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Dec 25, 2023; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Philadelphia Eagles head coach Nick Sirianni (L) and quarterback Jalen Hurts (1) and offensive coordinator Brian Johnson (R) talk during the second quarter against the New York Giants at Lincoln Financial Field. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USAÂ TODAYÂ Sports

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Dec 25, 2023; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Philadelphia Eagles head coach Nick Sirianni (L) and quarterback Jalen Hurts (1) and offensive coordinator Brian Johnson (R) talk during the second quarter against the New York Giants at Lincoln Financial Field. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USAÂ TODAYÂ Sports
“It takes everybody. That’s why I laugh sometimes when they’re like, ‘Hey, well, they’re so stacked as a team,'” Nick Sirianni told The Athletic. He’s right. Stacked teams don’t magically appear; they’re built. Sure, it took the Eagles two years to build it. But they wanted to make it a grand affair, and so they did. SB LIX sealed, Jalen Hurts MVP, Chiefs humbled, and Philly’s got yet another parade to look forward to. But while the confetti’s still settling, the reality is knocking—and it’s carrying a $24.5 million cap headache.
Nick Sirianni and Howie Roseman built a championship roster, but keeping it together? That’s a whole different beast. We’ll start from the bottom up. Roseman pulled off a masterclass—smart draft picks like, a rare investment in Saquon Barkley that paid off, and cap tricks that made it all work.
But now? The bill is coming due.
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Sure, the core pieces are locked in—Hurts, Barkley, Brown, Mailata. But free agency is coming for Philly like an unblocked edge rusher. Zack Baun, a Defensive Player of the Year nominee, played himself into a payday. Josh Sweat? Just had 2.5 sacks in the Super Bowl—good luck lowballing him. And then there’s the young talent like Cooper DeJean and Jalen Carter, who’ll need new deals soon.
Something’s gotta give, and $24.5M isn’t stretching far enough. Well, that’s until you learn who’s on the other side of the ring dealing with it. Howie Roseman. The reason why Sirianni does not, I repeat, does not worry about the roster not being there.
We don’t say it lightly: Roseman has never met a cap problem he couldn’t manipulate. He’s been playing 4D chess while other GMs are stuck on checkers. His favorite trick? Void years. Kick the financial can down the road, create immediate cap space, and hope the bill doesn’t cripple you later. It worked for this year’s run. But how much longer can he keep restructuring without sacrificing the future?

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NEW ORLEANS, LA – FEBRUARY 09: Head Coach Nick Sirianni of the Philadelphia Eagles congratulates QB Jalen Hurts 1 of the Philadelphia Eagles during Super Bowl LIX between the Kansas City Chiefs and the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday, February 9, 2025 at the Caesars Superdome in New Orleans, LA. Photo by Bob Kupbens/Icon Sportswire NFL, American Football Herren, USA FEB 09 Super Bowl LIX – Eagles vs Chiefs EDITORIAL USE ONLY Icon250209219
Let’s talk about that house of cards. The Eagles have 15 players with void years on their contracts. That means Roseman has been playing financial gymnastics, shifting cap hits into future seasons to stay competitive now. In 2027, the Eagles already have the second-highest salary-cap allocation in the league. From 2028 to 2030? They lead the NFL. But it has come down to this year, in 2025, where they are 19th in the league at $24.5 m.
Philly’s championship window is open, but cap space is the breeze that keeps it from slamming shut. The Eagles can’t afford to fumble this offseason. The team-building blueprint worked once, but the NFL is an arms race. And right now, Sirianni and Roseman are staring down the reality of a roster that might not look quite as stacked in 2025. The parade is on Friday. The front office meetings? Already started.
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Is Jalen Hurts' confidence justified, or will the Eagles' financial gymnastics catch up with them?
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Jalen Hurts could 0nly hope his end ‘ain’t near’
Jalen Hurts didn’t even need to think before saying it: “It’s only the beginning till it’s the end, and the end ain’t coming anytime soon.” Bold words. The kind that every single one of us would bookmark, save, and throw it back at him the second things go south. But here’s the thing—Hurts believes it. And why wouldn’t he? Riding the momentum of a Super Bowl MVP. Add to that the fact, he’s 26 years old, with a $255 million contract that says he isn’t going anywhere.
But in the league where money’s the end of discussion, the real question: Can the Eagles keep enough talent around him to make sure that statement holds up? Hurts’ own contract, which had a manageable $13.56 million cap hit this season, will balloon to $38.37 million in 2029. So while Hurts may feel like he has time, the numbers say otherwise. And then the whole trick of ‘void years’ like we explained above. Yeah, that has left everyone in a pickle.
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But the GM is not fazed. “Once you start doing that, it’s almost like, are you picking favorites?” Roseman said. He held off on extensions during the season, avoiding locker-room drama. Smart move then, considering they were on a championship run. But now it’s crunch time. He can’t pay everyone. The Eagles will have to make tough calls.

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Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts and Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes meet on the field after the Eagles defeat the Kansas City Chiefs 40-22 in Super Bowl LIX at Caesars Superdome in New Orleans on Sunday, February 9, 2025. PUBLICATIONxINxGERxSUIxAUTxHUNxONLY SBP202502091047 JOHNxANGELILLO
So what happens next? The Eagles can create anywhere between $63-75 million in cap room through restructures, which could bring back key pieces on defense. But that’s easier said than done. The “Core 4” defenders—guys they want to keep—are all going to cost. Best case, Philly keeps two. Worst case? They lose more than they’d like and suddenly, the weight shifts onto Hurts’ shoulders even more.
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Hurts is still the guy. No doubt about that. But the reality is, the next few years will test how well this Eagles team can hold itself together. The talent is there for another run. But stability is a luxury when you’re juggling contracts like this. If Hurts wants his end to stay far away, the Eagles better make sure the foundation doesn’t crack beneath him.
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Debate
Is Jalen Hurts' confidence justified, or will the Eagles' financial gymnastics catch up with them?