The Philadelphia Eagles are licking their wounds after a brutal Week 6 loss to the New York Giants, and the rumor mill is buzzing. According to NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport and Mike Garafolo, Eagles GM Howie Roseman is sniffing around for defensive help, with cornerback and edge rusher at the top of his shopping list. After waving goodbye to key starters like Isaiah Rodgers in March—players now thriving elsewhere—the Eagles’ defense is looking shakier than a rookie QB in the pocket. But let’s pump the brakes on one name floating around: Bradley Chubb. A reunion with his former coach Vic Fangio might sound like a Hollywood script, but it’s a financial and strategic fumble waiting to happen.
The Eagles’ defense has been a mixed bag this season. The loss of edge rusher Nolan Smith to a triceps injury (hello, IR) hasn’t helped, and both the cornerback and edge positions have been leaking production like a busted pipe. Roseman, never one to shy away from a trade, is reportedly eyeing edge rushers like Tennessee’s Arden Key, Green Bay’s Kingsley Enagbare, and Miami’s Bradley Chubb. While Key and Enagbare might be affordable dart throws, Chubb’s name is the one raising eyebrows—and not in a good way.
Chubb’s connection to Fangio, from their time together in Denver and Miami, makes him a tantalizing fit on paper. The guy’s had monster seasons under Fangio, including a 2023 campaign with 11 sacks, 73 tackles, and a league-leading six forced fumbles. But before Eagles fans start dreaming of Chubb terrorizing quarterbacks in midnight green, let’s talk about the elephant in the room: his contract and injury history.
Once upon a time, Bradley Chubb was the shiny new toy of the NFL. Drafted fifth overall by the Denver Broncos in 2018, the NC State product burst onto the scene with 12 sacks, 21 QB hits, and 60 tackles as a rookie. He was a Pro Bowl-caliber force in 2020 and 2022, even with injuries derailing him in 2019 and 2021. Traded to Miami in 2022 for a haul (Chase Edmonds, a first-rounder, and a fourth-rounder), Chubb reunited with Fangio in 2023 and delivered one of his best seasons—until a Week 17 ACL tear sidelined him for the playoffs and all of 2024.
Now, in 2025, Chubb’s back and flashing with five sacks for the 1-4 Dolphins. He’s looking like his old self, but here’s the problem: his contract is a financial landmine. According to Spotrac, Chubb’s cap hit is $12.3 million this year, with a dead cap figure of $36.2 million in 2025. Next season, his cap hit skyrockets to $31.2 million, then $31.5 million in 2027, with a $4.6 million void year hit in 2028. For context, the Eagles balked at re-signing Josh Sweat for around $19 million a year. Why would Roseman, a cap-savvy GM, take on a 30-year-old with a massive contract and a history of injuries?
Chubb’s success under Fangio is undeniable, but this isn’t a fairy tale. The Eagles are building for the long haul, with young studs like Jalen Carter, Jordan Davis, and Reed Blankenship needing new deals soon. Tying up $31 million in cap space for Chubb in 2026 and 2027 would choke their flexibility faster than a blitzing linebacker. Sure, if Miami eats a chunk of his contract—say, covering the $7.45 million signing bonus or the $8.7 million guaranteed at signing—the deal might be less painful. But even then, you’re looking at $6-8 million for Chubb in 2025, and that’s assuming the Dolphins are desperate enough to trade him during a potential rebuild.
And let’s not ignore the injury red flags. Chubb’s missed significant time in three of his seven NFL seasons. Banking on him staying healthy is like betting on a sunny day in Philly during monsoon season. If the Eagles want a Fangio disciple, there are smarter, cheaper options.
Instead of chasing Chubb’s bloated contract, the Eagles could look at Miami’s Jaelan Phillips. The 2021 first-rounder, who’s in the final year of his rookie deal, had 6.5 sacks in eight games under Fangio in 2023. Injuries have slowed him, but at 26, he’s a breakout candidate with less financial baggage. If the Dolphins are rebuilding, they might let Phillips walk rather than commit to another injury-prone edge on a long-term deal.
Or how about Christian Wilkins? The former Dolphins DT, now a free agent after a weird stint in Las Vegas, had 9.5 sacks under Fangio in 2023. Pairing him with Carter and Davis could create a nightmare interior line, even if it means tweaking Philly’s fronts. Wilkins won’t come with Chubb’s cap-crushing contract, and a workout could prove he’s still got the juice.
Bradley Chubb might look like a shiny solution to the Eagles’ edge-rushing woes, but his contract and injury history make him a gamble Roseman can’t afford. Unless Miami’s willing to eat a massive chunk of his deal—and toss in a draft pick to sweeten the pot—this is a broken play waiting to happen. The Eagles need defensive help, but they’re better off targeting younger, cheaper talent like Phillips or Wilkins to keep their Super Bowl window open without mortgaging the future. Sorry, Chubb, but Philly’s got bigger fish to fry.