How the Eagles’ new-look defense is shaping up for 2025

Key departures from the No. 1 defense in the NFL means young players will get their shot.

If there is any executive in Philadelphia sports who deserves the benefit of the doubt right now, it’s Howie Roseman.

Just like you, I’m shocked Howie traded C.J. Gardner-Johnson to the Houston Texans in exchange for an underachieving guard, with essentially no cap savings or draft pick improvement in return. The move only makes sense if CJGJ’s outspokenness and locker room presence were deemed to be a net-negative, and if they really believe they have answers in-house.

The Eagles re-added Gardner-Johnson ahead of the 2024 season because they lacked a brashness and playmaking ability in the secondary in ‘23. He brought that to the team last season, and defensive coordinator Vic Fangio must now turn to someone else to fill the void.

Many of the departures during this initial wave of free agency were expected. No one believed Milton Williams or Josh Sweat were coming back. Teams are paying through the nose for complementary defensive and offensive linemen in free agency, and Williams and Sweat parlayed their solid regular seasons and star-making turns in the Super Bowl into life-changing money the Eagles had no way of matching or beating.

The departures of Isaiah Rodgers and Oren Burks are a little more difficult to comprehend, especially Burks, who signed a two-year, $5 million deal with the Bengals. It’s likely Burks wanted to parlay his outstanding postseason run into a starting gig in Cincinnati, something that would not be guaranteed him in Philly once Nakobe Dean returns from injury.

Still, the departure of these role players creates both an opening for young players, and the uncertainty that goes along with it.

The good news is, the core of the world champions is very much intact. Virtually everyone on offense will be back, with only Dallas Goedert’s and Mekhi Becton’s futures up in the air. Defensively, the bedrock of Jalen Carter, Zack Baun, Nolan Smith, Jordan Davis, Quinyon Mitchell, Cooper DeJean and Reed Blankenship remain in place.

If you’re fretting about relying so much on young players and recent draft picks to make the leap and become impact contributors, take heart. The core of the Eagles’ No. 1-ranked defense was mostly a question mark heading into 2024, filled with draft picks who had not yet lived up to their potential. This time last year, there were serious questions about Smith’s viability as a pass rusher, Carter’s conditioning and ability to stay on the field, Davis’ overall effectiveness and Dean’s ability to stay healthy and productive. Roseman’s recent drafts were not celebrated as the slam dunks we see them as now, because those players had yet to prove they could make an impact.

But Roseman and the Eagles stuck with them, added two Defensive Rookie of the Year finalists in the draft, and decided to believe those previous picks would pan out.

It happened. Now, they’re hoping it will happen again.

And don’t sleep on the developmental aspect of all this. The Eagles’ coaching staff has done a wonderful job helping players continue to improve after arriving in the NFL. That’s not always the case. Some coaching staffs look at college players as finished products that either fit their system or don’t. The Eagles coaching staff makes players better.

Here’s how the new-look defense shakes out right now after the departure of some key cogs.

OUT: CJ Gardner-Johnson

IN: Sydney Brown

With Gardner-Johnson gone, former third round pick Sydney Brown will get a chance to prove he’s more than just a special teamer. Brown is a hard-hitter and plays with energy and passion, but is unproven as an every-down safety in the league.

Tristin McCollum and Lewis Cine will also get some consideration as CJGJ’s replacement, too.

OUT: Josh Sweat

IN: Jalyx Hunt

We’ve already seen Hunt’s enticing talent and, as the team’s third-round pick a season ago, appears ready to break out in his second season. Who would have thought he’d have a more productive season and a brighter future than Bryce Huff, the big-money free agent signed an off-season ago?

Not for nothin’, it’s likely Huff will get at least one more chance to prove his signing wasn’t a waste.

OUT: Milton Williams

IN: Moro Ojomo

In last year’s draft, 248 players were selected before the Eagles snagged Ojomo in the seventh round, and it sure looks like they got a steal. Aside from being the impetus behind A.J. Brown’s Inner Excellence, Ojomo routinely applied pressure from the interior, allowing the Eagles to dream on him as Williams’ replacement next to Carter on the inside.

OUT: Darius Slay & Isaiah Rodgers

IN: Kelee Ringo

With Rodgers heading to Indy and Slay set to become a free agent on Wednesday with a post-June 1 cut designation, the Eagles will need to find a new No. 2 corner and depth at the position. Kelee Ringo, a 2023 fourth-round selection, is well-liked by the team, a big, 6’2” corner who the front office believes is ready to start opposite Mitchell.

Eli Ricks is still hanging around, and the Eagles will likely add another corner in free agency or trade, and likely draft a corner, too, to help round out the room. Going from Slay to Ringo is a gamble, one the Eagles hope pays off.

OUT: Oren Burks

IN: Jeremiah Trotter Jr., Ben VanSumeren

With Nakobe Dean’s timeline to return from a torn patellar tendon uncertain, there is no obvious replacement for the departure of Burks, who played magnificent football in the run to the Super Bowl. The team didn’t miss a beat when Dean went out, and it’s a lot to ask Jeremiah Trotter, Jr. to step in and start as Dean recovers.

Still, there are things to like.

VanSumeren was featured more as a fullback with the Eagles in 2024 than a linebacker, and although he’s a free agent, it’s more likely he returns. Whether that’s as a fullback or linebacker remains to be seen.

There’s no doubt Howie Roseman isn’t done adding to the roster. He warned us this off-season would look and feel different and, so far, it has. Eagles fans have had nothing but sad departures thus far, but the roster’s core is solid. When you’re the best team in the NFL, you don’t need to add much.

Vic Fangio’s defense is going to look different next season. Young players will be trusted to take the reigns from the departed veterans, just as the ‘24 roster was asked to do so for the 2022-23 group.