Key takeaways from the Vic Fangio OTA Presser

Vic Fangio doesn’t waste words — and when the Eagles DC speaks, you listen. Fangio met with reporters Tuesday at OTAs, and in just 15 minutes, he gave us a ton of insight into where this defense is headed.

The Eagles Are All In on Cooper DeJean’s Versatility

Cooper DeJean is not coming off the field this season. That much is clear. Fangio said they “would like to keep him at nickel,” but in base defense, DeJean could slide to corner — or even safety.

“We’d like to keep him at nickel,” Fangio said, “and then in our base package, we’ll find a spot for him either at corner or safety.”

Even though the Eagles only played about 160 base snaps last season, DeJean will be on the field for all of them in some role.

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Jordan Davis is in the Best Shape of His Life

Vic Fangio is clearly encouraged by Jordan Davis’ progress. He pointed to Davis’ strong finish to 2024 — two sacks in the playoffs — and praised how he’s carried that momentum into this offseason.

“He’s in the best shape that he’s ever been in,” Fangio said. The Eagles are counting on Davis to take another step as a pass rusher this season, and Fangio thinks it’s coming.

The Linebacker Depth is Being Tested Early

Nakobe Dean and Jihaad Campbell are both sidelined for now, which has left second-year linebacker Jeremiah Trotter Jr. getting all the first-team reps next to Zack Baun.

Vic Fangio said Dean “won’t be back for a while,” and Campbell likely won’t return until August. That means a ton of early reps for Trotter — and more responsibility for Baun, who wore the green dot during last year’s playoff run.

The Safety Battle is Wide Open

The Eagles’ most surprising offseason move? Trading C.J. Gardner-Johnson to the Texans. Fangio called it a “salary cap-type thing” and said he was fine with the decision.

Now, the safety spot next to Reed Blankenship is wide open. Fangio mentioned Sydney Brown, Drew Mukuba, and veteran Tristin McCollum as candidates — and said the competition will play out deep into camp and the preseason.

The Bryce Huff Trade — It Just Didn’t Work Out

This was Fangio’s first public comment since the Eagles shipped Bryce Huff to San Francisco. He pointed to Huff’s hand injury, which limited him last year. But even before that, Huff never quite fit Fangio’s scheme.

Vic Fangio was diplomatic: “I think he’ll do fine in San Francisco.” With Robert Saleh now running the 49ers defense, Huff should have a better fit out west.

Jihaad Campbell’s Role — And Return Timeline

Don’t expect to see Jihaad Campbell on the field until August. Fangio confirmed the rookie first-rounder is recovering from shoulder surgery and will need more time.

For now, Campbell is spending his mental reps with the inside linebackers. Fangio said there’s “a lot more to learn there” — but also hinted that Campbell’s pass-rush potential is intriguing: “Possibly.”

The Unknowns Are Familiar Territory

Yes, the Eagles lost a lot of defensive pieces this offseason. But Fangio made an important point — this was exactly the situation a year ago. In his words, “the names have changed,” but the process remains the same.

New faces like Kelee Ringo, Adoree’ Jackson, Azeez Ojulari, Byron Young, Jihaad Campbell, and others will need to step up — just like last year’s group did.

“We had a lot of question marks at that time,” Fangio said. “This year, those names are replaced … hopefully we’ll get the same results from these new guys.”

Bottom Line

It’s early, but this Eagles defense is shaping up to be another fascinating puzzle for Vic Fangio to solve. And based on his tone Tuesday, he’s ready to embrace the unknown — again.

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