Eagles Overhaul Secondary Losing Veterans Slay, Gardner-Johnson

The Philadelphia Eagles are undergoing significant changes as they prepare for the 2025 NFL season, highlighted by a youth movement in their secondary after the departures of veterans Darius Slay and C.J. Gardner-Johnson. Defensive coordinator Vic Fangio is experimenting with versatile players like Cooper DeJean and Drew Mukuba in flexible roles to adapt to the modern NFL’s preference for nickel coverage, leveraging DeJean's ability to cover both inside and outside effectively. Despite optimism about the Eagles potentially reclaiming the NFC East, former GM Mike Tannenbaum favors the Washington Commanders to win the division due to their strong young quarterback and roster improvements. Offensively, the Eagles secured a contract extension for Saquon Barkley and signed former Packers running back AJ Dillon to replace Kenneth Gainwell, though analysts express concerns about Dillon’s health and declining performance, comparing his risk to a previous unsuccessful Eagles acquisition. Reflecting on past draft decisions, the Eagles face ongoing scrutiny for passing on wide receiver Justin Jefferson in 2020 to select Jalen Reagor, a choice widely regarded as a major misstep in recent franchise history. Overall, the Eagles balance a mix of promising youth, strategic changes, and risk-laden moves as they defend their Super Bowl title.