With free agency and the NFL Draft behind us, now’s a good time to take a look at how the 2025 Philadelphia Eagles depth chart is shaping up. We first examined the offense and we’ll continue today with the defense before moving on to special teams. After that, we’ll post our first 53-man roster projection ahead of the upcoming season. (For fun, take a look at how the roster looks compared to last year at this time.)
EDGE RUSHER
1 – Nolan Smith
2 – Jalyx Hunt
3 – Azeez Ojulari
4 – Bryce Huff
5 – Joshua Uche
6 – Patrick Johnson
7 – Antwaun Powell-Ryland
8 – Ochaun Mathis
9 – KJ Henry
R – Brandon Graham (retired)
Smith made a big developmental leap as the 2024 season went along; the 2023 first-round pick produced 11 sacks, 16 quarterback hits, and 12 tackles for loss in his last 16 games played. As a rookie, Hunt looked way more ready to play than many expected him to be. The Eagles are counting on the 24-year-old to make another leap from Year 1 to Year 2. Ojulari has struggled with injuries to this point in his career but he’s been productive when healthy. Huff’s future on this team is unclear. Vic Fangio clearly doesn’t want to play him (see: Huff being a healthy scratch in the Super Bowl) but Howie Roseman might not be ready to take the L on the Eagles’ most expensive free agent signing from last year. Uche has been productive in the past but there’s no guarantee he earns a roster spot. The Eagles view Johnson as a fringe roster player who can at least play special teams. APR is intriguing as far as Day 3 picks go; he was pretty productive as a pass rusher in college. But he’ll need to prove he can hold up against the run to earn Fangio’s trust. Mathis and Henry are long shot players who have legitimate NFL experience. Graham is obviously done playing but he currently still counts towards the Eagles’ 90-player roster limit until the team officially places him on the reserve/retired list after June 1 (clears $1.255 million in cap space at that point).
DEFENSIVE TACKLE
1 – Jalen Carter
2 – Moro Ojomo
3 – Jordan Davis
4 – Ty Robinson
5 – Thomas Booker IV
6 – Byron Young
7 – Gabe Hall
This time next year, Carter could very well be the highest-paid defender in NFL history. He’s incredibly impactful and it’ll be interesting to see if he can make a real run at Defensive Player of the Year this season. Ojomo only has one career sack but he’s been more disruptive than the stat sheet indicates. The Eagles will be counting on him to help replace Milton Williams’ role. The Eagles clearly still have hope for Davis after picking up his fifth-year option. And this despite Davis’ playing time shrinking considerably under Fangio. The Eagles’ roster construction necessitates relying more on Davis in 2025. Robinson projects to at least be a rotational defensive tackle contributor as a rookie. Booker was relatively productive (one sack, two QB hits, two TFL) in limited playing time. He could be ready for a bigger role this season, especially if one of the young players ahead of him fails to step up. The Eagles had Young, a 2023 third-round pick (No. 70 overall), on their roster last year but he never played for them. They’ll get their first good look at him this offseason. Hall was one of the Eagles’ top UDFA signings last year. He spent the entire season on the practice squad.
OFF-BALL LINEBACKER
1 – Zack Baun
2 – Jihaad Campbell
3 – Nakobe Dean
4 – Jeremiah Trotter Jr.
5 – Smael Mondon Jr.
6 – Dallas Gant
7 – Lance Dixon
By virtue of being so incredibly awesome as a first-team All-Pro last season, Baun could be poised for some kind of step back in 2025. And yet … that was his first year playing a new position in an entirely brand new system. Campbell is reportedly beginning his NFL career at off-ball linebacker. It remains to be seen when he’ll be ready to practice but the 2025 first-round pick has the potential to start if/when he’s healthy. It’s not yet clear when Dean will be able to play this season after suffering a serious knee injury in the playoffs. Dean might be a candidate for the PUP list, which would require him to miss at least the Eagles’ first four games. Trot Jr. will try to push for a starting spot but he might more realistically be Oren Burks’ replacement as a top backup linebacker (until Dean is healthy, at least) and special teams contributor. Mondon Jr. is also competing for that Burks role. Gant and Dixon could be fighting for a spot on the practice squad.
CORNERBACK
1 – Quinyon Mitchell
2 – Cooper DeJean
3 – Kelee Ringo
4 – Adoree’ Jackson
5 – Eli Ricks
6 – Mac McWilliams
7 – Parry Nickerson
8 – A.J. Woods
9 – Tariq Castro-Fields
10 – Brandon Johnson
11 – B.J. Mayes
Mitchell was sensational as a rookie. He could push for All-Pro consideration if he’s able to build on last season. DeJean was also an excellent rookie as a nickel cornerback. Will he continue to play the slot full-time or will he see some action on the outside as well? Entering Year 3, Ringo is expected to compete for a starting job on the outside. If Ringo fails to step up, Jackson could be the fallback option. Jackson could also provide depth in the slot and at safety, à la Avonte Maddox last year. Ricks is a dark horse contender to push for a role but he’s more likely to be a backup. The Eagles might be able to trade him to a CB-needy team for depth at another position. McWilliams has more experience on the outside but his lack of size and length could make nickel his best fit in the NFL. Nickerson is an experienced journeyman who could be good to keep around on the practice squad in the event of a CB injury. Woods, TCF, Johnson, and Mayes are long shots.
SAFETY
1 – Reed Blankenship
2 – Drew Mukuba
3 – Sydney Brown
4 – Tristin McCollum
5 – Andre’ Sam
6 – Lewis Cine
7 – Maxen Hook
At first glance, the Eagles are looking thin here. Blankenship is an underrated starter who deserves a contract extension. Outside of him being a sure-fire starter, there’s a whole lot of projection going on. Mukuba has CJGJ-like playmaking potential but there’s risk associated with heavily relying upon a rookie to start. Brown has great physical tools but he’s yet to earn Fangio’s trust. McCollum is probably best suited to be no more than a fourth or fifth safety. After spending last season on the practice squad, Sam might be able to beat out McCollum for a depth safety/special teams contributor role. In theory, Cine has intriguing upside as a former first-round pick. But expectations should be kept pretty low for a player who’s only managed to log 10 defensive snaps over his first three seasons. Hook might be this year’s top undrafted rookie candidate to make the roster. There’s some thought he could be the Eagles’ next Blankenship.
