Latest news with #PassRushSummit
USA Today
4 hours ago
- Sport
- USA Today
7 key Eagles who need to elevate their game in 2025
With Philadelphia's training camp fast approaching, we're looking at seven Eagles who'll need to elevate their games in 2025 for continued team success The Eagles have one of the best rosters in the NFL with few holes or personnel deficits. Philadelphia suffered several losses in the secondary and defensive line, but managed to improve in the short term, while accumulating potential All-Pro talent in the draft. The first wave of free agency saw Josh Sweat (Cardinals), Milton Williams (Patriots), Kenneth Gainwell (Steelers), Mekhi Becton (Chargers), and Oren Burks (Bengals) all depart. Vic Fangio's defense saw Darius Slay (Steelers), Isaiah Rodgers (Vikings), Avonte Maddox (Lions), and James Bradberry (UFA) all depart a Super Bowl roster. Nick Sirianni's team will need a mixture of veterans and rookies to step up, and we've identified seven players who need to elevate their games in 2025. OLB Nolan Smith Smith is looking to have a Von Miller-type impact for the Eagles in 2025 and attended the Pass Rush Summit this past week. While Jalen Carter has been a star since Day 1, Smith has quietly and intensely carved out a role in the NFL. As a rookie, Smith recorded 18 tackles and 1.0 sacks in 17 regular-season games. Playing behind Haason Reddick and Brandon Graham, the former Georgia star linebacker didn't play more than eight defensive snaps in a game until Week 12. Smith's coming-out party came during the Eagles' postseason run, when the confident former Georgia star made plays in every game, including the Super Bowl 59 win. In Year 2, he became an every-down contributor for the Eagles, playing 755 snaps in 2024 and grading out better against the run (74.0) than as a pass-rusher (68.3), but still managed to generate 50 pressures according to PFF. WR Jahan Dotson The Eagles acquired Dotson from the Commanders last summer in exchange for a 2025 third-round pick, two seventh-round picks for Dotson, and a fifth-round pick. Dotson caught 19 of 33 targets for 216 yards in 17 regular-season games with the Eagles in 2024 after being acquired in a trade from Washington. He also rushed once for 13 yards. Despite his struggles, Dotson played 649 offensive snaps during the regular season for Philadelphia, working as a No. 3 receiver behind A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith. OL Tyler Steen The former third-round pick has lost out on the starting right guard job in the last couple of seasons, but the third time can be the charm, mainly while he competes with former first-round pick Kenyon Green. DB Reed Blankenship Blankenship has become a critical cog in the Eagles' Super Bowl history, and he's continuing to add honors to his resume. Blankenship logged 78 tackles (52 solo), six pass defenses (including four interceptions), and one fumble recovery in 15 regular-season games in 2024. Blankenship improved during the playoffs, logging 27 tackles (18 solo), one forced fumble, and one fumble recovery during the Eagles ' four-game run to the Super Bowl. Blankenship signed a one-year, $3.58 million contract extension with the Eagles last April after leading the team in tackles and interceptions. DT Moro Ojomo Ojomo finished the 2024 season with 20 total tackles (six solo) in 17 regular-season games, but will have to elevate his game after the departures of Brandon Graham (retired), Bryce Huff (trade), and Milton Williams (Patriots). Ojomo saw a significant increase in his role in his second season with the Eagles, logging 370 defensive snaps and 70 snaps on special teams. RB Will Shipley With Kenneth Gainwell leaving in free agency, Shipley will likely be the primary pass-catching back next year. Barkley and Gainwell didn't miss any time last season, so Shipley's opportunities were limited outside of blowout wins and a meaningless Week 18 game. Shipley displayed solid hands in that regular-season finale, catching four passes for 35 yards. The former Clemson star running back will battle A.J. Dillon for the backup role behind Saquon Barkley. DB Sydney Brown With several looming contract decisions on the horizon, the Eagles traded C.J. Gardner-Johnson to Houston, opening up a void at the safety position. Philadelphia drafted Andrew Mukuba in the second round of April's NFL draft, but third-year safety Sydney Brown sits best positioned to replace Gardner-Johnson in the starting lineup immediately. Brown is a physical, downhill safety, but he'll need to perform better in coverage and make plays when matched up one-on-one in space. Brown finished the 2024 season with seven total tackles (six solo), adding two passes defensed, one interception, and a forced fumble over 11 regular-season games. The safety missed the first five games of the year with a knee injury, limiting his upside early in the year. Brown saw his role on defense diminish in his second season with the Eagles, and in 2024, he operated primarily as a special-teams option. LB Jeremiah Trotter Jr. The former Clemson star will get the first shot at replacing an injured Nakobe Dean. As a rookie in 2024, Trotter recorded 25 tackles (nine solo), including 0.5 sacks, and one pass defense while appearing in all 17 regular-season games. He added five stops (four solo) across four postseason games.
USA Today
7 hours ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Eagles had two young stars attend Von Miller's 'Sack Summit' for pass rushers
Over the past two days, Von Miller hosted his annual "Pass Rush Summit" at UNLV, and the Eagles' edge rusher duo was present. Nolan Smith and Jalyx Hunt are both attending this year's 'Sack Summit' in Las Vegas. 👀Philadelphia's young edge rusher duo is learning from some of the NFL's best like Maxx Crosby and Cam Jordan ahead of training camp. The Eagles suffered several losses in the secondary and defensive line, but managed to improve in the short term, while accumulating potential All-Pro talent in the draft. The first wave of free agency saw Josh Sweat (Cardinals), Milton Williams (Patriots), Kenneth Gainwell (Steelers), Mekhi Becton (Chargers), and Oren Burks (Bengals) all depart. Vic Fangio's defense saw Darius Slay (Steelers), Isaiah Rodgers (Vikings), Avonte Maddox (Lions), and James Bradberry (UFA) all depart a Super Bowl roster. Philadelphia responded to those losses by adding Josh Uche and Azeez Ojulari on the edge, adding the duo to a returning group that includes Nolan Smith and second-year outside linebacker Jalyx Hunt. Smith and Hunt have a huge year ahead of them, and recently headed west for advice. Over the past two days, Von Miller hosted his annual "Pass Rush Summit" at UNLV, and the Eagles' edge rusher duo was present. The event was hosted by Miller, Maxx Crosby, and Cam Jordan. Free game from the best pass rushers past & present at the 2025 Sack Summit in Vegas 💪 Alongside Cam Jordan and Von Miller, #Raiders DE Maxx Crosby is co-hosting the annual "Sack Summit." The event brings together dozens of NFL pass rushers to exchange players Howie Long, Chris Long and others are also in attendance. Miller debuted his annual 'Von Miller Pass Rush Summit' in 2017 to bring together some of the NFL's best pass rushers to learn from each other through a day of drills, conversation, and film study. As the 36-year-old future Hall of Famer has drawn closer to the end of his career, his focus has shifted to finding the best way to sustain the exchange of information he has created in the future. Miller has rebranded the event as the 'Sack Summit' and brought in Las Vegas Raiders defensive end Maxx Crosby and New Orleans Saints defensive end Cam Jordan, who've attended the summit for years as participants, as hosts starting last year. Besides Miller, Jordan, and Crosby, other notable defensive linemen who participated included Brian Burns (New York Giants), Daron Payne (Washington Commanders), Josh Allen (Jacksonville Jaguars), and Matthew Judon. Additionally, Hall of Fame defensive tackle Warren Sapp has been present in the past.
