Eagles’ Defense: 58-Sack Veteran Could Be The Key To Unlocking The Pass Rush

The Philadelphia Eagles‘ defense, broadly, the pass rush specifically, was a backbone of the franchise’s Super Bowl championship in 2024 but suddenly finds itself in need of an upgrade.

While Nolan Smith, Jalyx Hunt, and Azeez Ojulari have the traits to make a significant leap in coordinator Vic Fangio’s front-seven, the Eagles could benefit from adding an established veteran to put the group over the top.

Ahead of training camp opening next month, 32-year-old edge rusher Jadeveon Clowney could be an ideal fit to step in and contribute quality snaps on passing downs and as a leader for a young and vital position group that finds itself in a bit of a state of flux.

Last season, Clowney was one of the few bright spots on the Carolina Panthers‘ defense, logging 5.5 sacks while adding 44 pressures, which ranked 38th across the NFL.

Carolina released Clowney back in May, after he became expendable thanks to the arrival of second-round edge rusher Nic Scourton, but still seems to have some quality snaps left in him.

Through his first 11 seasons, Clowney has posted 58 sacks with 409 total tackles. In all likelihood, Clowney would be among the more affordable remaining free agent options, and the former No. overall pick of the Houston Texans in the 2014 NFL Draft might be drawn to the chance to win a Super Bowl ring with the Eagles in 2025.

Eagles’ Azeez Ojulari a Breakout Star to Watch

If the Eagles stand pat and enter the regular season with the edge rushers currently on the roster, the timing could be right for Azeez Ojulari to break out.

Ojuliari, who signed a one-year deal worth $4 million with the Eagles this offseason, could soften the blow of Bryce Huff‘s disappointing 2024 campaign and eventual trade to the San Francisco 49ers, and be primed to cash in, himself.

Through his first four seasons of his career, since being chosen No. 50 overall by the New York Giants in the second round of the 2021 NFL Draft, Ojulari has logged 22 sacks and 107 total tackles while struggling to consistently find a role in New York’s defense.

“We’ve got [OLB Joshua] Uche, we’ve got [OLB] Azeez [Ojulari],” Eagles defensive coordinator Vic Fangio told reporters, of the Eagles’ depth behind Nolan Smith and Jalyx Hunt at edge rusher. “We’ve got three other guys there. I think we’ll be fine.”

At 6-foot-3 and 250 pounds, if Ojulari can find his footing in Philadelphia and show he’s capable of being a consistent contributor in Fangio’s scheme, not only will it elevate the Eagles’ defense but could set the 25-year-old up to become a hot commodity on the pass rusher market next spring.

AJ Dillon and Will Shipley Could Play Outsized Role in 2025

Saquon Barkley ran away with the NFL Offensive Player of The Year Award, and garnered MVP votes in a historic campaign from an Eagles running back, but keeping the 28-year-old fresh for his Philadelphia encore in 2025 could prove critical.

Given the cumulative wear and tear that running backs tend to suffer late in their career, combined with Barkley’s 378 total touches last season, AJ Dillon and Will Shipley could account for a bigger piece of the Eagles’ offensive puzzle this season.

According to Pro Football Focus, the Eagles enter this season as the No. 4 ranked backfield in the league.

“Saquon Barkley’s incredible 2024 season alone earns Philadelphia a high mark on this list,” Dalton Wasserman writes for PFF. “Postseason included, Barkley rushed for more than 2,500 yards last season while forcing 83 missed tackles and generating an astonishing 55 explosive runs.

“AJ Dillon and Will Shipley will be Barkley’s backups in 2025. Dillon missed all of last season due to a neck injury but earned a solid 76.1 PFF rushing grade in 2023. Shipley tallied just 34 carries during his rookie campaign but could be the team’s primary kick returner this season.”

Barkley’s explosiveness is, in a lot of ways, the engine that powers the Eagles’ offense but getting Dillon and Shipley involved is what has the potential to keep Philadelphia firing on all cylinders for another lengthy run at a Lombardi Trophy.