As the Eagles break for summer in June 2025, huge questions surround the defense. Can Nolan Smith & Jalyx Hunt solve the team's biggest roster hole?
StatPro NFL Beat Reporter
The lockers are cleaned out and the NovaCare Complex has gone quiet. With mandatory minicamp officially in the books, the Philadelphia Eagles have scattered for their final break before the true grind of training camp begins. But while the players rest, the questions surrounding the 2025 roster are louder than ever, particularly on the defensive side of the ball. From unproven edge rushers to key contract decisions, Howie Roseman's work is far from over. For the fans, however, the action is just about to begin.
Projected starters Nolan Smith and Jalyx Hunt combine for just 11 career starts.
The most glaring question mark hangs off the edge of the defensive line. As it stands, the Eagles are banking on a significant leap from Nolan Smith and Jalyx Hunt. Smith is still recovering from torn triceps surgery, and the duo brings a combined 11 career starts to the table—a risky proposition for a team with Super Bowl aspirations. While veterans Azeez Ojulari and Josh Uche were brought in for depth, both come with their own injury histories and inconsistencies. The Birds 365 and National Football Show crews spent Wednesday dissecting this very issue, highlighting it as the team's potential Achilles' heel heading into the season.
While the edge is a concern, the team solidified another piece of its defensive puzzle on Wednesday by officially signing rookie linebacker Jihaad Campbell. The athletic draft pick is now officially under contract and is expected to dive headfirst into the competition for playing time in a revamped linebacker room. His signing finalizes another piece of the rookie class and signals the team's commitment to injecting youth and speed into the heart of the defense, a key topic of discussion as minicamp concluded.
Another lingering storyline is the status of safety Reed Blankenship. The former undrafted free agent has been a revelation, starting 34 games over three seasons and becoming a reliable anchor in the secondary. Yet, he enters the final year of his deal making less than $2 million, a bargain for his level of production. The Eagles have a decision to make: reward a homegrown success story with an extension now or risk letting him test the market next offseason. It’s a classic roster-management dilemma for a team trying to balance winning now with future cap health.
For the fans, the offseason waiting game is about to get a lot more exciting. The team announced Wednesday that single-game tickets for the 2025 home slate will go on sale Thursday, June 12, at 10 a.m. on Ticketmaster. Be ready to act fast, as there's a four-ticket limit per household. Even better, the Eagles will hold a public training camp practice at Lincoln Financial Field on August 10. Tickets for that event also go on sale Thursday, with general admission at a fan-friendly $10 and all proceeds benefiting the incredible work of the Eagles Autism Foundation. It's the perfect opportunity to get a first look at the 2025 squad.
The players may be on vacation, but the narrative for the 2025 Eagles is already taking shape. The next six weeks are about individual preparation before the real battles for roster spots begin in late July. For the fans, the next step is tomorrow morning's ticket frenzy. Get your alarms set, and get ready for a season defined by young players stepping up and a defense looking to prove it can carry its weight. The quiet period is here, but it won't last long.
