Eagles 2026 Position Report Cards: Defensive Line

The Overhaul Nobody Wanted

Philadelphia's defensive line walked into 2025 looking nothing like the unit that terrorized quarterbacks en route to a Super Bowl title. Josh Sweat left in free agency. Milton Williams cashed in with a massive $104 million deal from New England. Brandon Graham retired after 15 legendary seasons and 76 career sacks. Three pillars, gone in one offseason.

The front office's plan was simple: trust the youth movement. Nolan Smith, coming off 10.5 sacks in his final 16 games of the 2024 season, would anchor one edge. Second-year man Jalyx Hunt would take the other. Jalen Carter, fresh off a second-team All-Pro selection, would remain the immovable force in the middle. Jordan Davis and Moro Ojomo would rotate on the interior.

On paper, the talent was there. In practice, it was a bumpy ride.

The Interior: Davis Breaks Out, Carter Stumbles

The biggest surprise of the 2025 defensive line was Jordan Davis. After years of tantalizing potential, the former first-round pick finally put it all together. Davis led all NFL interior defensive linemen in run stops with 34 and finished third among all defensive tackles in tackles with a career-high 72. He tied Carter for second-most batted passes among interior linemen with six. His PFF grade of 73.7 reflected a player who finally became the every-down force the Eagles always believed he could be.

Moro Ojomo was the other interior revelation. Stepping into the role Milton Williams vacated, Ojomo posted a 71.0 PFF grade and drew comparisons to Williams from The Athletic's Zach Berman, who wrote he might actually take Ojomo over Williams at this point. For an undrafted player filling a $26-million-a-year man's shoes, that is about as high a compliment as it gets.

Then there is Jalen Carter, and this is where the grade takes a hit. Carter's PFF grade of 55.1 placed him among the lowest-graded defenders on the entire team. For a player who was second-team All-Pro just one year prior, that kind of regression is alarming. Carter still flashed — those six batted passes showed his instincts remain elite — but his consistency vanished. Whether it was double teams, scheme changes, or simply a sophomore wall hitting a year late, Carter did not dominate the way Philadelphia needed him to. This is the kind of player who should be pushing for Defensive Player of the Year, not hovering near the bottom of his own team's grades.

The Edge: A Revolving Door That Eventually Clicked

Early in the season, the Eagles' edge rush was a legitimate crisis. Through eight games, the team had just 16 sacks — tied for the ninth-fewest in the league. Nolan Smith battled health issues that limited his effectiveness, and Jalyx Hunt was still developing as a full-time starter. The feared Philadelphia pass rush looked toothless.

Howie Roseman responded at the trade deadline by acquiring Jaelan Phillips from Miami for a 2026 third-round pick. Phillips immediately brought the every-down edge presence the team had been missing. In eight regular-season games with the Eagles, he posted two sacks, seven quarterback hits, a forced fumble, and four passes defended, earning a 77.1 PFF grade that ranked fifth among all Eagles defenders.

The Brandon Graham saga added another layer. After Za'Darius Smith abruptly retired in October, the 37-year-old Graham came out of retirement to rejoin the team. It was more emotional than statistical, but having BG in the locker room mattered in ways that do not show up on a stat sheet.

Josh Uche was arguably the best pass rusher on the roster by season's end, leading all Eagles defenders with an 85.1 PFF grade. His ability to win with speed and bend off the edge gave Vic Fangio another weapon in his pressure packages.

The Big Picture: Elite Defense, But How Much Was the D-Line?

Here is the tension with this unit. The Eagles' defense was phenomenal in 2025. They held opponents to the NFL's lowest completion percentage at 56.8 percent, their best since 2008. They allowed just 14 passing touchdowns, the fewest by an Eagles defense since 2001. They ranked fifth in points allowed per game at 19.1. The opponent passer rating of 75.4 was second-best in the league.

But how much of that was the defensive line versus the historically good secondary? Quinyon Mitchell led all NFL corners in catch rate allowed at 42.4 percent. Cooper DeJean was the best slot corner in football. Zack Baun posted 123 tackles with 3.5 sacks and three takeaways.

The defensive line benefited from playing in front of elite coverage, which gave them extra time to get home. When they did get home, it was impactful. When they did not, the secondary bailed them out. That is a good formula for winning, but it masks the inconsistency up front.

The Grade: B-

The defensive line gets a B-minus, and here is why it is not higher despite playing on an elite defense. The massive personnel losses were only partially replaced. Carter's regression from All-Pro to bottom-tier PFF grades is the biggest concern. The pass rush needed a mid-season trade and a 37-year-old coming out of retirement to become functional. Davis and Ojomo were legitimate bright spots, and Phillips was an excellent addition, but this unit was carried by the secondary more than it carried the defense.

The upside? Carter is only 24 and has shown he can dominate. Davis proved he is an elite run defender. Phillips is now gone to Carolina, but the blueprint for a young, aggressive front exists. If Carter bounces back and the Eagles add another edge rusher in the draft, this group has top-five potential in 2026.

For 2025, though, the defensive line was the weakest link on an otherwise dominant defense. That is not an insult — it just means the bar is incredibly high in Philadelphia.