Sportsnaut
For the second time in franchise history, the Philadelphia Eagles are entering training camp as the reigning Super Bowl champions. However, the 2025 team will look vastly different than last year’s squad, particularly on defense. Here are six players who will need to step up this season if the Eagles want to make another Super Bowl run.
The loss of defensive tackle Milton Williams in free agency means the Eagles will be expecting more from Jordan Davis. The former first-round pick saw his playing time decrease in 2024, dropping from 45% to 37% of defensive snaps. Davis recorded just one sack and 27 total tackles last season, but he does draw double-teams consistently, opening up linebackers Zack Baun and Nakobe Dean to make plays. Still, he needs to improve his rush defense after ranking 79th out of 219 defensive tackles by Pro Football Focus.
It’s a make-or-break season for third-year safety Sydney Brown, particularly after the Eagles surprisingly traded C.J. Gardner-Johnson to the Houston Texans. Brown returned to the field in October after suffering a torn ACL in the final game of his rookie season in 2023. He played in 11 games, mostly on special teams, while appearing in just 12% of defensive snaps. Brown will have to battle for playing time alongside Reed Blankenship. The Eagles selected Texas safety Andrew Mukaba in the second round of the 2025 draft and also have Tristin McCollum in the fold.
The Eagles are without two defensive end stalwarts for the 2025 season — Josh Sweat signed with the Arizona Cardinals in free agency and Brandon Graham retired. That opens the door for Moro Ojomo to slide into their spots after appearing in 37% of defensive snaps in 2024. The 2023 seventh-round pick hasn’t recorded a regular season sack yet but he did take down Los Angeles Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford in the Divisional Round of the playoffs. He posted a solid 82.4 pass rush grade from Pro Football Focus last year, and if he can maintain that level in 2025, he can become a force on the defensive line.
It was touch-and-go during the offseason whether tight end Dallas Goedert would return to the Eagles in 2025. But after the Birds didn’t take a tight end in the draft, they re-worked Goedert’s deal to keep him in Philadelphia. Goedert is one of the top players at his position, but injuries have consistently knocked him out for several games each year. He missed seven games in 2024 due to hamstring and knee injuries, but he was a key contributor during their Super Bowl championship run, recording 215 yards on 17 receptions, including a touchdown. The Eagles are hoping the 30-year-old Goedert can stay healthy as they look to repeat as champions.
Second-year running back Will Shipley will see a bigger workload in 2025 to preserve Saquon Barkley following his historic 2,000-yard rushing season....
