The Philadelphia Eagles are set to open training camp in defense of the franchise’s second Super Bowl championship, and one of the organization’s former first-round picks may need a strong summer in order to solidify his starting job.
Despite the Eagles exercising Jordan Davis‘ fifth-year option, the franchise has yet to make a long-term commitment to the defensive tackle chosen in the first round of the 2022 NFL Draft, and as camp opens USATODAY EaglesWire’s Glenn Erby suggests he is one of the players with the most at stake this summer.
“The 2022 first-round pick will look to capitalize on the six tackles and two sacks during the Super Bowl run,” Erby writes. “Davis (6-6, 336 pounds) has started all 40 regular-season and postseason contests over the past two seasons, but needs a strong season to warrant a long-term extension.”
Eagles’ Vic Fangio Bullish on Jordan Davis
Mitchell Leff | Getty Jordan Davis may be evolving into more than a behemoth of an interior run-stuffer along the Philadelphia Eagles’ defense.
Vic Fangio might not have much sway in terms of contract negotiations, but if Davis is going to carve out a key role and eventually play his way into a lucrative deal, having the Eagles’ defensive coordinator in the former Georgia standout’s corner would go a long way towards achieving both.
Fangio struck a bullish tone on Davis, based on his strong finish to the 2024 campaign, this spring.
“Jordan last year,” Fangio told reporters back in June. “I would say the last seven or eight games including the playoffs, played very well down the stretch. I think that’s carried over into this offseason and I anticipate it carrying over into the season. I think he’s in the best shape that he’s ever been in, which he kind of got into late in the season last year and he’s carried it over, so I think he’s going to do very well for us this year.”
Largely, the backbone for the Eagles’ success on defense last season, and particularly during the playoffs, was the elite play of the defensive line and its ability to wreak havoc in opposing backfields.
Davis played a big part of that second-half dominance, posting two sacks in the postseason with 14 total tackles over the final four regular season games and Philadelphia’s four playoff contests.
Davis, it seems, could be evolving into more than a behemoth interior run-stuffer, after posting a strong 65 pass rush grade from Pro Football Focus with 10 quarterback pressures in 2024.
“He got better towards those last seven or eight games,” Fangio noted, of how Davis improved as an interior pass rusher. “He really did. You saw it in practice first. A lot of people think you don’t need practice, you do need practice, and he showed it in practice first and then it carried over into the games. I think he realized that, felt it, felt good, and he’s just carried it over all offseason.”
Eagles’ Jalen Hurts Could be in For Career-Year
Jamie Squire | GettyPhiladelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts hopes to lead the offense to new heights in 2025.
There has been much debate throughout the offseason over Jalen Hurts‘ place among NFL quarterbacks.
Hurts, fresh off winning Super Bowl MVP while delivering the Eagles a Lombardi Trophy in his second Super Bowl appearance in the past three seasons could be on the cusp of a season that solidifies his status as one of the premier players at his position.
After seeing his production dip, a bit, to 2,903 passing yards with 18 touchdowns to five interceptions last season, Pro Football Focus analyst Mason Cameron believes Hurts could push for touching his career-high in passing yards in 2025.
“The 2024 Eagles built their offensive identity around the running game,” Cameron writes for PFF, suggesting Hurts could surpass 3,200.5 passing yards this season. “Resulting in Hurts clocking fewer than 500 dropbacks for the first time since becoming the starter. But don’t sleep on him as a passer as defenses lean ever more into slowing down the run. Still armed with ample threats in the receiving game, headlined by PFF’s top receiver A.J. Brown, Hurts is projected for nearly 3,600 passing yards in 2025 — which is well within reach.”
Hurts’ previous career-high was 3,858 yards with 23 touchdowns to 15 interceptions in 2023. However, yet another season with A.J. Brown atop the receiver depth chart and of continuity with DeVonta Smith along with Saquon Barkley‘s presence as a pass-catcher out of the backfield in 2025, the stage could be set for Philadelphia’s passing game to reach new heights this fall.
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