The Philadelphia Eagles are less than a month away from the start of training camp. We’ll be counting down the 25 most important Eagles for the 2026 season.
17. Zack Baun
16. Jalyx Hunt
Jalyx Hunt made history last season, becoming the first Eagles player to ever lead the team in both sacks and interceptions. So, what’s on tap for Year 3?
Hunt faces another important season after his breakout campaign. The 2024 third-round pick from Houston Christian was brought in as a raw prospect. As a rookie, he earned his way into the rotation on a Super Bowl-winning roster. Last year, he emerged as a force.
Now, Hunt enters his third season with real expectations.
“He’s an athlete,” edge rusher Jonathan Greenard said this spring, “and how young he is and where his game could really go is crazy.”
Greenard, who the Eagles traded for and signed to a deal worth $100 million, is expected to lead the rush. Nolan Smith will be a presence as long as he stays healthy. Arnold Ebiketie and A.J. Epenesa were under-the-radar additions. So it won’t all fall on Hunt’s shoulders.
But the Eagles are expecting Hunt to take another leap.
It’s crazy to think that Hunt was a safety at Cornell just a few years ago. He didn’t make the transition to the defensive line until 2022 when he transferred to Houston Christian. But the FCS All-American had obvious upside — and he’s made good on that early in his NFL career.
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Last season, Hunt played 693 defensive snaps and logged 14 quarterback hits, nine tackles for loss, 6 1/2 sacks, three INTs and two forced fumbles. Greenard, a member of the Vikings when Hunt had a pick-six in Minneapolis last fall, called him a “freak.”
It’s worth considering what kind of ceiling Hunt has — and what kind of future he might have in Philadelphia. His rookie contract expires at the end of the 2027 season. If Hunt plays as well as he did last year (or better), the 25-year-old figures to be an extension candidate.
That’s a question for the future. But the Eagles would love to be in a position to pay Hunt next offseason.
That means Hunt lived up being one of the team’s most important players in 2026.
Eagles News
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- This Eagles All-Pro faces massive pressure to perform in 2026 Jul. 10, 2026, 6:00a.m.
- The Eagles need this 1st-round pick with injury history to become a star Jul. 9, 2026, 6:00a.m.
- This Eagles veteran could have left in free agency. Why his return is so important Jul. 8, 2026, 6:00a.m.
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