Eagles rank fourth in PFF’s 2026 secondary rankings, but the case for No. 1 is right there

The Eagles come in at No. 4 in PFF’s newly released 2026 secondary rankings, trailing only New England, Houston, and Denver. It’s a strong number. It’s also a number that undersells what this group actually did last year and what it looks like now.

What’s actually backing up the Eagles ranking

Start with the run defense. The Eagles’ secondary posted the highest collective PFF run-defense grade of any team in the league last season — not top five, not top three, first. That’s not a small sample stat. That’s a full-season mark across every defensive back on the roster.

Then look at the personnel. Quinyon Mitchell ranked second in the NFL in completion percentage allowed, behind only Patriots corner Christian Gonzalez, who sits atop this same list. Cooper DeJean is next to him. And this offseason, the Eagles added Tariq Woolen to that group, giving Philadelphia three players who can legitimately lock down a route on any given Sunday.

That’s the foundation of a top-tier NFL secondary. The Eagles have the run-defense number to back it up and the coverage personnel to match anyone ranked above them.

The Eagles addressed their one real weakness

The other piece of this is what the Eagles didn’t bring back. Reed Blankenship’s 42.8 PFF grade was the lowest of any Eagles starter last season, and letting him walk in free agency removed the unit’s biggest liability. PFF makes that point directly, this wasn’t addition by subtraction by accident, it was the front office identifying the weak link and moving on from it.

So the pieces are there: elite run defense, two of the league’s best cover corners, an upgrade at the position that was actually hurting the group, and no obvious downgrade anywhere else on the depth chart.

Fourth is fine

Could an argument be made that the Eagles belong ahead of Houston or Denver on this list? Sure. But there’s no real problem with sitting at No. 4 either. The Eagles have made a habit of being underrated on paper and correcting the record in January. If this secondary plays the way the numbers suggest it should, this ranking gets revisited by midseason — and not in Philadelphia’s favor for staying put.

Speaking of the secondary showing up big this year, catch it live with Phans of Philly

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