All the new free agents, rookies, and undrafted rookies have joined a Super Bowl-winning culture with the Philadelphia Eagles, hoping to play a significant role in the team repeating as champions.
It was a relatively quiet free agency for the Eagles, as they focused more on retaining key players from last year and leaning on their young rising stars to step forward in the starting lineup in 2025. Philadelphia made 10 selections in the 2025 NFL Draft and signed nine undrafted free agents.
The Eagles' talent level has shown to be deep, with many good players leaving the team in the offseason. Philadelphia's newest signings and selections, though, could have a final say in their playing time. This will put Eagles players from last year's team on high alert for their jobs this upcoming season.
4 Eagles that could lose their starting jobs or playing time
Tristin McCollum/Sydney Brown, Safety
McCollum and Brown will get bunched up here, as one was initially projected to take over for C.J. Gardner-Johnson for the other starting safety position alongside Reed Blankenship. Both combined for just eight starts in the last two seasons, with Brown being the most experienced defender with 52 tackles and two interceptions in his career.
Things got complicated in the draft for McCollum and Brown when the Eagles selected Texas safety Andrew Mukuba. Last season with the Longhorns, Mukuba was a third-team All-SEC selection. He was tied for fourth in the nation in interceptions with five.
Brown seems most likely to start between him and McCollum as he's had more experience on the field and has played slightly better. Mukuba has a ton of upside with his coverage skills and could make a run to start. Even if he doesn't win the starting job, that will cut into the playing time of McCollum and Brown.
Nakobe Dean, LB
This has nothing to do with Dean's abilities, as he took significant strides in defensive coordinator Vic Fangio's defense last year. He had the best season of his career with 128 tackles, nine tackles for loss, six quarterback hits, four pass deflections and three sacks in 15 games.
All was well until Dean got hurt in the Wild Card win over the Packers, which ended his playoff run. The team selected Alabama linebacker Jihaad Campbell with the No. 31 overall pick in the draft. It was considered a massive steal for the hybrid edge-rushing outside linebacker after he was considered to be picked in the middle of the first round.
Dean's injury history in 2023 and 2024 raises concerns that he can't stay healthy on a consistent basis. Campbell is a first-round pick, so he will get plenty of playing time and be in the linebacker rotation. However, if Campbell plays well, his increased playing time will cut into Dean's time on the field and might cost him a starting job later in the season.
Bryce Huff, EDGE
If there is one move that Eagles general manager Howie Roseman would like to take back, it might be the trade for Bryce Huff. Last season, Huff missed six games and only contributed 13 tackles and 2.5 sacks in 12 games.
The Eagles brought in competition for Huff with Azeez Ojulari, who has spent the last four seasons with the New York Giants. Ojulari tallied at least five or more sacks in three of his first four years in the NFL.
Huff is going to have tough competition with Ojulari, as the latter is three years younger and showed to be much more productive in 2024. What hurts Ojulari is that he has missed 22 games in the last three seasons, so if Huff can prove to be more available, that will help. If both players stay healthy, Ojulari will get time on the field, which will take away from Huff being on the field.
