The Eagles Have Downgraded at Nearly Every Position Since the Super Bowl

Thirteen months and two weeks. That's all it took for the Philadelphia Eagles to go from arguably the greatest defense in franchise history to a unit that's downgraded at nearly every position.

Let's walk through it position by position — no rose-colored glasses, just facts.

Edge Rush: Massive Downgrade

In February 2025, the Eagles had Josh Sweat and Nolan Smith rushing the passer. Sweat had just posted 12 sacks. Today, it's Nolan Smith and Jalex Hunt. Hunt has flashed potential, but he hasn't proven he can be a consistent double-digit sack threat. Sweat's departure for $19 million now looks like a bargain compared to the $28-30 million edge rushers are commanding this offseason.

Interior D-Line: Slight Step Back

Milton Williams and Jalen Carter were a dominant pairing. Moro Ojomo is solid, but he's not Milton Williams. Carter himself had a down year in 2025 — there were stretches where you forgot he was on the field. The 49ers playoff loss was a prime example. The one bright spot: Jordan Davis is legitimately better today than he was during the Super Bowl run.

Linebacker: Close but Missing Leadership

Jihaad Campbell has the physical tools to surpass Nakobe Dean — he's bigger, faster, and has a higher ceiling. But Dean was the emotional leader of that defense. He barked at the Georgia contingent, got in faces, held the standard. That leadership void hasn't been filled, and it matters more than people realize.

Safety: The Biggest Drop-Off

Reed Blankenship and CJ Gardner-Johnson were a complementary pairing that didn't make mistakes. You never saw deep balls over their heads. Marcus Epps and C.J. McCuba are unproven commodities stepping into a scheme that demands precision. This might be the position group with the steepest decline.

Cornerback: Talent Up, Production TBD

Quinyon Mitchell was a first-team All-Pro. Cooper DeJean is better today than he was as a rookie. But replacing Darius Slay — even a declining Slay — with Tariq Woolen is a gamble. The Eagles were the number one pass defense in football in 2024. Number one in total defense. Number two in scoring defense. Those numbers weren't an accident, and they weren't just about talent. It was about cohesion.

The Bottom Line

The only positions that have genuinely improved are nose tackle (Davis) and nickel (DeJean). Everything else is either a clear downgrade or a lateral move with more upside but less proven production. The Eagles are betting that youth and ceiling will compensate for the loss of proven veterans. Thirteen months will tell us if they were right.