With one of football’s more underappreciated defensive tackle groupings up front, the Philadelphia Eagles have put together the NFL’s top defence.
In just his second NFL season, Jalen Carter has already become well-known, but the Eagles also have two additional standout players in emerging star Milton Williams and former scouting combine unicorn Jordan Davis. In addition, Moro Ojomo, a former seventh-round pick who is still making a name for himself in Philadelphia’s D-line rotation ahead of Super Bowl LIX, is an underappreciated depth addition.
Keeping the nucleus of this emerging and dominant defensive line intact is expected to be a primary offseason priority, especially with Williams up for a new contract. All of those guys were selected under general manager Howie Roseman’s supervision, and they are just off a Super Bowl berth.
The Bleacher Report Scouting Department sees Davis as a possible trade target for contending clubs in the upcoming league year, as his rookie deal expires in 2025. The 336-pound nose tackle would be sent to the Arizona Cardinals in exchange for a Day 2 draft pick, according to a recent trade proposal from the B/R staff.
The entire fictitious trade package was as follows:
Speculative Exchange We would love to see DT selected in the third round of the 2025 draft (No. 78 overall). Davis, Jordan
When the Eagles selected Davis with a first-round pick in 2022, Jonathan Gannon was the defensive coordinator in Philadelphia. Three years into his Eagles career, the burly nose tackle hasn’t lived up to the hype. Although he only played 37% of the snaps this season, he has developed into a respectable pocket-pushing nose tackle. The Eagles will eventually need to pay Jalen Carter, and they also have to worry about an extension for Milton Williams. If they don’t see themselves extending Davis’ contract, now would be the moment to trade him as he enters the fourth year of his rookie deal. On a Cardinals defensive line in need of assistance, he might assume a more significant role.
The use of Davis in 2024 has been intriguing. Despite starting all 20 of the Eagles’ games this season, including the playoffs, he has actually played less defensive snaps overall (430) than Ojomo (465), who has played more.
Given that Davis has played some of his greatest football of the season in the last month, that was most likely done on purpose. Despite only playing 43 total snaps in three playoff games, he is ranked as Philadelphia’s fourth-best defensive player overall by PFF, and he recorded a game-changing sack on Jayden Daniels in the second half of the NFC Championship Game.
In order for Carter to dominate and attack the football, the Eagles need on Davis to push the centre of the pocket and take up space. Although he has been a vital member of Vic Fangio’s defence, Davis is far from a vital component of Philadelphia’s operation given his marked decline in output and playing time when compared to 2023, when he recorded career highs in total snaps (561), pressures (18), sacks (4), and tackles (27).
Only three of Philadelphia’s seven projected selections in the 2025 NFL Draft are expected to be among the top 100. During the draft, it might make some sense to trade Davis for an additional third-round pick.
The Eagles are likely to take advantage of Davis’ low 2025 base salary and allow him to play out the last year of his rookie contract, similar to what Williams did in 2024, even though the Gannon link is undoubtedly noteworthy.
Ryan O’Leary
Throughout his professional career, Ryan O’Leary has worked in sports multimedia as a journalist, editor, podcaster, and show emcee and content manager at live events. His work as an audio editor and podcast host for USA TODAY Sports Media Group, where he oversaw a number of NFL podcasts for the company’s top-performing NFL websites, is one of his professional highlights. Born and reared in New England, Ryan began his career in newspapers after earning a journalism degree from the University of New Hampshire. In addition to fulfilling his childhood dream of covering the Patriots in several AFC Championship Games, he grew to have a fondness for small-town children and high school and collegiate athletics. Ryan likes to fight with anyone insane enough to believe that Tom Brady isn’t the greatest of all time, defeat his father and brother at chess, and kick it with his family and friends.