The Eagles spent the offseason reworking the edge room, and the name that keeps getting lost in the shuffle is Arnold Ebiketie.
Philadelphia moved on from Jaelan Phillips as its top pass rusher, then went to work adding bodies and options. Jonathan Greenard came over from the Minnesota Vikings during the 2026 NFL Draft.
The team also used a seventh-round pick on Keyshawn James-Newby, and later brought in A.J. Epenesa during minicamp for depth.
With Jalyx Hunt and Nolan Smith Jr. also in the mix, the Eagles have built a crowded group on the edge.
That’s exactly why Ebiketie matters. He was one of the Eagles’ first offseason signings, and a strong camp could force a much more interesting depth chart conversation than people expect.
It’s easy to overlook him, but the production is there. Over 67 games in four seasons with the Atlanta Falcons, Ebiketie posted 129 tackles, 41 quarterback hits, 17 tackles for loss, 16.5 sacks, six pass deflections, four forced fumbles, and one fumble recovery. Even in a season where he finished with just two sacks, he set career highs in pass-rush win rate at 16.8% and pass-rush grade at 73.4, according to Pro Football Focus.
Greenard looks locked into a starting spot. The real question is who lines up next to him, and Hunt and Smith are expected to be the main challengers. Ebiketie belongs in that discussion too.
He may not be the favorite to start unless injuries change the picture, but he brings a high motor and real pass-rush juice. The sack total dipped last season, yet he had six sacks in both 2023 and 2024, which is a reminder that he can still tilt a game.
The more realistic battle might be Ebiketie versus Epenesa for rotational snaps. The loser there likely ends up filling more of a special teams role.
Either way, Ebiketie enters his fifth NFL season with a track record that suggests he can help. The Eagles may not be talking about him as a headline piece yet, but he has the kind of upside that can quietly change the edge rotation.
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