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Before the start of the league year, the offseason was a blank slate.
The Philadelphia Eagles had a roster to navigate with free agents, draft picks and a disgruntled wide receiver.
General manager Howie Roseman was offered a 25-step blueprint on how to navigate the offseason.
In some cases, Rosemans reality worked out better for the Eagles.
In others, the plan and process were congruent.
Starting with Part 1, The Athletic held itself accountable, assessing each of the 25 steps in the blueprint, comparing it with what actually materialized for Roseman and the Eagles.
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Try to convince A.J.
Brown to stay.
If that doesnt work, trade Brown and target a late first-round pick by attaching a mid-round pick to Brown.
What happened: It was clear the situation with Brown was untenable, so Roseman made the trade and targeted a first-round pick.
He did not need to attach a mid-round pick in fact, he received a fifth-round pick as a sweetener.
The difference is my plan included pursuing a 2026 pick to help this years roster.
The Eagles were willing to wait until 2028 (and 2027 for the fifth-rounder).
The cap space they saved by waiting until after June 1 to make the trade was key.
Roseman navigated this better than I proposed.
I didnt mind waiting until 2028, and that pick will likely be better than the No.
31 pick this year, but its also a reality the Eagles traded a star wide receiver and did not directly add anyone who will help this years team in the deal.
(They can reallocate the cash saved.) 2.
Explore the trade market for a wide receiver if Brown is traded.
What happened: Roseman traded for Dontayvion Wicks, which was a bigger deal internally than headlines might suggest.
Wicks is a top-three receiver for the Eagles and a valued part of their offseason plan.
The thinking from the offseason blueprint was the Eagles could not turn wide receiver over to DeVonta Smith and a draft pick.
The names mentioned in March were more accomplished than Wicks, but Wicks represents a veteran addition to the starting rotation.
3.
Resist the urge to make a strong push for Maxx Crosby.
What happened: The Eagles did not acquire Crosby even after the Las Vegas Raiders-Baltimore Ravens trade fell through.
The logic in March was the Eagles needed to prioritize their high draft picks for offensive players given some of the changes ahead with the roster.
The Eagles were still players for Trey Hendrickson, and they eventually traded for Jonathan Greenard, although the trade compensation (two third-round picks) was not as steep as what it would have been for Crosby.
4.
Prioritize Jaelan Phillips with a walkaway number.
What happened: This is exactly what happened.
The Eagles were interested in re-signing Phillips after trading for him midseason, but the Carolina Panthers four-year, $120 million contract outpaced what the Eagles were willing to pay.
At that price, one can understand why Phillips is playing elsewhere, but it left a void the Eagles still needed to fill this offseason.
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If Phillips does not sign, target Bradley Chubb (or another released edge rusher).
What happened: The Eagles were ambitious in how they sought to replace Phillips.
Hendrickson and Greenard quickly became targets for the team.
Chubb was a suggestion because he had experience in Vic Fangios scheme and would not count against the compensatory pick formula; he signed a three-year, $43.5 million contract with the Buffalo Bills.
The Eagles initially signed rotational players such as Arnold Ebiketie after the initial push for Hendrickson and Greenard.
They eventually landed Greenard and signed him to a two-year contract extension worth $60 million that turns his existing deal into a four-year, $100 million contract.
It was a steep price to pay an unrestricted free agent would not have required the draft pick compensation but the Eagles were willing to pay it to land a high-end player such as Greenard.
That was the headlining move this offseason.
6.
Prepare to move on from Dallas Goedert unless sentimentality is an appeal.
What happened: Goedert is back, although the negotiations continued past the start of free agency after Goedert had seen what offers would be elsewhere.
Sentimentality was part of the appeal Goedert values playing in Philadelphia.
The blurb from March projected a price of around $13 million per season and suggested the Eagles should move on if thats the number and engage if the market is less expensive than projected.
Goedert signed a one-year, $7 million contract, which is a relative bargain for Goederts contributions.
Six tight ends in free agency signed for more per year than Goedert, including blocking tight ends Charlie Kolar and Daniel Bellinger.
7.
Dont overpay at tight ends if prices are inflated.
Target a tight end via trade with Michael Mayer as the top option.
What happened: By keeping Goedert, the Eagles did not need to worry about this.
Chig Okonkwo and Kolar were mentioned as potential free-agent signings in the blueprint.
Okonkwo signed a three-year, $27 million contract with the Washington Commanders; Kolar signed a three-year, $24.3 million deal with the Los Angeles Chargers.
Rosemans decision to bring back Goedert and pair him with a draft pick (second-round pick Eli Stowers) and inexpensive free agents was a more sensible solution.
However, there was one alternative that might have been appealing: Veteran David Njoku signed a one-year, $3 million contract with the Chargers.
He would have been a sensible cost-effective option had the Eagles moved on from Goedert.
8.
Let Reed Blankenship walk, target a lower-priced safety to pair with Drew Mukuba and compete in training camp.
What happened: Roseman let Blankenship leave in free agency on a three-year, $24.75 million contract with the Houston Texans.
A lower-priced safety next to Mukuba was apt, although it didnt come from the outside.
The Eagles brought back Marcus Epps on a one-year, $1.55 million contract, and they restructured Michael Carter IIs contract, reducing it to $2.765 million with $1.45 million guaranteed.
The decision to allow Blankenship to leave is understandable given the money the Eagles must invest in young defensive players, although it appears to be a shaky safety situation entering training camp.
Roseman could still add before the season.
This item in the blueprint would have been better served in Buffalo.
Two options mentioned both signed with Buffalo: Geno Stone, who signed a one-year, $1.4 million contract; and C.J.
Gardner-Johnson, who signed a one-year, $3.5 million contract and has a loaded history with the Eagles.
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Wish Nakobe Dean well when he signs for more money elsewhere.
Turn a starting job over to Jihaad Campbell.
What happened: This materialized as described.
Dean earned a three-year, $36 million contract with Las Vegas, which was beyond what the Eagles would pay with Zack Baun on the books and Campbell waiting for a starting spot.
Deans role in Philadelphia was valued; this is the reality of a salary-cap league.
Earlier this week, I identified Campbell as a breakout candidate for the Eagles.
It made sense to give him the job after investing a first-round pick and witnessing his upside last season.
10.
Sign the 2026 version of Adoree Jackson to compete with the cornerbacks under contract.
What happened: This is the biggest discrepancy between the Eagles offseason and my blueprint and the Eagles did it better than the blueprint could have projected.
Instead of shopping the bargain bin at cornerback, the Eagles landed Riq Woolen on a one-year, $12 million contract.
Woolen, who was ranked No.
24 in The Athletics top 150, was projected to sign a four-year, $76 million contract.
That made the Eagles deal a steal.
Even Fangio was surprised Woolen didnt land a multiyear deal.
Woolen was a standout this spring and gives the Eagles the best cornerback trio in the NFL.
It was a far better outcome than trying to find a bargain signing.
Had they sought one, two players mentioned in the article signed deals that would have fit the category: Martin Emerson on a one-year, $1.5 million contract as he signed with the New Orleans Saints, and Cam Taylor-Britt on a one-year, $1.4 million contract with the Indianapolis Colts.
The Eagles plan worked better.
11.
Release Michael Carter III.
Fill the roster with one-year signings with compensatory picks in mind.
What happened: The Eagles did not release Carter in a move that would have saved them more than $8 million.
Rather, the two sides agreed to a pay cut that gave them cap savings while keeping Carter in Philadelphia with a chance to compete for playing time at safety and as a slot cornerback.
The Eagles traded for Carter at midseason, and he filled only a minimal role.
They still think he can be a contributing player, and hes more valuable with a $1.4 million cap number than a $10.1 million cap number.
The Eagles are expected to receive a compensatory pick for Phillips exit; they did not sign anyone who would nullify that departure in the formula.
12.
Exercise Jalen Carters fifth-year option and sign him to a contract extension.
What happened: The Eagles exercised Carters fifth-year option.
They have not yet signed him to a contract extension.
This remains one of the looming questions entering the season.
Carter has the talent to become the best interior defender in the league.
Better health, conditioning and consistency will help.
If he realizes that upside, the price wont go down.
I suggested making Carter the highest-paid defensive tackle with a contract extension worth $35 million per season a big jump from Chris Jones $31.175 million per season.
Since then, the Tennessee Titans Jeffrey Simmons signed a contract worth $35.276 million per season.
That shows the price is rising.
If the Eagles are convinced on Carter, they should act sooner rather than later.
13.
Sign Jordan Davis to a contract extension, reducing his cap number.
What happened: The Eagles signed Davis to a contract extension and reduced his cap number although the new deal was far greater than the price I outlined in the article.
He signed a three-year extension worth $26 million per season.
Using Travis Jones deal as a template, I thought a three-year extension worth $45 million-$50 million overall would do it.
My projection was clearly off, and the Eagles view him as more than a nose tackle.
Davis has established himself as a cornerstone player for the Eagles, and they paid him to be a factor on passing downs.
Check out Part 2 of the Eagles offseason review Friday.