Jalyx Hunt put the NFL on notice during the 2025 season, leading the Philadelphia Eagles in sacks (6.5) and interceptions (three). Hunt was the first Eagle to accomplish that feat, and his impact didn't stop there as he added two forced fumbles.
Hunt explained in January, before the team's NFC wild-card round matchup with the San Francisco 49ers, how he became one of the biggest surprises in the league last year.
“I’ve always known I belong ... But now I’m definitely more confident in my preparation," Hunt said, via Dave Zangaro of NBC Sports Philadelphia. "I’m more confident in my job description and I know what I need to do and what I can do. Just banking on that and being able to do that on Sunday is going to look exciting to me.”
The former Houston Christian Huskies star put himself on the map, and yet, the NFL didn't recognize Hunt as a Pro Bowl player. Philadelphia's deep EDGE committee probably had something to do with that, since Hunt only played 61 percent of snaps. Still, Hunt was a definitive snub, regardless of his usage.
There's an easy way to allow Hunt to become a household name during his third season this coming fall.
Increasing Jaylx Hunt's Workload Will Make EDGE a Sure-Fire Pro Bowler
Vic Fangio has a simple decision that could pay dividends: fully unleash Hunt. Fangio's response to the confidence Hunt showed during his sophomore season was interesting.
“I think it all depends on the person's personality,” Fangio said, via Zangaro. “In Jaylx's case, he has a lot of confidence, so you have to temper him a little bit rather than lift him up.”
That could only be a suitable game plan for so long, though. At some point, the Birds' most physical defenders need their playing time maximized so their skills are on display.
With the loss of Jaelan Phillips, who signed a four-year, $120 million deal with the Carolina Panthers in free agency, there should be a natural opening for Hunt. The team added Joe Tryon-Shoyinka and Arnold Ebiketie for depth, and could explore adding more during the draft, but there's no just universe where Hunt doesn't see a higher percentage of defensive snaps.
Fangio doesn't need to be on a power trip, holding up Hunt's development at the team's expense. It's better to figure out sooner rather than later whether Hunt's sophomore emergence is lasting or was more of a fluke than an indicator of future performance.
It's very possible Hunt's trajectory can go even higher than his historic 2025 season. There's only one way to find out, though.
More Philadelphia Eagles News and Rumors:
Add us as a preferred source on Google