Eagles third-year pass rusher named team’s biggest X-factor for 2025

The Eagles are no strangers to reloading their roster on the fly, and this offseason is no different. After the departures of Josh Sweat and Milton Williams in free agency and the retirement of Brandon Graham — who spent 15 years in midnight green and brought home two Super Bowls — Philadelphia’s pass rush is looking a lot different heading into 2025.

While the front office added some new blood with Josh Uche, Azeez Ojulari, and first-rounder Jihaad Campbell, all eyes are turning to Nolan Smith to become the next game-changing force off the edge. Pro Football Focus has already labeled Smith as the “X-factor” for the Eagles in 2025. That’s a big title for a third-year player, but Smith’s breakout 2024 suggests he’s ready for the challenge.

Eagles Eyeing Smith’s Growth for Defensive Stability

Smith’s rookie season was more about getting his feet wet — he didn’t start a single game and had just one sack. But in 2024, he proved he was more than just a depth piece. Ten starts, 6.5 sacks, and 42 total tackles later, Smith solidified himself as a crucial part of the Eagles’ front seven. And when it mattered most, he delivered: 19 pressures and four sacks during the Eagles’ four-game postseason run. That’s the kind of motor and production this defense needs if they want to stay at the top of the NFL food chain.

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The Eagles are no strangers to finding homegrown solutions. Brandon Graham was a homegrown leader for years, and it’s fitting that Nolan Smith is stepping into a similar role now that Graham has hung it up for good. If Smith can replicate his playoff production over the course of an entire season, Philadelphia’s defense should stay nasty despite the offseason turnover.

Eagles Ready to Keep Climbing

The 2025 schedule is brutal, but if Nolan Smith can take the next step and fill the void left by Philly’s departed stars, this Eagles defense isn’t going anywhere. With Smith taking on more responsibility and looking every bit the difference-maker he showed in the playoffs, the Birds will be right back in the mix come February.

The Eagles always find a way to reload. Nolan Smith isn’t just part of that plan — he’s the key to it.