The Philadelphia EaglesThe defensive line of the Eagles needs to fill some important roles.
Following Fletcher Cox retired this offseason, defensive coordinator Vic Fangio will likely rely heavily on Jordan Davis and Marlon Tuipuloto to make up for the lost production and disruptive snaps the unit became accustomed to getting from Cox.
However, Milton Williams has been somewhat overlooked on the Eagles’ defensive line and could have a bigger role in his fourth season since being chosen in the third round of the 2021 NFL Draft.
Williams, 25, has recorded 6.5 sacks with 108 total tackles, 18.5 tackles for loss, one forced fumble, and five pass breakups in his first 50 career games.
Pro Football Focus’ Zoltán Buday considers Williams the most underrated player on the Eagles’ roster.
“Williams has been one of the best rotational interior defenders in the entire NFL over the past two seasons,” Buday writes for PFF. “While his 968 snaps over that period rank just 64th at the position, his 73.2 PFF overall grade places 32nd. Williams was playing the best football of his career before an injury in 2023, with his 77.6 overall grade between Weeks 5 and 11 ranking 14th among interior defenders.”
However, not everyone is convinced of Williams' potential.
“Although he started 11 of 12 games including the playoff loss last season,” NFL Network’s Brian Baldinger told Heavy. “He doesn’t seem to do much. He looks like a rotational player to me. But, in Vic Fangio’s scheme, you have to defeat one-on-one blocks. Christian Wilkins did have the best year of his career in Miami [playing for Fangio].”
Meanwhile, Pro Football Focus points out that over the past two seasons, Williams has added 36 quarterback pressures over the past two seasons.
There might not be a player along the Eagles’ defensive line who stands to benefit more from Cox’s departure than Williams, who should inherit more snaps and has the versatility to line up along the interior or at defensive end.
Cooper DeJean Reveals His Role
Eagles first-round pick Cooper DeJean has been hailed as one of the more versatile defenders in this year’s draft class.
As Pro Football Focus points out, DeJean played 630 snaps at cornerback, 23 in the slot, and 23 as a box safety last season for the Iowa Hawkeyes, before being chosen by the Eagles with the No. 40 overall pick.
During the Eagles’ rookie minicamp, DeJean revealed that at least for now, he’s taking snaps on the boundary and inside.
“I really talked all three positions with them, how I worked mostly the nickel and corner position at rookie minicamp,” DeJean told the Up and Adams Show Thursday. “But there’s been talks about safety during the pre-draft (process), and returning as well.
“Wherever they put me, I’ll be excited. I’m excited for the opportunity to start at the corner position … that’s where I’m starting out, the nickel and corner position, yeah”
DeJean produced 41 total tackles in Iowa City last season, while intercepting two passes and breaking up five more, and could push for immediate playing time as a rookie in Philadelphia’s revamped secondary.
Eagles-Patriots Discussing Joint Practices
Many NFL head coaches are now big fans of joint practices over televised preseason games because they believe more can be accomplished during the workouts.
According to a report from ESPN’s Mike Reiss, Eagles head coach Nick Sirianni and New England Patriots head coach Jerod Mayo have started planning to have joint practices this summer.
If the Eagles and Patriots play in the preseason, which they often do, Reiss reports that Mayo would make the practices with Philadelphia the only ones New England participates in.
Reiss writes that Mayo prefers just one practice to reduce fights that can happen on a second day.
The Eagles and Patriots last met in the preseason in 2021, when the teams held joint practices at the NovaCare Complex in Philadelphia.
