Eagles $3 million free agent decision could cost future draft capital, NFL analyst says

Ryan OLeary

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Eagles $3 million free agent decision could cost future draft capital, NFL analyst says image

Due to a variety of reasons, the Philadelphia Eagles were in no rush to sign high-priced, multi-year free agent contracts this offseason.

Coming off a Super Bowl title, Philly’s executive team chose a more cautious approach designed on setting the team up for a run at multiple championships. That meant cutting costs in future years — for example, trading starting safety C.J. Gardner-Johnson to Houston — and allowing the majority of their top pending free agents to walk, leading to farewells to key 2024 contributors like OLB Josh Sweat, DT Milton Williams, RG Mekhi Becton, CB Isaiah Rodgers, LB Oren Burks and RB Kenny Gainwell.

While shedding all of that high-end talent in one offseason was rough, the Eagles could justify those decisions. Their veterans on the move opened up immediate opportunity for younger players still on rookie contracts, and at one point this offseason, Philly was projected to land the NFL’s max of four compensatory picks for the 2026 draft.

Teams that end up with more qualifying free agents lost than gained in a particular year are eligible for compensatory selections, and part of the Eagles’ plan this year was to cash in. As it stands, the team is expected to have 12 total selections in the 2026 NFL Draft, including five picks in the first three rounds (specific details below).

Philadelphia did, however, offset one of their projected comp picks — a sixth-round selection for Rodgers signing with the Minnesota Vikings — when they signed former New York Giants EDGE Azeez Ojulari to a one-year, $3 million deal, per NFL Draft analyst Lance Zierlein. 

With the NFL’s compensatory pick formula window now closed, Zierlein projects the Eagles to receive three comp picks: a third-rounder for Williiams, a fourth-rounder for Sweat, and a fifth-rounder for Becton.

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Ojulari struggled to catch on with the Giants, but it’s clear the Eagles valued him enough to punt what would have been an additional sixth-round comp pick for Rodgers. Roseman is always a step ahead of the game, though, as the Eagles recouped an extra 2026 fifth-round selection from the Atlanta Falcons via a trade on Day 2 of last weekend’s draft.

Here's an updated list of Philly's hoard of picks currently stashed away in the cupboard:

Eagles projected 2026 draft capital

  • Round 1
  • Round 2
  • Round 3
  • Round 3 (from NYJ)
  • Round 3 (compensatory pick)
  • Round 4
  • Round 4 (compensatory pick)
  • Round 5 
  • Round 5 (from HOU)
  • Round 5 (compensatory pick)
  • Round 5 (from ATL)
  • Round 7

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Ryan OLeary

Ryan O'Leary has spent his entire professional career in sports multimedia, working as journalist, editor, podcaster, and in live events as a content manager and show emcee. His career highlights include working as a podcast host and audio editor for USA TODAY Sports Media Group, where he led a series of NFL podcasts for the company’s top-performing NFL sites. A born and raised New Englander, Ryan’s career kicked-off in newspapers after graduating from the University of New Hampshire with a degree in journalism. He developed an affinity for small-town youth, high school and college sports, while also realizing his childhood dream of covering the Patriots in multiple AFC Championship Games. Ryan enjoys kicking it with family and friends, beating his dad and brother in chess, and arguing with anyone crazy enough to insist that Tom Brady isn’t the GOAT.