The Philadelphia Eagles are absolutely one of the top teams in the entire NFL right now, no question. This year’s squad is gonna be a good one, assuming everyone stays healthy and that offense doesn’t totally tank like it did last season. But listen up, because while everyone’s gonna obsess over Sean Mannion and the offense, the real reason this team is built for years of contention is because of their defense. ESPN’s Aaron Schatz pointed out a crazy statistic that should make every Eagles fan feel super confident about the future: the average age of their defensive starters is a wild 25.6. That’s the youngest defense in the whole NFL, period. And get this, they aren’t just young, they are flat-out elite.
Youth Movement On D-Line and Linebackers
Schatz spilled the beans, saying the Eagles project to have the league’s youngest defense when you look at their top-12 projected defensive players, counting both base and nickel packages. That average age of 25.6? It’s bonkers. Jonathan Greenard and Zack Baun are the *only* starters over 27 years old. Think about that for a second! Baun, who’s one of the best linebackers in the league, is 29, and Greenard, the new edge rusher with a massive ceiling, is also 29. That’s it. Everyone else on this D is either just getting their careers cranking or is already deep into their prime. Along the defensive line, you’ve got Jalen Carter at 25, Jordan Davis at 26, and Moro Ojomo holding it down at 25. Then there’s Nolan Smith Jr. also at 25, and Jalyx Hunt, also 25, who’s totally worth mentioning even if he’s not a guaranteed starter with Smith and Greenard around. Jihaad Campbell? He’s still only 22 and heading into his second NFL season as a full-time starter. And Jeremiah Trotter Jr. provides some sweet depth at just 23. This unit is built to last, man.
All-Pro Talent Everywhere, Including the Secondary
Now, if you want to talk about where things get REALLY exciting, we gotta hit the cornerback room. Cooper DeJean is only 23 years old and he’s already an All-Pro. Let that sink in. Quinyon Mitchell, just 25, is also an All-Pro and one of the most underrated superstar corners in the NFL right now. Even free-agent pickup Riq Woolen is only 27 and is absolutely still in his prime. At safety, Michael Carter, also 27, is battling it out with Marcus Epps, who’s 30, for a starting spot. Plus, Andrew Makuba is 23 and looks ready for a huge leap in his second year. Honestly, there isn’t a real hole on this defense, unless you nitpick at safety. But with Carter or Epps looking more than serviceable for Vic Fangio’s system, especially when DeJean isn’t back there, it’s really not much of a worry.
So, if anyone asks why the Eagles are gonna be contenders for the foreseeable future, the answer’s staring them right in the face: this defense is not only elite, it’s ridiculously young and still getting better. It’s a scary thought for the rest of the league. And hey, while we’re talking NFL, a little bit of news on our own squad: rookie safety Bud Clark from the Seahawks apparently got some bad news on his starting job for Week 1. Tough break for the kid early on.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by The Sporting News.
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