The Philadelphia Eagles are gearing up for Super Bowl defense, which features plenty of new and returning faces within the organization. Several players, coaches, and front-office members are crucial to the team’s success this season.
Every day from now until the start of training camp, we’re counting down our 30 Most Important Eagles for the 2025 season. We’ll recap their 2024 season, look ahead to 2025, and tackle the most significant question facing them this year.
Next up is the athletic pass rusher, Jalyx Hunt.
30 Most Important Eagles of 2026: No. 18 Jalyx Hunt
Jalyx Hunt entered the NFL as one of the Philadelphia Eagles’ most intriguing developmental projects. Two seasons later, the former college safety has become one of the most versatile and productive players on Vic Fangio’s defense.
Hunt led Philadelphia in sacks and interceptions in 2025, becoming the first player in franchise history to lead the team in both categories during the same season. His rare combination of length, athleticism and coverage ability allowed Fangio to use him as a traditional pass rusher, an underneath coverage defender and a movable piece throughout the front seven.
The Eagles strengthened the position by acquiring Jonathan Greenard and adding Arnold Ebiketie and A.J. Epenesa. That depth should not reduce Hunt’s importance. It should create more opportunities for Philadelphia to place him in favorable situations and continue expanding his responsibilities.
Background
Position: Outside linebacker/edge rusher
Age: 25
Experience: Third season
Height: 6-foot-3
Weight: 252 pounds
College: Houston Christian
Draft: 2024, third round, No. 94 overall
2026 cap hit: $1,536,282
Hunt’s path to the NFL was unconventional. He began his college career as a safety at Cornell before transferring to Houston Christian and developing into an edge defender. His mobility and athletic testing attracted Philadelphia, which made him the first Houston Christian player selected in the NFL Draft.
The Eagles did not need Hunt to contribute immediately as a rookie, but he developed faster than many anticipated. He recorded 1.5 sacks during the 2024 regular season and added another 1.5 during Philadelphia’s championship run, including a half-sack against Patrick Mahomes in Super Bowl LIX.
His rookie contract remains one of Philadelphia’s most valuable assets. Hunt carries a cap charge of slightly more than $1.5 million in 2026, according to Over the Cap, while providing production that would cost considerably more on the veteran market.
2025 stats and recap
Hunt appeared in all 17 games and made nine starts during his second season. He played 693 defensive snaps and finished with 52 tackles, 6.5 sacks, 14 quarterback hits, nine tackles for loss, two forced fumbles, one fumble recovery and three interceptions.
His 6.5 sacks led the Eagles, while his three interceptions also paced the team. Hunt returned his first career interception 42 yards for a touchdown against Minnesota before adding two more takeaways later in the season. He became the first Eagles player to lead the team in sacks and interceptions during the same year.
The numbers reflected more than unusual versatility. Hunt generated 57 quarterback pressures, according to the Eagles’ official training camp preview, demonstrating that his sack total was supported by consistent disruption.
Hunt also became more dependable against the run. He used his length to set the edge, pursued plays from the backside and showed improved recognition when offenses attempted to use misdirection against him.
There were still stretches when his impact declined, which should be expected from a player completing only his fourth full season as an edge defender. His overall development, however, accelerated beyond the normal timeline for a third-round project.
2026 outlook
Hunt enters training camp as a major member of Philadelphia’s edge rotation alongside Greenard and Nolan Smith Jr. Greenard gives the defense an established veteran capable of drawing additional protection. In contrast, Smith’s speed creates another threat from the opposite side.
Ebiketie and Epenesa should reduce the need for Hunt to absorb an excessive workload. Their presence will allow Fangio to organize the rotation based on matchups, down-and-distance, and specific pass-rush combinations.
Hunt’s versatility could make him the most unpredictable player in the group. He can rush from either side, align off the ball, drop underneath passing lanes, or attack interior gaps through stunts. His three interceptions last season demonstrated why quarterbacks cannot automatically assume he will rush whenever he approaches the line of scrimmage.
Philadelphia should continue developing Hunt as a complete defender rather than limiting him to a designated pass-rush role. His ability to affect the quarterback and create turnovers gives Fangio options that few edge defenders can provide.
The next statistical milestone would be reaching double digits in sacks. Hunt does not need that total to have a successful season, but approaching it would establish him as one of the NFL’s best young edge defenders and create an important contract decision for Philadelphia after the season.
Biggest question: Can Hunt turn his breakout into sustained production?
Hunt will no longer surprise opposing offenses. Coordinators have an entire season of film showing how Fangio deploys him, how he wins as a pass rusher and how dangerous he can be when dropping into coverage.
The challenge is developing counters when tackles take away his initial move. Hunt must continue improving his hand usage, leverage and ability to convert speed into power. Greater consistency against the run would also make it difficult for opponents to target him with heavier personnel.
Greenard’s arrival should help. Philadelphia can create one-on-one opportunities by placing Greenard, Hunt, Smith and Jalen Carter in different combinations. Hunt must capitalize when protection slides elsewhere.
His 2025 season changed the standard. Hunt is no longer merely an athletic developmental player with intriguing upside. He is an established contributor expected to pressure quarterbacks, force turnovers and help define Philadelphia’s pass-rush rotation.
If he proves last season was the beginning rather than the peak, Hunt could become one of the Eagles’ next defensive cornerstones.
30 Most Important Eagles of 2026
We’re counting down our 30 Most Important Eagles of 2026. Check back every day leading up to the start of training camp.
No. 30 Andy Dalton, No. 29 Markel Bell, No. 28 Eli Stowers, No. 27 Marcus Epps, No. 26 Braden Mann, No. 25 Jake Elliott, No. 24 Tank Bigsby, No. 23 Moro Ojomo, No. 22Dontayvion Wicks, No. 21 Jihaad Campbell, No. 20 Makai Lemon, No. 19 Jordan Davis
This article originally appeared on Eagles Wire: 30 Most Important Eagles of 2026: No. 18 Jalyx Hunt
