rookie WR2 development not on the same timeline as winning in 2026.
What Howie did: Signed veteran Hollywood Brown on a one-year prove-it deal. Signed Dontayvion Wicks from Green Bay. Signed Elijah Moore. Drafted Makai Lemon, the 2025 Biletnikoff Award winner out of USC, in the first round. The Eagles added four legitimate receivers to a room that may soon lose A.J. Brown. The depth is there. The order of operations on the depth chart is still to be sorted in OTAs.
2. Edge Rush Help
The priority: Brandon Graham is 38 and was not under contract for 2026 at the start of the offseason. The Eagles needed to find his eventual replacement and add another premium pass rusher opposite the young guys.
What Howie did: Traded for and extended Jonathan Greenard on a four-year, up-to-$100 million deal, locking in the right edge for the next half-decade. Nolan Smith Jr. enters Year 4 with the chance to take over as the bookend pass rusher. Arnold Ebiketie and Joe Tryon-Shoyinka give Vic Fangio rotational options. Brandon Graham has hinted at a return for a 17th season, but as of mid-May the contract is not finalized. Even without Graham, this is a deeper edge group than the Eagles had at any point last season.
3. Offensive Line Continuity
The priority: The line was banged up in 2025. Adding depth and finding eventual succession plans for Lane Johnson and Jordan Mailata had to be on the table.
What Howie did: Drafted Georgia guard Micah Morris in the sixth round, a pick ESPN's Field Yates called one of the biggest steals of the 2026 NFL Draft. Did not make major free-agent additions to the OL, which signaled trust in the starting five (Mailata, Dickerson, Jurgens, the right guard, Lane Johnson) plus existing depth pieces Tyler Steen and Cameron Williams. The bet: keep the unit healthy and let Chris Kuper carry the technical-coaching torch in place of Jeff Stoutland.
4. Linebacker Depth
The priority: Zack Baun was a revelation in 2024 and stayed strong in 2025. The Eagles needed more bodies behind him.
What Howie did: Drafted Jihaad Campbell with a 2025 first-round pick (now entering Year 2). Drafted Jeremiah Trotter Jr. and Smael Mondon Jr. in 2024 and 2025 respectively. Did not add a free-agent veteran at the position, betting that Campbell takes the second starting job and the others provide quality depth. Vic Fangio's defense uses three linebackers in base looks, so this rotation matters.
5. The Front Office
The priority: Two key executives departed in the same week (Alec Halaby and Bryce Johnston). The Eagles needed continuity in the front office.
What Howie did: Promoted Adam Berry to assistant general manager. Locked in Jon Ferrari to a contract extension. The Eagles preserved the executive structure that has driven their decade-long competitive run while adding fresh perspective.
The Cap Situation
The Eagles entered the offseason with around $25 million in cap space (still healthy after their championship run). They have flexibility for in-season moves, restructures, and potential pre-trade-deadline additions. Cap management is the quiet superpower of this front office, and it shows up year after year.
The Bottom Line
The offseason to-do list was not short, and Howie attacked it methodically. Receivers added. Edge rushers extended. Offensive line bet on continuity. Linebackers developed in-house. Front office stability preserved. The 2026 roster is, by most analytical measures, more talented than the 2025 group on paper, even with the looming A.J. Brown trade.
The execution of the plan is now up to the coaches, the players, and the 17 games on the schedule. The roster construction was Howie's job. Job done.
