The NFL's top defenses have undergone some changes, with Micah Parsons now with the Green Bay Packers, leaving the Cowboys without one of the best pass rushers in the NFL. With Parsons now a "cheese head", Bleacher Report's Moe Moton currently ranks the Eagles outside the top five of the best defenses in the NFL going into the 2025 season.
Bleacher Report's top five defenses are listed below:
5. Green Bay Packers
4. Denver Broncos
3. Pittsburgh Steelers
2. Houston Texans
1. Baltimore Ravens
Moton only ranked five teams while awarding three honorable mentions for his article. The Bleacher Report writer grouped Philadelphia with the Chiefs and Chargers as having a good defense, but obviously not elite.
"The Eagles had arguably the best defense last season," Moton said. "They gave up the fewest yards and ranked second in scoring. The unit lost some key players, though. Edge-rusher Josh Sweat and defensive tackle Milton Williams signed elsewhere in free agency. The team released cornerback Darius Slay.
Although Philadelphia may not be as dominant defensively as it was in the previous season, it has a young core that includes Jalen Carter, Jordan Davis, Nolan Smith, Quinyon Mitchell, and Cooper DeJean. Defensive coordinator Vic Fangio helped turn linebacker Zack Baun into an All-Pro. He could optimize Jihaad Campbell's versatile skill set, using him in pass-rushing and coverage situations."
How does the Eagles' 2025 defensive unit stack up against last year's
The Eagles come into 2025 without Milton Williams, Darius Slay, Brandon Graham, and C.J. Gardner-Johnson; however, the team roster has one of the deepest front sevens in the NFL, along with plenty of talent in the secondary.
Starting with the draft, the Eagles brought in the versatile Jihaad Campbell to add value to their pass rush, coupled with Nolan Smith. They also found Ty Robinson, who they drafted in the fourth round of the 2025 draft, who not only replaces Milton Williams but possibly upgrades the position, and is now paired with Jalen Carter and Jordan Davis (who is in a prove-it year).
They also drafted key pieces in Andrew Mukuba, who projects to start at safety when healthy, along with Mac McWilliams, both of whom could be starters by the end of the season. While the Eagles' veteran depth in the secondary isn't elite, the youth movement in the secondary possesses tremendous potential and skill. The Eagles also have Antwaun Powell-Ryland, who has huge upside as a pass-rusher, stashed away on the practice squad.
The Eagles' defense has "stars" and risers all over the place. The biggest question for them is their secondary, which is the unit that has Reed Blankenship, Cooper DeJean, and Quinyon Mitchell all adding to their "no-fly zone". Add in Zack Baun, who is coming off the best year of his career, and the Eagles are clearly a defense that some may call elite.
Read more:NFL writer's definitive statement on Eagles' ceiling and floor in 2025
While preseason speculation is always fun, in reality, it doesn't mean anything. The Eagles will have the opportunity to showcase their defense in Week 1 against the Dallas Cowboys, as the 2025 NFL season gets underway.