Few players on the Philadelphia Eagles’ defense have taken a more fascinating path to NFL relevance than second-year edge rusher Jalyx Hunt.
Once a lightly recruited safety at Cornell, Hunt’s football journey has been a masterclass in adaptation -- from the Ivy League to Houston Christian, from coverage defender to pass-rushing force, and now, from rotational rookie to ascending starter on one of the league’s deepest fronts.
After a quiet rookie campaign where he played sparingly behind established veterans, Hunt has used his second season to make a statement.
What Hunt is doing well in his second year in the NFL with the Eagles
His athletic traits were never in question -- a long, twitchy 6-foot-3 frame with the fluidity of a defensive back and the explosiveness of an edge rusher -- but the question was whether he could put all the technical pieces together at the pro level.
This fall, the answer has become clearer with each passing week.
Under Eagles defensive coordinator Vic Fangio, the lightbulb has flicked on for Hunt as a three-down player. No longer is he just a sub-package sack artist, but a legitimate every-down contributor. His hand placement, pad level, and rush sequencing have all sharpened.
The raw energy that once needed direction has also turned into calculated chaos -- Hunt is now attacking offensive tackles with a plan, mixing speed-to-power with inside counters and showing real discipline against the run.
What makes his rise even more impressive is how quickly he’s adapted to the mental demands of the position. Moving from safety to edge rusher is no small leap, but it’s given Hunt a unique perspective.
His background in the secondary helps him understand coverage structure and quarterback movement, which in turn refines his timing as a pass rusher. He plays with anticipation -- reading protections, recognizing slide tendencies, and attacking leverage in ways that reflect both intelligence and instinct.
Looking back over the years, the turning point for Hunt came long before this season -- back at the 2024 Senior Bowl. That week in Mobile, he turned heads with his burst and bend, consistently winning one-on-ones against some of the premier tackles in the draft both in pass rush 1-on-1s and in early down run drills (see below).
Houston Christian ED Jalyx Hunt (6’4”//252) has had a nice pre-draft process & raised some eyebrows in Indy after a productive week at the Senior Bowl.
Safety convert.
• 40: 4.64 (8th among DEs)
• Vert: 37.50” (4th among DEs)
• Broad: 10’8” (1st among DEs) pic.twitter.com/SMy07YwyWY
— Ryan Fowler (@_RyanFowler_) March 6, 2024
It was the kind of performance that elevated his stock from an intriguing Day 3 projection to legitimate NFL talent, and a guy who ultimately heard his name called in the top 100 picks on draft weekend.
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And now, nearly two years later, he’s proving that week wasn’t a flash in the pan, but the first glimpse of what he could become.