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Jaelan Phillips Traded to Eagles in Blockbuster Trade

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With the NFL’s trade deadline looming, Howie Roseman and the Philadelphia Eagles are staying aggressive. After multiple trades the previous week, the Eagles are bolstering their defensive line by trading with the Miami Dolphins for Jaelan Phillips in exchange for a 2026 third-round pick.

This is a huge addition to the Eagles’ defense, which was desperate for pass-rush help.

Jaelan Phillips Traded to Eagles in Blockbuster Trade

Elite Pass Rush Help

The Jaelan Phillips trade is exactly what the Eagles needed to reinforce their defense for another championship run. Given current injuries and lack of production from their edge rushers, a trade at the position was a no-brainer. Phillips was one of, if not the best, players available for pass-rush-needy teams.
Phillips, a first-round pick in 2021, has been very productive in Miami over the course of his career. He posted seven or more sacks in his first two seasons, playing all 17 games in both. He recorded six and a half sacks in only eight games in 2023 before his season ended with a torn Achilles tendon. Phillips has recorded three sacks so far this season, appearing in all of Miami’s games.

Fair Value

On the surface, giving up a third-round pick for a player on an expiring contract seems like a hefty price to pay. Digging into it deeper, though, this is a relatively low-risk move for the Eagles.
They sent their own third-round pick to Miami, which is expected to be late in the round. Phillips will also count towards their compensatory pick formula in 2027, should he sign elsewhere after the season. The draft pick they receive could end up being anywhere from a third-round pick to a seventh-round pick, depending on the compensation he receives on the open market. Essentially, if he is only a rental, the Eagles will not lose any draft picks from this trade.
The flip side to that is he is still just 26 years old. The Eagles could look to retain him after the season with a new contract. In that case, they have added a young, explosive pass rusher for long-term help at the position. Whichever way you look at this move, the Eagles are both short-term and long-term winners.

Vic Fangio Reunion

The most interesting season from an Eagles perspective here is Phillips’ 2023 season, though. He was on his way to posting a career-best season, needing only two more sacks to tie his career high, doing it in only half the season. Miami’s defensive coordinator in 2023? Vic Fangio.
Fangio unlocking the best version of Phillips is certainly something for Eagles fans to be excited about. If Fangio can get him playing to the level he was previously when they were together, it will change the Eagles’ defense. Fangio had previously spoken very highly of Phillips during their time together in Miami.
High praise like this is uncommon from the Eagles coordinator. Phillips will be a major contributor down the stretch in the quest to repeat as champions.

Brand New Defense

The Eagles’ defense will look very different in their next matchup compared to their most recent.
For starters, they have traded for three different defensive players in the last week, including Phillips, Michael Carter, and Jaire Alexander. They will also be receiving some internal reinforcements. Against the Green Bay Packers on Monday Night Football, standout defensive end Nolan Smith is eligible to be activated from the injured reserve, and is expected to be. Eagles legend Brandon Graham is expected to make his season debut. Cornerback Jakorian Bennett is expected to play after having his practice window opened before the bye week.
The Eagles’ defense should find its strongest form in the second half of the season. They’ve had enough time to work out the kinks, while making valuable additions along the way. With many of the NFC’s contenders starting to show their cracks, the Eagles look poised to be their best selves after the Jaelan Phillips trade.
Main Image: Ken Blaze-Imagn Images

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