Eagles' Top Contract Extension Priorities Entering Training Camp

There are a lot of philosophies that have allowed general manager Howie Roseman to build an NFC contender with the Philadelphia Eagles. Giving out contract extensions to the right players at the right time continued to be one of those philosophies this offseason.

Inking DeVonta Smith to an extension in April was the latest example. Roseman got a three-year, $75 million contract extension done with his No. 2 receiver just about a month and a half before the Dolphins signed Jaylen Waddle to a three-year, $84.8 million extension.

Both were 2021 draft picks. Both are high-end talents that happen to be paired with even more productive counterparts. They carry very similar values, but Roseman got a better value because he was the first to get the contract across the finish line.

They also locked up Jordan Mailata and A.J. Brown to contracts that will keep the Eagles core intact for a long time.

At the same time, a general manager has to be wary of giving out extensions to early to players who haven't quite earned them. That's how mistakes happen.

Here, we'll take a look at the most obvious contract extension candidates and rank them in order of importance based on when the Eagles should look to get a deal done.

3. TE Dallas Goedert

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Dallas Goedert

With very few 2025 free agents that are high-priority re-signings it's best to look even further down the road. The Eagles are clearly a fan of handing out extensions early and reaping some of the short-term cap flexibility benefits.

If that's a route they are interested in pursuing during the season then Dallas Goedert would be the easy choice. They could clear around $2.3 million in cap space by extending his new contract and pushing some of his salary into future years as a bonus.

Goedert is set to be a free agent in 2026 with his current contract. At that point, he will be coming off his age-30 season. That would be the obvious drawback here. Goedert has been a reliable target for Jalen Hurts when he's on the field.

The Eagles haven't really had a reliable third wide receiver so Goedert has played a critical role in the offense as a trustworthy pass-catcher.

However, an extension would take him beyond that age-30 season and Goedert has shown some signs of wear-and-tear throughout his career. He hasn't played 16 games or more since his rookie year in 2018.

Adding another year or two to Goedert's contract wouldn't be a completely ridiculous decision. But it's fairly low on the list of priorities right now.

2. DT Milton Williams

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Milton Williams

The fact that Milton Williams even makes this list is a testament to how well the Eagles are set up for the long-term. Williams has barely established himself as a starter. He had a career-high 10 starts last season and collected 42 tackles but just half a sack.

Williams isn't likely to hold on to that starter designation. Jalen Carter and Jordan Davis have the potential to develop into one of the most dominant interior tandems in the league. However, Williams brings some positional flexibility to the table so he's a useful rotational piece.

Is that good enough to hand an extension before he plays out the final season of his rookie contract? Probably not.

However, Williams' should take on a larger role this season. With Fletcher Cox calling it a career the Eagles still have a need for depth on the interior defensive line and Williams came away from the 2023 season with a respectable 69.7 grade from PFF.

It isn't as though the Eagles would be dramatically hurt on defense if Williams walks away next season, but he's someone that could play a role for a while.

1. Edge Josh Sweat

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Josh Sweat

If there is a player worthy of a contract extension after the five that the Eagles gave out this offseason it's Josh Sweat.

The only question is whether the Eagles actually want him around. Jeff Howe and Brooks Kubena of The Athletic noted that both Haason Reddick and Sweat were on the trade block for the Eagles this offseason. They obviously traded Reddick so it's a bit unclear where that leaves the team with Sweat.

On one hand, getting rid of Reddick now makes him more important to the defense. Nolan Smith and Bryce Huff might be the future, but the Eagles defense was at its best in 2022 when they had a ridiculously deep group of pass-rushers.

Huff has mostly been a rotational player during his NFL career. Smith doesn't quite fill the same niche as Sweat as a standup outside linebacker.

Ultimately, Sweat has been a consistent pass-rusher for the Eagles. His sack totals don't necessarily confirm it, but his pressure rate has been between 11.9 and 12.8 percent in four of the last five seasons, per Sports Info Solutions.

If Roseman considers building a collection of pass-rushers who can wreck opposing offenses as a priority then he might consider working out a contract extension that keeps Sweat around for a while.