The Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles will rely on youngsters on defense in their quest to repeat as Lombardi lifters.
Philly lost or moved on from a host of veteran defenders over the past week. Milton Williams inked a massive deal in New England, Josh Sweat got paid by Arizona, Oren Burks left for Cincinnati, Isaiah Rodgers landed in Minnesota, Chauncey Gardner-Johnson was traded to Houston, and Darius Slay was released and will move across the state to Pittsburgh.
The losses put more pressure on young players like Jalyx Hunt to step into the limelight for the NFL's top club.
"Hurting my heart," Hunt told Olivia Reiner of the Philadelphia Inquirer about losing teammates. "This is the business part that everybody talks about. So, this is my first time experiencing it. I'm going through the throes of it right now."
Hunt is one of the players tasked with replacing the production lost with Sweat's defection to play for former Eagles DC Jonathan Gannon in Arizona.
"That's the OG, man," Hunt said. "Josh Sweat, he's out of here. I told him, 'It's up,' though, because now we're in direct competition. Because before, I'm learning from you, everything. But now I've got to outrush him and everything like that."
The Eagles put more on Hunt's plate as the season wore on last season. Much of the increased snaps were due to injuries to Bryce Huff and Brandon Graham. But the third-round rookie's play also improved under Vic Fangio's tutelage. Hunt went from playing five total defensive snaps in the first five weeks to playing at least 30 percent of the reps in the final seven weeks of the regular season. In the playoffs, he generated 1.5 sacks to match his regular-season total.
General manager Howie Roseman noted that he expects a jump from Hunt and fellow youngster Moro Ojomo in 2025.
For Hunt, the raised expectations won't change his approach.
"I'm going to do what I did last year," Hunt said. "Just put my head down, work, study some more film, ask more questions. I feel as if I can ask better questions now that I know a little bit more about the position and I've played and I've got some experience at it. Just ask my butt off. Work my butt off."
