Eagles Position Battle Preview: Can Jalyx Hunt Stay Hot at EDGE?

The Philadelphia Eagles have dealt with a lot of change at edge rusher this offseason. The team’s trade deadline addition, Jaelan Phillips, signed a massive deal with the Carolina Panthers in free agency. Joshua Uche signed with the Miami Dolphins and Azeez Ojulari signed with the Atlanta Falcons. Meanwhile, veteran Brandon Graham is still weighing his options in 2026.

Eagles general manager Howie Roseman wasn’t going to enter training camp with the same questions at edge rusher that Philadelphia faced last year. Roseman pulled off a trade with the Minnesota Vikings for Pro Bowl edge rusher Jonathan Greenard. The 29-year-old veteran gives the Eagles a proven leader at the top of the edge rusher rotation.

While Greenard is cemented as Philadelphia’s top edge rusher, the Eagles will need someone to step up on the other side. Both Nolan Smith Jr. and Jalyx Hunt have shown flashes of their potential in recent years. Yet who will earn the starting job opposite of Greenard in 2026? Here’s a closer look at Philadelphia’s edge rusher battle.

Jalyx Hunt

Chance of winning the EDGE2 job: 66%

When the Eagles selected Hunt in the third round of the 2024 NFL Draft, it was viewed as a developmental pick that could take time. Yet fast forward to 2026 and Hunt has quickly exceeded nearly everyone’s expectations in his first two seasons in the NFL. He led the Eagles with 6.5 sacks and three interceptions last season, as he saw his role expand in Vic Fangio’s defense.

Now Hunt is entering his third year in the NFL and the best is likely yet to come. The 25-year-old played 241 more snaps than the next closest edge defender in Philadelphia last season and his role should continue to grow even more in 2026. While others have struggled with injuries, Hunt has been able to stay healthy and be a dependable weapon in Philadelphia.

Hunt’s combination of size, speed and versatility gives him a unique skillset that nobody else in this competition can provide. His experience as a defensive back gives him an advantage in coverage, which allows Fangio to keep offenses guessing. My guess is that Hunt will start opposite of Greenard and secure the starting job rather early in training camp and preseason.

Nolan Smith Jr.

Chance of winning the EDGE2 job: 32%

After bursting onto the scene in 2024, Smith struggled to stay healthy last season. Smith suffered a triceps injury in Super Bowl LIX and has struggled to look the same since then. He ultimately missed six games last season as he tried to work his way back from the triceps injury a bit too quickly. Yet Smith was still an impactful player, whenever he was on the field.

In fact, in the 13 games that both Hunt and Smith played together last season, Smith actually out-snapped Hunt in eight of those matchups. Yet it’s still hard to envision Smith being able to leap over Hunt in 2026. While the Eagles picked up Smith’s fifth-year option for 2027, he’ll have to prove that he can stay healthy to land a contract extension and a consistent starting role in Philadelphia.

The one area where Smith likely has an advantage over Hunt is in run defense. Smith is a violent player that sets the edge at a high level against the run. Therefore, I could see Smith playing more on earlier downs than Hunt, yet the latter will still play significantly more snaps over the course of the entire season.

Arnold Ebiketie

Chance of winning the EDGE2 job: 1%

The Eagles signed Ebiketie early in free agency to a one-year deal worth up to $7.3 million. While Ebiketie only started 12 games during his time with the Atlanta Falcons, he was able to stay healthy and contribute off the edge. Philadelphia has had their eyes on “AK” since prior to the 2022 NFL Draft and now they’ll see what he can provide in 2026. He should provide the Eagles with a solid floor as a rotational edge rusher but it would be a surprise if he earned the starting job.

A.J. Epenesa

Chance of winning the EDGE2 job: 1%

The Eagles signed Epenesa to a one-year deal following the team’s mandatory minicamp. At 6’6” and 280 lbs., the former second-round pick brings unique size to Philadelphia’s edge rusher rotation. Yet I believe that Epenesa could actually become part of the team’s plan along the interior of the defensive line. The 27-year-old has shifted inside before and could do the same in Philadelphia.