The offseason is over, the batteries are recharged, and it’s time to get cranking on those 2025 IDP championships. Welcome back for year 31 of the Eyes of the Guru. Continuing with tradition, we’ll be kicking off this year’s series with the defending Super Bowl Champions, the Philadelphia Eagles.
Before we delve into this endeavor, let me remind everyone that Footballguys has adopted the True Position format. The need for positional realignment on the IDP side has been evident for a long time. Many league host sites have joined the swiftly growing trend.
Simply put, True Position improves the IDP game for everyone involved by solving the positional designation dilemma once and for all. The simple adjustment is that all edge defenders will be considered defensive ends. This will include 4-3 defensive ends, 3-4 outside linebackers, and anyone else in the new hybrid schemes of today’s NFL, who makes a living by chasing quarterbacks off the edge. Likewise, the defensive tackle position will include all interior defensive linemen in 4-3 schemes and all down linemen in 3-4 alignments. As a result of this approach, we have eliminated the constant arguments and flip-flopping of positions among these players.
Keep in mind that, based on scoring systems, rankings will vary (sometimes greatly) from league to league. For reference, when mentioning where players rank, the model will be the standard Footballguys scoring system. This is the basic stuff:
- Tackles = 1.5
- Assists = .75
- Sacks = 4
- Forced fumbles = 3
- Fumble recoveries = 3
- Interceptions = 4
- Passes defended = 1.5
- Touchdowns = 6
To ensure we are speaking the same language, the term "total tackles" refers to combined tackles and assists, while a reference to "takeaways" includes interceptions, fumble recoveries, and fumbles forced. The terms "splash plays" or "big plays" will include turnovers and sacks.
From time to time, the rookie corner rule will be referenced. For those new to IDP or the EOTG, the rookie corner rule is a basic fact: in the NFL, starting a rookie at corner is like throwing chum to the sharks. Offensive coordinators will target young and inexperienced players as a weakness; thus, these guys have an accelerated number of opportunities. Often, these players are the cream of the crop at the position (which is why they are starting so soon), and their numbers will begin to drop steadily after their rookie seasons.
Now that we are all speaking the same language, let’s get this thing rolling!
An Overview of the Philadelphia Eagles Defense
In 2022, the defense powered Philadelphia to the Super Bowl, where they collapsed, allowing 38 points to the Chiefs. The 2024 Eagles defense was strong yet a little less dominant through the regular season, but they did not choke in the big game, holding Kansas City to 22 points in the win.
Last year’s unit ranked sixth in takeaways with 13 interceptions and 13 turnovers on fumbles. They were the sixth best versus the pass in terms of completion percentage, second in passing yards allowed, and led the league in yards per attempt. The run defense was solid as well, finishing among the top ten in all important categories, including yards per rush and scoring. The organization would be happy with a repeat performance. If they are going to reach that goal, however, it will have to be done with new faces in some key places.
Philadelphia Eagles Defensive Linemen
The Eagles run an aggressive scheme that relies on pressure from the front line. Their pass rush piled up an impressive 70 sacks in 2022. The total slid to a respectable 43 the following year before dropping a bit further to 41 in 2024. The 2025 Eagles will be without the players who accounted for 24 of last year’s sacks. Josh Sweat will be in Cardinals red this year. Brandon Graham retired, Bryce Huff was traded, and Charles Harris was not brought back. At a glance, the loss of so much production might create some concern. When I take a look at the players replacing those guys, it gives me reason for optimism.
Nolan Smith Jr. was second on the team with six and a half sacks last year. The 2023 first-round pick averaged about 42% of the snaps while working in a four-man rotation over the first nine games. With Graham and Huff banged up, Smith was up around 80% of the action over the final seven. He stepped up statistically, with all of his sacks coming after the team’s week five bye, leading to grand expectations for Smith’s third season.
The increase in playing time made a difference in Smith’s production, but he remained light in the tackle columns with three or fewer combined stops in all but two games. At 238 pounds, he struggles as a point of attack defender and will sometimes be swallowed up by bigger run blockers. While I agree that he is the favorite to lead the team in sacks, I fear that inconsistent production could limit Smith’s fantasy value to that of a third man on most rosters.
Third-round pick Jalyx Hunt made his way into the rotation down the stretch. His numbers were marginal, but the rookie appeared to be a potential future starter. He was arguably the team’s best run defender at the edge position and is all but certain to hold at least a rotational role, possibly on early downs. Hunt qualifies as a deep sleeper and a player to keep an eye on this summer, but he is not roster-worthy at this time.
The player I like here is the Giants’ second-round pick in 2021, Azeez Ojulari. This is a player with a high ceiling that we can steal in the last rounds of drafts. He earned a starting job with New York as a rookie, totaling 49 tackles, 8 sacks, 2 batted passes, and a forced fumble. An injury in the preseason derailed his second season. Ojulari was never fully healthy that year, but still managed five sacks and forced three fumbles on about 250 snaps. The injury lingered, keeping Ojulari off the field for most of 2023 as well. By the time he was healthy last year, the Giants had drafted Kayvon Thibodeaux and signed Brian Burns, leaving Ojulari as the odd man out.
For ten games in 2024, Ojulari served as the Giants’ third man on the edge. He played well, totaling six sacks on 392 snaps. Like Nolan Smith Jr., Ojulari is undersized compared to most three-down edge defenders. That said, he plays bigger and, when healthy, has held up well at the point of attack. Pick him up in the last round as a third or fourth man on your depth chart. If he plays up to potential, you might have to make him a starter at some point.
Ojulari was not the only Giants’ pass rusher poached by the Eagles. Philadelphia also brought back Patrick Johnson, who was a seventh-round pick of the Eagles in 2021. He spent three years buried on their depth chart before having a cup of coffee with New York last year. He will compete with former Patriots’ backup Joshua Uche for whatever playing time there is behind the first three.
There is less change at the interior line positions. The Eagles used a four-man rotation at tackle in 2024. Jalen Carter led the way and was one of the few interior players in the league who consistently logged more than 80% of the playing time. The 2023 first-round pick wasted no time joining the short list of the league’s elite defensive tackles. He has ten sacks over his first two seasons while posting respectable tackle totals that increased substantially in 2024. Carter finished among the top 20 tackles in his second season and, at age 24, has the potential to climb the ranks further in 2025.
Someone will have to step into the role vacated by Milton Williams when he defected to New England. Williams saw the second-most playing time among Philadelphia’s interior linemen last season, though it was well below half of the snaps. Moro Ojomo should pick up some of that playing time with Byron Young and rookie Ty Robinson competing for the rest of the snaps. If the team follows last year’s plan, none of these guys will see enough action to make an IDP impact.
Jordan Davis rounds out the lineup at nose tackle. He is a beast versus the run but lacks the wiggle or extra gear to contribute much to the pass rush. While he is often a factor on the field, Davis saw 30 or more snaps in just two games last year. He is simply not an IDP factor.
- Edge Azeez Ojulari – Sleeper with top 25 upside
- Edge Nolan Smith Jr. – Quality depth with upside
- Edge Jalyx Hunt – Deep sleeper at best
- Edge Patrick Johnson – No impact expected
- DT Jalen Carter – Strong DT2 with top-12 potential
- DT Jordan Davis – No fantasy impact
- DT Ty Robinson – No immediate fantasy impact
- DT Moro Ojomo – No fantasy impact
- DT Byron Young - No fantasy impact