PHILADELPHIA — With Fletcher Cox and Haason Reddick no longer on the Eagles, it’s time to see what the Georgia Dawgs have got.
General manager Howie Roseman and the front office generated headlines by plucking a number of players from the national-champion Bulldogs during the 2022-23 drafts. Most notably, they invested first-round picks in defensive tackles Jordan Davis and Jalen Carter, and edge rusher Nolan Smith.
With Cox retiring and Reddick being dealt to the New York Jets this offseason, the safety net has been removed and the attention has shifted to the new wave of talent.
“I’ll be able to answer the call. I know what’s required of me,” said Davis. “I know [defensive coordinator] Vic [Fangio] is leaning on me, I know the D-line is leaning on us, so I definitely think I’ll be able to handle it. That’s what I’m working for. Nobody’s coming to save us now so we’ve got to put the load on our backs.”
The results have been mixed for the trio to date.
Carter has flashed the brightest during his brief NFL career. He came flying out of the gates, generating 3.5 sacks and a pair of forced fumbles in his first five games last season but cooled down the stretch. He finished with six sacks, nine quarterback hits and eight tackles for loss.
He is front and center in Fangio’s plans as the Eagles’ new defensive coordinator looks to repair a unit that finished 30th in points allowed in 2023 (25.2).
“He’s talented enough that no matter what we do with him, we’ll be maximizing him,” Fangio said. “He’s got to get in great shape, which I think he’s off to a great start here, so we can play him a lot.”
Conditioning has been a regular topic of conversation around Davis since Philadelphia selected him 13th overall in ’22. While still weighing around 350 pounds, Davis reported to the training complex this offseason looking more svelte — a development that did not go unnoticed by fans and teammates alike.
“If you can’t tell, that boy looks good,” said Smith. “He’s nice and slim.”
Davis credits better nutrition — “It’s really just diet, cutting out the juice and s—” — and a more active lifestyle off the field, which includes a new hobby: backpacking.
Davis said Fangio wants him to be the “anchor of the defense.” He’s shown that ability over parts of two seasons, in which he’s compiled 63 tackles and 2.5 sacks, but the consistency hasn’t been there. Like Carter, he faded down the stretch last season as the team stumbled to a 1-6 finish.
“Obviously I’m stepping into a much larger role than I was last year. I know what’s expected of me,” he said. “In terms of just being in my best shape, I’m getting in the best conditioning of my life.”
Carter and Davis will need all the conditioning they can get, as the jump in playing time should be significant. Carter played 563 defensive snaps last year and Davis played 519. Meanwhile, Fangio’s primary defensive linemen with the Miami Dolphins last season, Zach Sieler and Christian Wilkins, played 856 and 894 snaps, respectively.
While Carter and Davis are expected to lead the charge on the interior in the absence of Cox, the six-time Pro Bowler, it’s Smith’s responsibility to help shore up things on the edge in the absence of Reddick, who racked up 27 sacks during his two seasons in Philly.
Smith had a quiet rookie campaign, playing just 16% of the defensive snaps. Though he downplayed the significance of it, he was bothered by a right shoulder injury for much of last season. He said that shoulder is now “amazing” and “ready to go.”
“It’s a learning curve. A lot of people think you’re just supposed to come into the league and dominate and do this and that. I’ve got the same dreams and hopes that everybody else has for me,” Smith said. “I want to get 10-plus sacks and do all of that but realistically, it’s a learning curve.”
Cox and Reddick were two of the best players on an otherwise lackluster defense last season. They have a combined 19 years of experience and eight Pro Bowls between them.
They’re no longer here and the youth movement is on. As Carter pointed out, there’s not a defensive tackle currently on the roster over 25 years old. Meanwhile the edge group, which also includes veterans Brandon Graham and Josh Sweat as well as newcomer Bryce Huff, will be reliant on Smith to provide meaningful snaps to ensure a strong rotation.
“I feel like this is that year,” said Smith, “that I turn the corner.”