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The Philadelphia Eagles enter OTAs with one of the NFL's most fascinating defensive rosters. Philadelphia remains loaded with young talent, ascending stars, and intriguing depth pieces, but the Eagles also enter the spring with several major questions after another offseason of roster turnover. From the defensive front to the secondary, nearly every level of Vic Fangio's defense carries a storyline worth monitoring.
Here's the biggest question facing every defensive position entering Eagles OTAs.
The Eagles already know Jalen Carter is special; he's earned Pro Bowl and All-Pro honors.
The real question entering OTAs is whether Carter is about to fully ascend into the NFL's elite tier after battling through multiple shoulder injuries in 2025. Despite not being fully healthy, Carter still generated 41 quarterback pressures, 11 quarterback hits, and earned Pro Bowl honors. Philadelphia suddenly boasts one of the NFL's nastiest interior trios with Carter, Jordan Davis, and Moro Ojomo. Ojomo, in particular, quietly emerged as one of the defense's biggest breakout players last season.
The biggest question now is whether this unit can dominate consistently enough to carry the defense week in and week out.
The Eagles have assembled an extremely athletic edge room, but one major question still lingers.
Who becomes the true centerpiece?
Jonathan Greenard signed a four-year, $100 million deal after being acquired from Minnesota, and the expectation is that he'll return to his dominant form after dealing with injuries in 2025. Nolan Smith flashed before injuries slowed him. Jalyx Hunt exploded statistically, becoming the first Eagle ever to lead the team in both sacks and interceptions in the same season.
Philadelphia also added Arnold Ebiketie and still has developmental upside with Joe Tryon-Shoyinka and rookie Keyshawn James-Newby. This group suddenly looks deep, versatile, and explosive. The question is whether one player separates himself as the consistent game-changing force off the edge.
The linebacker room suddenly looks deep again, but health dominates the conversation.
Jihaad Campbell is expected to miss offseason work while recovering from shoulder surgery, creating early opportunities for Jeremiah Trotter Jr., Smael Mondon Jr., and Chance Campbell. Philadelphia clearly views Campbell as a major long-term piece after trading up for him, but OTAs will offer insight into how the Eagles plan to navigate his absence and whether another young linebacker begins forcing his way into the conversation.
That sounds dramatic until you actually examine the names.
Quinyon Mitchell, Cooper DeJean, Riq Woolen, Kelee Ringo, Jakorian Bennett, Jonathan Jones, and Mac McWilliams suddenly give Philadelphia absurd depth and versatility at cornerback. The addition of Woolen may completely change how Fangio deploys the defense schematically. Philadelphia can now comfortably leave DeJean in a movable chess-piece role while matching elite receivers physically outside.
The biggest question entering OTAs is simple: just how dominant can this secondary become?
Safety feels like the defense's biggest unresolved battle at the position.
Drew Mukuba appears locked into one starting role entering Year 2, but the second safety position remains completely open following Reed Blankenship's departure. Veteran Marcus Epps returns. J.T. Gray brings special teams value. Andre’ Sam and Brandon Johnson remain developmental options. Rookie Cole Wisniewski also enters the competition with real intrigue.
OTAs could provide the first clues regarding who the Eagles trust most alongside Mukuba.
Jake Elliott remains one of the franchise's most trusted veterans, but Philadelphia still needs more consistency following some uneven stretches over the last two seasons.
Meanwhile, Braden Mann stabilized the punter position nicely in 2025.
The biggest specialist question entering OTAs revolves around whether Elliott can fully return to elite form before another season filled with high-pressure moments begins.
This article originally appeared on Eagles Wire: Biggest Eagles defensive storylines ahead of OTAs
Continue reading...
Here's the biggest question facing every defensive position entering Eagles OTAs.
Defensive line: Is this finally Jalen Carter’s full breakout season?
The Eagles already know Jalen Carter is special; he's earned Pro Bowl and All-Pro honors.
The real question entering OTAs is whether Carter is about to fully ascend into the NFL's elite tier after battling through multiple shoulder injuries in 2025. Despite not being fully healthy, Carter still generated 41 quarterback pressures, 11 quarterback hits, and earned Pro Bowl honors. Philadelphia suddenly boasts one of the NFL's nastiest interior trios with Carter, Jordan Davis, and Moro Ojomo. Ojomo, in particular, quietly emerged as one of the defense's biggest breakout players last season.
The biggest question now is whether this unit can dominate consistently enough to carry the defense week in and week out.
Edge rusher: Who becomes the true alpha pass rusher?
The Eagles have assembled an extremely athletic edge room, but one major question still lingers.
Who becomes the true centerpiece?
Jonathan Greenard signed a four-year, $100 million deal after being acquired from Minnesota, and the expectation is that he'll return to his dominant form after dealing with injuries in 2025. Nolan Smith flashed before injuries slowed him. Jalyx Hunt exploded statistically, becoming the first Eagle ever to lead the team in both sacks and interceptions in the same season.
Philadelphia also added Arnold Ebiketie and still has developmental upside with Joe Tryon-Shoyinka and rookie Keyshawn James-Newby. This group suddenly looks deep, versatile, and explosive. The question is whether one player separates himself as the consistent game-changing force off the edge.
Linebacker: How quickly can Jihaad Campbell return?
The linebacker room suddenly looks deep again, but health dominates the conversation.
Jihaad Campbell is expected to miss offseason work while recovering from shoulder surgery, creating early opportunities for Jeremiah Trotter Jr., Smael Mondon Jr., and Chance Campbell. Philadelphia clearly views Campbell as a major long-term piece after trading up for him, but OTAs will offer insight into how the Eagles plan to navigate his absence and whether another young linebacker begins forcing his way into the conversation.
Cornerback: Is this now the best secondary in football?
That sounds dramatic until you actually examine the names.
Quinyon Mitchell, Cooper DeJean, Riq Woolen, Kelee Ringo, Jakorian Bennett, Jonathan Jones, and Mac McWilliams suddenly give Philadelphia absurd depth and versatility at cornerback. The addition of Woolen may completely change how Fangio deploys the defense schematically. Philadelphia can now comfortably leave DeJean in a movable chess-piece role while matching elite receivers physically outside.
The biggest question entering OTAs is simple: just how dominant can this secondary become?
Safety: Who wins the second starting job?
Safety feels like the defense's biggest unresolved battle at the position.
Drew Mukuba appears locked into one starting role entering Year 2, but the second safety position remains completely open following Reed Blankenship's departure. Veteran Marcus Epps returns. J.T. Gray brings special teams value. Andre’ Sam and Brandon Johnson remain developmental options. Rookie Cole Wisniewski also enters the competition with real intrigue.
OTAs could provide the first clues regarding who the Eagles trust most alongside Mukuba.
Specialists: Can Jake Elliott rebound fully?
Jake Elliott remains one of the franchise's most trusted veterans, but Philadelphia still needs more consistency following some uneven stretches over the last two seasons.
Meanwhile, Braden Mann stabilized the punter position nicely in 2025.
The biggest specialist question entering OTAs revolves around whether Elliott can fully return to elite form before another season filled with high-pressure moments begins.
This article originally appeared on Eagles Wire: Biggest Eagles defensive storylines ahead of OTAs
Continue reading...
