Eagles are losing DE Jaelan Phillips and WR Jahan Dotson
Phillips' departure is a major blow
From The Morning Call: https://tinyurl.com/597fdbzu
The NFL’s “legal tampering” period began Monday, and Jahan Dotson and Jaelan Phillips are both headed south.
Dotson, a product of Nazareth Area High School in the Lehigh Valley, who went on to star as a leading wide receiver at Penn State, will be signing with the Atlanta Falcons when free agency becomes official Wednesday at 4 p.m., according to multiple reports.
The agreement is for two years, $15 million, including $10 million guaranteed, plus performance incentives that could increase the payout to $17 million.
Edge rusher Phillips — whom the Eagles were aggressively trying to re-sign — is reportedly opting to join the Carolina Panthers on a four-year deal worth $120 million, including $80 million guaranteed.
This week, players and their agents are legally permitted to negotiate with any teams they choose leading up to Wednesday afternoon’s start of free agency.
Dotson set Nazareth career records for receptions (187), receiving yards (2,755) and touchdowns (40).
He ranks second in Penn State history in receptions (183) and single-season receptions (91 in 2021), fourth in receiving yards (2,757), second in single-season receiving yards (1,182 in 2021), and second in touchdowns (25) and single-season touchdowns (12 in 2021).
Dotson was drafted 16th overall by the Washington Commanders in 2022. As Washington cycled through quarterbacks, he never quite found a groove. The Eagles traded for him late in training camp in 2024.
As a third option behind A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith, Dotson failed to flourish here. In 34 regular-season games, he had 37 catches for 478 yards and one TD. In four postseason games, he had four catches for 83 yards and a touchdown. He had a pair of receptions in Super Bowl LIX.
During the 2024 season, Dotson made a memorable, acrobatic catch for 36 yards against the Jacksonville Jaguars — the same game in which Saquon Barkley did his reverse hurdle. Working against cornerback Tyson Campbell, who had Dotson well-covered, the receiver leapt into the air and tipped the ball to himself for a completion near the sideline, causing the crowd at Lincoln Financial Field to erupt in cheers.
Last April, the Eagles declined to pick up Dotson’s fifth-year option, making him a free agent this offseason.
The Birds acquired Phillips from the Miami Dolphins for a third-round pick before last November’s trade deadline, and he immediately helped stabilize the defensive front. He finished with five sacks, 14 QB hits, 53 combined tackles, four pass deflections, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery in 17 games between Miami and Philadelphia
Phillips, 26, was a first-round pick (No. 18 overall) out of the University of Miami in 2021 and reunited in Philly with defensive coordinator Vic Fangio, who coached him with the Dolphins in 2023.
Phillips and Dotson will square off at least twice a year in the NFC South.
Now, inking defensive tackle Jalen Carter to a contract extension may be the Eagles’ top priority — as well as finding someone else to play on the edge.
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Follow Christiaan DeFranco on X at @the_defranc.