The Philadelphia Eagles' defense underwent changes, opening the door for some young players to step up and earn chances to play in 2026.
One position hardest hit was at linebacker when Nakobe Dean left in free agency to join the Las Vegas Raiders on a three-year contract. It wasn't a massive surprise that the Eagles let him sign elsewhere, as they are not known for bringing linebackers back unless they are an All-Pro or Pro Bowler like Zack Baun.
That leads to a different-looking linebacker room in 2026, starting with Baun as the star and Jihaad Campbell as the second starter, replacing Dean. The Eagles need a third one to step up, and after two seasons on the bench, this 2024 fifth-round pick will finally get his chance to prove that he should have been playing more on defense last year.
Jeremiah Trotter Jr. has all the tools to be a great defender for the Eagles
Throughout the first two seasons in the NFL, Trotter was reduced to being a special teams ace and a common Week 18 starter. The young player played those roles well, as he was one of the top players in the NFL in special teams tackles last year and became a real weapon on that side of the ball.
Last year, he finished with 32 tackles, two quarterback hits, and one tackle for loss in 17 games. In his only start of the 2025 campaign back in Week 18 against the Commanders, Trotter racked up 12 tackles, two quarterback hits, and one tackle for loss.
That was the game that got Eagles fans thinking that he needs to be playing more often on defense. The problem was they were so loaded at linebacker that there wasn't room for him to be in the rotation. It made the decision to leave Dean walk easier, knowing that Trotter was right there and ready to play in 2026.
The name "Trotter" in Philadelphia is pretty much royalty since Jeremiah Trotter Sr. was a key figure on the Eagles' defense in the late 90s and early 2000s. That might have added pressure to Jeremiah Trotter Jr. to perform well, but he has answered the call with whatever role he has played.
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2026 will be different for Trotter, as he will finally get his shot at being in the rotation with Baun and Campbell. It's a well-deserved promotion for him, but there's the feeling that there might be more potential there than just being a backup for Trotter.
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