Seven Hidden Gems: Why These Eagles Could Shine Surprise in 2025

Philadelphia is on a month-long break, but they’ll return to the NovaCare Complex on July 21 with plenty of confidence and a few questions to answer during training camp.

The
Eagles
suffered several losses in the secondary and defensive line, but somehow managed to get better in the short term, while amassing potential All-Pro talent in the draft. The first wave of free agency saw Josh Sweat (
Cardinals
), Milton Williams (
Patriots
), Kenneth Gainwell (
Steelers
), Mekhi Becton (
Chargers
), and Oren Burks (
Bengals
) all depart. Vic Fangio’s defense saw
Darius Slay
(
Steelers
),
Isaiah Rodgers
(
Vikings
),
Avonte Maddox
(
Lions
), and
James Bradberry
(UFA) all depart a Super Bowl roster.

On offense, the backup running back and starting right guard departed, leaving an explosive offense with two holes that need to be filled. All wasn’t lost, as the
Eagles
added a running back, three pass-rushing linebackers, two tight ends, a cornerback, and a new long snapper.

With mandatory mini camp complete and training camp fast approaching, we’re looking at seven under-the-radar Eagles who could have a breakout season.

Will Shipley/A.J. Dillion duo

No running back has ever had back-to-back 2,000-yard seasons, and Philadelphia will likely tread lightly with the workload for Saquon Barkley. Enter veteran running back A.J. Dillon and second-year ball carrier Will Shipley.

Dillon missed the 2024 season with a neck injury. Still, at 26 years old, he brings some extra power to the Philadelphia running back rotation, which currently consists of Saquon Barkley and Will Shipley. He is a 6-foot, 247-pound back who ranked second on the
Packers
with 2,928 yards from scrimmage from 2021-23 and posted 50+ yards from scrimmage in 30 games.

LB Josh Uche

Philadelphia’s defensive coordinator could utilize a pass rusher by committee approach, and Uche has the look of a giant, under-the-radar signing. The 26-year-old Uche has 20.5 career sacks and 34 quarterback hits throughout his NFL career. A 2020 second-round pick out of Michigan, Uche spent the first four and a half years in New England and has been used as an edge rusher throughout his career. Uche had a career-high 11.5 sacks in 2022 while in New England, stacking up 49 pressures at a rate of 18.5 percent. The versatile linebacker logged two sacks while on the
Patriots
in 2024 and finished the year with 23 tackles (17 solo) in 13 games. According to Pro Football Focus, Uche’s pressure rate has been 16.7 percent since 2022, which ranks sixth among edge defenders in the NFL.

LB Azeez Ojulari

Like Uche, Ojulari could cash out with a big season rushing the passer in Philadelphia. In his first year in the league, he broke the
Giants
‘ record for sacks by a rookie with eight. In four years in the NFL, Ojulari has compiled 37 QB hits, 22 sacks, and 21 tackles for loss in 46 games. At just 24 years old, the savvy edge rusher has a chance to make an impact for Philadelphia within Defensive Coordinator Vic Fangio’s scheme. The 6-foot-3, 250-pound player posted six sacks in 11 games in the 2024 season.

DB Tristin McCollum

Philadelphia selected Drew Mukuba to pair with Reed Blankenship at safety, but if the rookie isn’t prepared to hit the ground running, McCollum could be a candidate to start. McCollum, 26, saw an expanded role last season with Sydney Brown recovering from injury. He appeared in 14 games with two starts, totaling 33 tackles and two passes defended.

WR Johnny Wilson

Wilson, whom the Eagles selected in the sixth round of last year’s NFL Draft, made 16 regular-season appearances during his rookie season in Philadelphia. Wilson finished with five catches for 38 yards and a touchdown. He played on more than 50 percent of Philadelphia’s offensive snaps just three times last season, and will look to carve out a role in 2025.

WR Ainias Smith

The rookie wideout caught four passes for 35 yards and a touchdown when the team rested its primary starters in Week 18. Still, he was a non-factor on offense during his previous six appearances in the regular season and spent most of the season on the PUP list and injured reserve. He’ll enter 2025 looking to prove he can contribute to the passing game and special teams.

OL Kenyon Green

In the 2022 NFL Draft, the
Texans
traded down from No. 13 to No. 15 with the Eagles and selected Kenyon Green. Three years later, they’re now trading Green to Philadelphia. Still just 23, Green missed two games as a rookie, the entire 2023 season, and five games last season with various injuries. Green started 14 of 15 games as a rookie but was the 77th-highest-graded guard (37.7) out of 77 players in Pro Football Focus rankings that year. Last season, Green was one of the lowest-graded offensive guards in the NFL.

WR Terrace Marshall

Marshall will turn 25 before Training Camp. He brings elite size (6-foot-2, 200 pounds) and speed (4.4 in the 40 at his Pro Day in 2021) to the offense. If Jahan Dotson struggles to claim a role, Marshall could slide into the No. 3 spot.

DT Moro Ojomo

Ojomo finished the 2024 season with 20 tackles (six solo) in 17 regular-season games. Ojomo saw a significant increase in workload in his second season with the Eagles, playing 370 defensive snaps and 70 snaps on special teams while appearing in all 17 of the team’s regular-season games. With Milton Williams departing, Ojomo is expected to be a starter, even after the Eagles drafted Ty Robinson.

DB Lewis Cine

Cine was selected by Minnesota 32nd overall in the 2022 draft and joined the
Bills
‘ practice squad after being released by the
Vikings
last summer. He broke his leg during his rookie season and was limited to playing 10 defensive snaps in 10 games over his two years in Minnesota.

The 24-year-old from Haiti is listed at 6-foot-2 and 199 pounds and is a low-risk signing after a decorated college career at Georgia. Cine earned defensive MVP honors in Georgia’s 33-18 win over Alabama in the national championship game in the 2021 season.

This article originally appeared on Eagles Wire:
Eagles to watch: Why these seven under-the-radar players could surprise in 2025