The Philadelphia Eagles have grown used to watching productive defensive linemen walk out the door in free agency. Another familiar face could soon join that list.
Moro Ojomo, the 25-year-old defensive tackle, appears on NFL.com’s ranking of the top 25 impending free agents for next summer. He sits at No. 19.
The placement serves as a reminder of the difficult choices awaiting general manager Howie Roseman. The Eagles have already committed major money to two of their other young defensive tackles, Jalen Carter and Jordan Davis.
“The Eagles can’t pay everyone, so Ojomo could be the rare talented lineman to leave Philadelphia for more cash elsewhere,” NFL.com’s Gregg Rosenthal wrote.
That assessment landed as the team prepared for the 2026 season. Ojomo has steadily improved since arriving as a seventh-round pick out of Texas in 2023.
Defensive coordinator Vic Fangio made his preference clear during training camp. After the club invested heavily in Carter, Fangio spoke directly about Ojomo’s value.
“Howie needs to save some money for him, too,” Fangio said.
The endorsement carried weight. Fangio rarely singles out individual players when discussing the salary cap. Still, money remains finite.
Philadelphia’s secondary is young and cheap for now. That will not last. Cornerbacks Quinyon Mitchell and Cooper DeJean both earned All-Pro honors last season. Their next contracts will demand significant resources.
Ojomo’s production has given the front office something to think about. As a rookie he played in eight games and recorded three tackles. Few seventh-rounders even make the active roster that often.
He appeared in all 17 regular season games the following year and finished with 20 tackles. In the playoffs he added seven tackles and a sack during the Eagles’ Super Bowl run.
Last season marked his biggest leap. Ojomo started a career-high nine games. He totaled 38 tackles, six tackles for loss and 6.0 sacks.
Those numbers put him in the conversation with other interior linemen who have cashed in elsewhere. The Eagles have historically preferred to keep their own, but the cap sheet has limits.
Roseman has shown a willingness to let certain defensive linemen test the market when the price grows too high. Ojomo’s situation looks similar on paper.
The 2026 season will decide how much leverage the 25-year-old actually holds. Strong play could push his asking price beyond what Philadelphia is prepared to spend.
Fangio’s public comment suggests the coaching staff wants him back. Whether that wish survives the numbers remains the central question.
Eagles fans have seen this movie before. A late-round find develops into a reliable starter, then free agency arrives and the checkbook stays closed.
Ojomo still has one more year under contract. That gives both sides time. It does not remove the tension already visible in the rankings and the coordinator’s remarks.
The coming months will show whether Philadelphia finds a way to keep another homegrown piece of its defensive line or whether Ojomo becomes the next talented lineman to seek a bigger payday somewhere else.
