Jalyx Hunt has already done something no Eagles player had ever done before, and now the question is how much higher he can climb.
The third-year edge rusher is one of the names on Philadelphia’s countdown of the 25 most important Eagles for the 2026 season, and he lands there because last year changed the conversation around him. Hunt went from a raw 2024 third-round pick out of Houston Christian to a real difference-maker on a Super Bowl-winning roster, then took another step in 2025 by becoming the first Eagle to lead the team in both sacks and interceptions.
That kind of production doesn’t happen by accident, especially from a player whose path to the NFL was so unusual. Hunt was a safety at Cornell just a few years ago, and he didn’t even move to the defensive line until 2022, after transferring to Houston Christian. The upside was always there, though, and the Eagles have seen enough early on to believe the ceiling is still rising.
“He’s an athlete,” edge rusher Jonathan Greenard said this spring, “and how young he is and where his game could really go is crazy.”
Greenard, whom the Eagles traded for and signed to a deal worth $100 million, is expected to help lead the pass rush. Nolan Smith should also be a major factor if he stays healthy, while Arnold Ebiketie and A.J.
Epenesa were added as quieter reinforcements. So Hunt won’t be asked to carry the whole load.
Still, the Eagles are clearly counting on another jump from him.
Last season, Hunt played 693 defensive snaps and finished with 14 quarterback hits, nine tackles for loss, 6 1/2 sacks, three interceptions and two forced fumbles. After a rookie year that earned him a spot in the rotation, he turned into one of the most productive defenders on the roster. Greenard, who was with the Vikings when Hunt picked off a pass and returned it for a touchdown in Minneapolis last fall, called him a “freak.”
That’s the kind of label that comes with real expectations. Hunt’s rookie contract runs through the 2027 season, and if he matches or tops last year’s production, he’d look like a clear extension candidate. For now, though, the bigger point is simpler: if the Eagles are right about him, Hunt won’t just be one of their most important players in 2026 - he’ll be one of the reasons the defense keeps climbing.
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Eagles Edge Rush Battle Just Got More Complicated Than Expected
The Eagles spent the offseason loading up at edge rusher, adding Jonathan Greenard by trade and bringing in A.J. Epenesa to deepen a group that already includes Keyshawn James-Newby, Jalyx Hunt and Nolan Smith Jr. On paper, it looks like a room built for competition, with Philadelphia trying to create enough pressure options that no one player has to carry the entire load.
Arnold Ebiketie is another name worth watching in that mix, even if he is not the obvious headline act. With four years of NFL experience behind him, he profiles as the kind of rotational piece who can still matter in a meaningful way, and the real question is how much of the available work he can carve out in a crowded battle that may leave someone on the edge of the roster picture. [Read more 🡒]
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Lane Johnson has been a useful guide along the way, helping Bell sort through the details of playing right tackle and giving him a veteran example to follow. Bell has also had the kind of early practice work that can speed up a young linemans education, including snaps with the first unit this spring, a small but meaningful sign that the Eagles are serious about seeing what he can become. For a rookie still adjusting to a new position, the next step matters just as much as the first impression. [Read more 🡒]
Jordan Mailata Now Sits At Center Of A Huge Eagles Shift
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The transition matters because Mailata is not just being asked to hold his usual standard, he is also adjusting to a new system built around a wide-zone run game. For a player who has already climbed so far in his NFL career, the learning curve has brought a fresh edge to camp, and Mailata has embraced it as a chance to feel challenged again while helping anchor whatever version of the Eagles offense comes next. [Read more 🡒]