The Philadelphia Eagles are navigating salary cap constraints following a successful season, leading them to focus on acquiring players through bargain deals. This strategy emerged after the team's trade for edge defender Jaelan Phillips last season, highlighting their approach to finding high-upside players. Recent signings of Riq Woolen and Arnold Ebiketie exemplify this approach, with the team also showing interest in wide receiver Darnell Mooney.
PHILADELPHIA — When describing the impact of in-season trade acquisition Jaelan Phillips on his defense last season, Eagles defensive coordinator Vic Fangio offered a helpful analogy.The 6-foot-5, 260-pound edge defender was the 18th overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft for good reason.
Phillips possesses every trait teams seek in elite pass rushers—so much so that the Carolina Panthers bet big on him in free agency, signing Phillips to a deal averaging $30 million per season in hopes he would elevate their defensive front. The Eagles had budgeted around a $25 million average annual value to bring Phillips back, but salary-cap constraints forced a firm walkaway number.Last season, Philadelphia was forced to shop the clearance aisles, taking fliers on Azeez Ojulari and Josh Uche on the edge before shifting gears at the trade deadline to acquire Phillips. The Eagles' recent success has created similar cap strain for general manager Howie Roseman this offseason, but he has pivoted toward unearthing high-upside bargains.Eagles CB Riq Woolen at the Jefferson Health Training Complex on Match 12, 2026. | John McMullen/Eagles On SI Recent one-year signings of cornerback Riq Woolen and edge defender Arnold Ebiketie highlight that approach. The Eagles also showed interest in another player in that bargain-bin realm, according to a team source: wide receiver Darnell Mooney. Mooney ultimately reunited with former head coach Matt Nagy—now the Giants' offensive coordinator—by signing a one-year deal with New York worth up to $10 million. Mooney has been a productive receiver for years with the Chicago Bears and Atlanta Falcons, peaking with 81 receptions for 1,055 yards in 2021 . As recently as 2024, he posted 64 catches for 992 yards and a career-high five touchdowns with the Falcons.remains to be seen. However, it's fair to assume the Eagles will be wanting more out of a WR3 in an attempt to install a Kyle Shanahan- or Sean McVay-like approach with Mannion, who learned that style of offense as a player under McVay and Kevin O'Connell, and in Green Bay as a coach under Matt LaFleur. If the Eagles ultimately trade Brown—as many around the league expect—Mooney could have served as a reliable, draft-proof insurance policy, potentially holding down WR2 duties opposite Smith while a younger player develops.John McMullen is a veteran reporter who has covered the NFL for over two decades. The current NFL insider for JAKIB Media, John is the former NFL Editor for The Sports Network where his syndicated column was featured in over 200 outlets including the Los Angeles Times, Chicago Tribune, and Miami Herald. He was also the national NFL columnist for Today's Pigskin as well as FanRag Sports. McMullen has covered the Eagles on a daily basis since 2016, first for ESPN South Jersey and now for Eagles Today on SI.com's FanNation. You can listen to John, alongside legendary sports-talk host Jody McDonald every morning from 8-10 on ‘Birds 365,” streaming live on YouTube.com. John is also the host of his own show "Extending the Play" on AM1490 in South Jersey and part of 6ABC.com's live postgame show after every Eagles game. You can reach him at jmcmullen44@gmail.com or on Twitter @JFMcMullen
Philadelphia Eagles NFL Jaelan Phillips Riq Woolen Darnell Mooney
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