Depth on Defense

The Philadelphia Eagles’ defensive unit was one of the best in 2025, but do they have enough behind the top guys entering ’26?

On the latest episode of “Inside The Birds,” Adam Caplan and Geoff Mosher discussed the current depth of the defense. 

GETTY IMAGES: Philadelphia Eagles LB Jihaad Campbell will have big shoes to fill in a starting role in 2026.

Ty Robinson

Adam Caplan: “I get he was a fourth-round pick. He wasn’t ready, very raw player, needs a lot of work, but high upside. He needs to be better, but they’re really in good shape [at defensive tackle].”

Geoff Mosher: “This is a big year for Ty Robinson: second year, was a pick, has some really good athletic attributes to him.”

Joe Tryon-Shoyinka

Caplan: “He got off to a really good start with the Buccaneers then he progressively regressed. It just got worse and worse and worse, they wound up not bringing him back, he went to the Browns then to the Bears. He right now would be the fourth (edge rusher) but he could push (Arnold) Ebiketie to be the designated pass rusher.”

Mosher: “It’s going to be an uphill climb for him if they wind up adding another starting-caliber EDGE.”

Jihaad Campbell

Mosher: “He’ll obviously take Nakobe Dean’s place, but he’s also coming off another shoulder procedure like he was this time last year…as talented and athletic as Jihaad is, and they’ll be fine with him and (Zack) Baun, Nakobe (Dean) certainly brought the defense to another level with how smart he was, how much of a leader he was, how good of a downhill blitzing linebacker he was. Jihaad Campbell is still learning that. I think he actually has more range and is faster.”    

Michael Carter II

Caplan: “He’s either going to be a nickel or safety or both this season.”

Mosher: “Michael Carter will be a very interesting name to watch. He’s really a nickel, but he does have that safety experience. Right now, I almost think you’d want to go Carter over (Marcus) Epps just because he’s younger, a good athlete.”

– Benjamin Paul is a staff writer for InsideTheBirds.com.