The Philadelphia Eagles' defense has gone through a major makeover as the team focuses on raising the young players into the starting lineup.
Josh Sweat, Milton Williams, Brandon Graham, and Bryce Huff are all gone from last year's team. The defensive line won't necessarily have new faces, but it's more about how young the starters are about to be.
Eagles defensive tackles Jordan Davis is 25, and Jalen Carter and Moro Ojomo are both 23. The edge rushers have Nolan Smith Jr. and Jalyx Hunt at 24.
That kind of youth can either set the Eagles up for years of success or spell disaster for 2025. One of their young linemen has the opportunity to truly elevate the Eagles' roster if his development proceeds according to plan.
Smith is poised for all-important 2025 season for Eagles
NFL.com columnist Jeffri Chadiha shared a list of eight players whose development can help take their teams to the next level in 2025. Smith came in fourth in the ranking as his athleticism is a key factor in helping the Eagles alleviate the losses on the defensive line.
"Last season, Smith showcased his ability to transform potential into production. He went from playing a limited role as a rookie to amassing 6.5 sacks and 24 quarterback pressures in his second year. Smith also had four sacks in three playoff games leading into Super Bowl LIX before adding a couple of quarterback hits in that win over Kansas City. Smith has spent the last two seasons playing behind more accomplished pass rushers. This is the season when he must take that next step and prove he’s more than just a nice rotational weapon. Philadelphia’s schedule is filled with prolific offenses and athletic quarterbacks, both outside the NFC East (like Mahomes, Buffalo’s Josh Allen and Green Bay’s Jordan Love)and within it (Washington’s Jayden Daniels and Dallas’ Dak Prescott). The Eagles' ability to defend those opponents won’t just come down to their strong secondary. They’ll need more disruptive players up front, and that’s where Smith needs to deliver."
Smith was the 30th overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft by the Eagles and quickly worked his way up in the starting lineup. Last year, he started 10 of his 16 games, finishing with 42 tackles, 11 quarterback hits, eight tackles for loss, 6.5 sacks, two pass deflections, two fumble recoveries, and one forced fumble.
If Eagles fans were impressed with his growth in the regular season, his postseason performance will be one to remember in franchise history. Smith led all defenders in the postseason in tackles for loss (four) and sacks (four), while adding 16 tackles, five quarterback hits, and one forced fumble.
According to PFF, Smith had the 27th-best grade among 211 edge defenders, with a 76.1 grade. While everyone is looking at his pass rush skills, he was even better against the run last year with a PFF grade of 77.6, which was 14th among edge defenders in stopping the run.
Read more:Brandon Graham shares blunt reality about Bryce Huff's mismanaged use in Philly
Smith is the only lock on the depth to start as an edge rusher. The other edge defenders battling for the second starting job include Hunt, Josh Uche, and Azeez Ojulari.
Philadelphia will rely on its young defensive linemen under 25 to carry this defense into a new chapter. Smith's success is crucial for the Eagles to repeat as Super Bowl champions, and he needs to build upon his performance in the 2024 season.