Encore!

The 2024 draft class proved to be fruitful for the Eagles, with Howie Roseman, the team’s executive vice president of football operations, reeling in an impressive haul.

Each player selected, sans sixth-rounder Dylan McMahon, contributed to the team’s Super Bowl season in some capacity.

With the 2025 offseason now officially underway, I’ve decided to look back on 2024 and also forecast the future for each of the draftees not named Quinyon Mitchell or Cooper DeJean.

GETTY IMAGES: EDGE Jalyx Hunt should see a big increase in playing time in 2025.

EDGE Jalyx Hunt (third round)

I’m going bold here. I say this not to seek reaction, but because I feel strongly in my belief that Hunt will not only be the 2024 draftee who makes the biggest leap next season — he’ll make the most pronounced strides of any player on defense.

Opportunity certainly knocks for Hunt in his second season, as veteran Josh Sweat could depart via free agency and 2024 free-agent splash Bryce Huff has underwhelmed. And Nolan Smith, as we learned, returns from a torn triceps suffered in Super Bowl LIX.

Hunt, who logged 23 snaps and a half-sack in the Super Bowl, rapidly progressed throughout the season, learning how to attack opposing tackles and developing a pass-rush plan.

When his hand was forced late in the season in light of the triceps injury to Brandon Graham, defensive coordinator Vic Fangio seemed to have little reservation in leaning on Hunt as part of his three-player edge rotation.

Coming from tiny Houston Christian, Hunt was widely viewed as a prohect for a redshirt season — though it didn’t exactly match Hunt’s vision.

“I’m never somebody who talks a whole bunch about what I’m going to do. But I’ve felt it the entire year. I didn’t come to just sit around and cheer my teammates on,” he said. “I love to cheer my teammates on … I like to perform as well. I’m a football player. I like making plays, and I had the opportunity to. And I seized my role and my opportunity.”

Hunt, across 241 snaps as a rookie, picked up 21 tackles, 1.5 sacks and three quarterback hits. At minimum, the 23-year-old feels destined for the No. 3 role in the rotation. He’s merely scratched the surface.

RB Will Shipley (fourth round)

Slotted behind Saquon Barkley and Kenny Gainwell, opportunities were limited for Shipley, who logged only 65 offensive snaps, carrying 30 times for 82 yards while adding another 35 yards on four catches.

The Clemson product did, however, make an impact on special teams, notably serving as the personal protector on punt coverage and returning kicks. Shipley finished with six tackles and 173 yards on six kickoff returns.

Shipley hardly took his newfound role lightly, fixating on details and striving for weekly improvement. A prime example of Shipley’s devotion to his craft would be in the NFC Championship game, when he forced a fumble on a kickoff just before the break.

While he also registered his first NFL touchdown later in the game, Shipley considered the forced fumble – a momentum shifter – to be his favorite play of the season.

Perhaps the scenario is unfolding just the way the Eagles envisioned, but the 22-year-old feels destined to inherit the No. 2 role if the veteran Gainwell departs via free agency.

While opportunities still figure to be limited behind Barkley, Shipley, with a full season and offseason of development, should be more than ready to take the reins. He offers far more than his special teams prowess suggests and would furnish the backup role with more home-run hitting ability than his predecessor.

GETTY IMAGES: WR Ainias Smith will vie for the slot WR job after barely seeing the field as a rookie in 2024.

WR Ainias Smith (fifth round)

Smith’s tenure got off to a shaky start, though the Texas A&M product would ultimately settle in, stacking a smattering of positive plays late in the summer. He was sidelined for the early portion of the season with an ankle injury but eventually found his way onto the 53-man roster, appearing in seven games and yielding 96 snaps, finishing with seven grabs for 41 yards and a touchdown.

Smith was inactive for the Eagles’ postseason run, and the 2025 offseason is a big one for the 23-year-old. Perhaps a full offseason and a year of working with wide receivers coach Aaron Moorehead will allow Smith to hit the ground running when the team reconvenes in the spring.

At best, though, he’ll slot in at fifth in the wide receiver on the depth chart. Smith could elbow his way onto the game day roster if he’s able to provide value returning punts – a role in which I anticipate him getting plenty of reps in the coming months.

GETTY IMAGES: After mostly playing special teams as a rookie, LB Jeremiah Trotter Jr. could see a bigger role in 2025.

LB Jeremiah Trotter Jr. (fifth round)

Third on the Eagles in special teams snaps (295), Trotter Jr.’s mark was minimal on the defensive front. While exhibiting instincts and football IQ, Trotter Jr. found himself behind starters Zack Baun and Nakobe Dean along with veteran Oren Burks in the pecking order, racking up just 104 defensive snaps.

The Clemson standout produced a pair of highlight-reel postseason plays, however, pouncing on a fumble forced by Burks in the wild card round and recording a tackle on kick coverage in Super Bowl LIX.

Trotter Jr. celebrated the latter by delivering his father’s patented axe chop in an emotional moment. While the complexion of the room will surely appear drastically different in a month, Trotter Jr. – and holdover Dallas Gant – will be the team’s only linebackers under contract when free agency begins. Look for Trotter Jr. to secure the No. 3 role in 2025.

OL Trevor Keegan (fifth round)

Keegan was active for only one game as a rookie, accounting for 35 snaps in the regular season finale. Buried on a deep and experienced offensive line, Keegan spent the majority of his rookie season developing through practice reps and in the film room, as his game days were typically spent watching from the sideline. The Michigan product is likely to be afforded ample opportunity to emerge from a relatively shallow interior group and become a game day reserve.

WR Johnny Wilson (sixth round)

Though sporadically called upon as a pass-catcher, Wilson established himself early as a trusted option for quarterback Jalen Hurts. The hulking wideout, used mainly as a blocker, accounted for 369 snaps, reeling in five receptions for 38 yards and a touchdown.

Wilson’s size and catch radius offer a unique dimension to the offense in 2025 but he must become more consistent in catching the football. He’ll likely claim the No. 4 receiver role – barring a draft addition – seeing a minimal amount of targets but factoring as a red zone presence. Expect the Eagles to continue to value his blocking acumen on both offense and special teams.

– Andrew DiCecco (@AndrewDiCecco) is a Staff Reporter/Content Producer for InsideTheBirds.com.