The Philadelphia Eagles have solidified their defensive future by exercising the fifth-year option on defensive tackle Jordan Davis, ensuring the anchor of their defensive line remains in the fold through the 2026 season, as announced by NFL insider Jordan Schultz on April 30, 2025, via X. Davis, a 2022 first-round pick, will earn $12.9 million guaranteed in 2026, a move that underscores the Eagles’ commitment to maintaining their dominant defensive front following a Super Bowl LIX victory over the Kansas City Chiefs in February 2025, per NFL.com.
Davis, selected 13th overall out of Georgia in 2022, has been a reliable presence, starting all 34 games over the past two seasons, including the playoffs, per Pro Football Reference. At 6-foot-6 and 336 pounds, he’s a classic nose tackle whose impact often goes beyond the stat sheet. In 2024, Davis recorded 27 tackles, 1 sack, 2 pass deflections, and 1 fumble recovery in the regular season, but his playoff performance was pivotal, with 2 sacks and 2 tackles for loss in four games en route to the Eagles’ 14-3 season and Super Bowl title, per ESPN. His primary role—defending the run and collapsing the pocket—has been crucial for a defense that ranked 5th in the NFL in 2024, allowing just 103.2 rushing yards per game, per NFL.com. Davis’ ability to eat double teams has freed up edge rushers like Haason Reddick, who led the team with 13.5 sacks in 2024, per Pro Football Reference.
The decision to secure Davis comes on the heels of a strong offseason for Eagles GM Howie Roseman, who has earned widespread praise for his draft acumen. In the 2025 NFL Draft, held April 24-26 in Green Bay, the Eagles selected 10 players, headlined by Alabama linebacker Jihaad Campbell at No. 31 overall, a pick that ESPN’s Mel Kiper lauded as “brilliant,” per an NBC Sports Philadelphia article on April 28. Kiper wrote, “Roseman went a slightly different direction, however, adding versatile off-ball linebacker Jihaad Campbell, who I thought could go in the Top 20 picks. Campbell can be a chess piece for defensive coordinator Vic Fangio, getting a handful of snaps on the edge per game.” Campbell, who recorded 104 tackles and 5 sacks at Alabama in 2024, per ESPN, is seen as a potential replacement for Nakobe Dean, who suffered a knee injury in January 2025, and a versatile addition following the loss of edge rusher Josh Sweat to the Atlanta Falcons in free agency on a three-year, $42 million deal, per NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport.
Roseman’s draft haul also included Texas safety Andrew Mukuba (No. 64), Nebraska defensive tackle Ty Robinson (No. 111), and Georgia linebacker Smael Mondon Jr. (No. 161), bolstering a defense that already features stars like Davis, Jalen Carter (8.5 sacks in 2024), and Darius Slay, per Pro Football Reference. The Eagles also added Syracuse quarterback Kyle McCord in the sixth round (No. 181), though some analysts, including The Eagles Wire’s Glenn Erby, criticized the team for passing on Colorado quarterback Shedeur Sanders, who fell to the fifth round amid concerns about his attitude, per a The Athletic draft profile by Dane Brugler.
The Eagles’ offseason moves build on their Super Bowl success, where they defeated the Chiefs 31-24, with Jalen Hurts throwing for 302 yards and 3 touchdowns, per NFL.com. However, the team faced scrutiny during their White House visit on April 28, when former President Donald Trump claimed he had warned the New York Giants against letting Saquon Barkley go—a claim the Giants denied, per The Philadelphia Inquirer’s Jeff McLane. Barkley, who signed a three-year, $37.75 million deal with the Eagles in March 2024, ran for 2,005 yards in 2024, leading the NFC, per NBC Sports Philadelphia.
Davis’ option ensures continuity for a defensive line that has been a cornerstone of the Eagles’ success. His partnership with Carter, another Georgia product, has been a point of emphasis for Roseman, who told The Eagles Wire on April 29, “Keeping that Georgia connection strong—Jordan and Jalen feed off each other. It’s about maintaining that chemistry.” Davis’ run-stopping ability—his 73.2 run defense grade ranked 15th among defensive tackles in 2024, per Pro Football Focus—complements Carter’s pass-rushing prowess, creating a formidable duo. The Eagles also added depth with Robinson, who had 4.5 sacks at Nebraska in 2024, per ESPN, ensuring the line remains a strength even as Milton Williams departed for the Patriots on a four-year, $104 million deal, per The Eagles Wire.
With Roseman at the helm, the Eagles are well-positioned to chase back-to-back titles. Their draft class earned an A- from NFL.com’s Chad Reuter, who highlighted Campbell’s versatility and Mukuba’s ball skills (3 interceptions in 2024 at Texas). The decision to secure Davis, combined with Roseman’s draft success, reflects a strategic balance of retaining homegrown talent and adding new pieces. As the Eagles prepare for OTAs in May 2025, their defensive front, led by Davis, and a revamped linebacker corps with Campbell and Mondon, could be the key to another deep playoff run, cementing Roseman’s reputation as one of the NFL’s shrewdest executives.
