The question for Vic Fangio and the Philadelphia Eagles is now this: With all of these new pieces, how is the defense going to look for the remainder of the 2025 season?
Defensive end Brandon Graham isn't really a new piece, but he's new this season. Nolan Smith isn't at all new, even this season, but he's been out for five games and is returning to the edge position fresh and full of energy. Cornerback Jakorian Bennett, acquired in the summer via trade, hasn't played enough here to really get a handle on his skill set in this scheme.
And the three players Howie Roseman traded for in the last week? All new and all trying to impact the defense in a positive way immediately.
Make no mistake, though, this is a work in progress and Fangio is learning about what the six players can do to make the Eagles a better football team.
"It's been awesome. Everyone has been extremely helpful and I'm hitting the ground running. This is an amazing opportunity for me to play and help the team," outside linebacker Jaelan Phillips said after practice on Thursday. "We'll see how it shakes out, but this is a talented team, a winning culture, a great defense, great scheme, great defensive front, great DBs. Everything kind of matches up for me to be as productive as possible."
With Green Bay and its high-powered offense on the horizon on Monday night, the Eagles have an extra day to put things in place. And then they have eight games after that to tweak and tinker and make things right for what they hope is a long and productive postseason run.
It takes time to get every player on the same page. The language of this defense is unique, as are the checks and adjustments and personnel groupings from play to play. That puts a bit of an extra burden on the new guys – cornerbacks Michael Carter II and Jaire Alexander and Phillips.
"I have a level of comfort already," Carter said. "Getting an extra couple of days to be out there and to practice and to learn the defense, it's been a big help. Wherever they have me play, I'm here to do my part and contribute to a winning culture and a winning team."
The rest of the players in the locker room felt the jolt of the moves and applauded them. The Eagles understand where they are in the NFC East and in the NFC, and they're challenging the roster.
That's a great message to send.
"Howie (Roseman) went out there and got some guys that we know can play ball," linebacker Nakobe Dean said. "If nothing else, it bolsters the defense. It helps everybody – when you bring in guys who can play ball, it helps everybody around them pick up their level of play. It may take a little bit of time to learn what we're doing, but at the end of the day, you can simplify some things. Cover 1, Cover 2, Cover 3 … same in every system.
"Every year that I've been here, we're going for it. That's nothing new. Howie, he wants the best players in the locker room and on the field, so he's going to push it every time."
There is no telling how Fangio will employ a defense that has more options and more flexibility. He is the master at matching up against offenses. Having all of these players – some new, some he knows already – is going to give him more weapons.
The players know it. And they are excited about it.
"I really like it. A lot. These are players that are going to help gain depth and help us win games," linebacker Zack Baun said. "Who works well with who, who picks up the defense quickly, those are the questions. We had a couple of extra days, and Jaelan has played in Vic's system (with the Miami Dolphins in 2023), so that helps.
"These kind of moves send a sense of urgency to some guys at particular position groups and it helps identify to some guys where upper management thinks we are and what the potential of this team is. We're all like, 'Let's go.' We all want the same thing, and that is to win football games."
