The Philadelphia Eagles didn’t just uncover breakout players in 2025 - they may have built a pipeline for more of them in 2026.
Jalyx Hunt and Moro Ojomo were the headliners from last season’s rise. Hunt made franchise history by becoming the first Eagles player to lead the team in sacks and interceptions in the same season, while Ojomo turned in 49 pressures and six sacks.
Those two are already established young pieces on defense. The bigger question now is who joins them.
There’s a strong case that Tyler Steen is next in line.
Steen had a strong training camp that flew under the radar with so much attention elsewhere on the offense. The Eagles’ offensive line looked dominant throughout camp, and Steen took a clear step forward from last season, when he also posted a solid year at right guard in his first season as a starter.
Sean Mannion’s system is friendly to offensive linemen, and Steen should get more chances to shine while helping out Cam Jurgens and Lane Johnson. It’s also a contract year for the former third-round pick, which adds another layer to what could be a big season.
If Steen delivers, he’s in line to get paid - by the Eagles or someone else.
At linebacker, Jihaad Campbell is set up for a major role. He’s projected to start next to Zack Baun at off-ball linebacker, and the Eagles are clearly betting on his athleticism to make an impact.
As a rookie, Campbell recorded 80 tackles and a forced fumble, and he also posted the fourth-highest coverage grade among all NFL linebackers at 78.6, with a minimum of 600 snaps. Year two should look even cleaner for him, because he won’t be asked to line up at edge rusher anymore.
The Eagles have that spot covered, and Campbell will be used strictly as an off-ball linebacker this season. He flashed in training camp, and the team believes he can become a premium player in its defense.
Andrew Mukuba is another name to watch. His rookie season was cut short by an ankle and fibula injury, but before that he showed real playmaking ability and emerged as the top safety on the roster.
He’ll benefit from playing next to Cooper DeJean in base defense and from learning under veteran Marcus Epps. The Eagles’ cornerback group - DeJean, Quinyon Mitchell, and Tariq Woolen - should also help ease the burden on Mukuba.
The reason the Eagles invest lightly at safety? Mukuba is part of it.
On the edge, Jalyx Hunt may already have the spotlight, but Smith could be ready for a bigger turn of his own. Even though it feels like he’s been around forever, he’s only entering his fourth season.
He hasn’t been a premier pass rusher yet, but there are signs that could change this fall. After the Eagles traded for Jaelan Phillips, Smith flashed with a 16.9% pressure rate and 3.0 sacks in eight games while Phillips was in the rotation.
He also had a strong training camp and was consistent in getting after the quarterback. Once Jonathan Greenard is healthy, Smith’s opportunities should be there, and there will be plenty of one-on-one chances for him.
The Eagles also have a receiver who looks ready to pop. Wicks won the WR2 job after an impressive camp, where he was hauling in nearly everything over the middle and stacking highlight plays.
More targets may be exactly what he needs. He’s the second-best receiver in the offense and should see at least 70 targets this year.
If he keeps separating and catching the ball the way he did in camp, the numbers should follow.
Carter forced the safety competition to go down to the wire with his summer performance, and he enters the season as the backup to Marcus Epps. He handled the move to safety well and can also work underneath in the slot. It wouldn’t be a shock if he ends up starting at some point this season, because he’s shown enough to carve out a meaningful role.
Then there’s Kendall, who grabbed the No. 3 guard spot early in camp and is now the top option behind Landon Dickerson and Tyler Steen. He’s got strong gap recognition and has taken a step forward as a pass blocker.
The Eagles believe he can start in this league, and if he gets the chance, he should hold up just fine. If the team needs him for a few games, the offensive line shouldn’t skip a beat.
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Philadelphia has also spent the summer sorting out which members of the class can help immediately on special teams and which ones are still more developmental pieces. That makes this stretch important for the front office as much as the coaching staff, because the answers on this class could shape not just the current rotation but the way the Eagles build out the roster in the seasons ahead. [Read more 🡒]