ClutchPoints
After a few rough goes in early October to cause concerns about their ultimate ceiling, the Philadelphia Eagles are back and look better than ever, sitting in first place in the NFC at 6-2 with a commanding 2.5-game lead in the NFC East after all three of their competitors lost during their Week 9 bye.
And the best part? Reinforcements are here, with Howie Roseman working the phone lines to add not one, not two, but three new players to his roster that should help fortify positions of weakness down the stretch.
First came Michael Carter II, the Joe Douglas-drafted slot cornerback out of Duke who looked like one of the very best interior defenders in the league under Robert Saleh before falling out of favor when he left town. Appearing in just five games with four starts in 2025, MC2 has struggled in coverage on one of the worst defenses in football, making the move an easy yes for Darren Mougey.
Jaire Alexander, too, was once considered a premier talent at his position, but after injuries began to stack up, he was more or less a non-factor for the Baltimore Ravens after signing with the team earlier this year. So far, Alexander has said all the right things about providing veteran leadership to a defense that needs some and about his Philadelphia credentials, but that goodwill won’t last if he can’t keep up with his guy on the perimeter.
And last but not least, the Eagles landed the cherry on top in Jaelan Phillips, the former UCLA/Miami edge rusher Philadelphia was linked to during the 2021 NFL Draft before ultimately trading up to select DeVonta Smith, with the Dolphins taking him off the board at pick 18. Phillips has experience playing under Vic Fangio, has an incredible collection of pass-rushing moves, and has already declared that the trade was “literally the greatest thing that has happened to me in my whole life,” so it’s safe to assume he’ll become an all-time fan favorite if he can produce at a high level.
Will Alexander, Carter II, and Phillips make an impact alongside Brandon Graham, who will presumably be making his 2025 debut for the Birds as well? Only time will tell, but with the Eagles heading to Green Bay for a rematch of Week 1 of the 2024 NFL season, the stage is set for a legitimate measuring stick game that won’t just determine who has the top seed in the NFC in Week 10 but could have serious seeding ramifications down the stretch as well.
Heading into Week 10, the Eagles’ secondary has seen better days.
Sure, Cooper DeJean and Quinyon Mitchell are still happy and healthy, forming the best young 1-2 punch at cornerback the Eagles have had in years, but Marcus Epps was recently placed on IR, Adoree’ Jackson remains unable to practice with a concussion, and Jakorian Bennett is still working his way back from...
