With so much fanfare surrounding a possible move for superstar Maxx Crosby, and following the team's oft-discussed interest in Myles Garrett, third-year defender Jalyx Hunt has remained a forgotten Philadelphia Eagles defender of sorts.
The unsung edge is developing at an impressive clip, though, at a rate that puts him in a position to ascend to star status in his own right in 2026. Nate Tice with Yahoo! Sports keyed in on Hunt while discussing a handful of defenders on the cusp of truly breaking out.
"I could argue that Hunt already made a leap forward in his second season, but I think 2026 has set him up for his reputation to grow even more around the league and nationally. Hunt finished 2025 ranked sixth among qualifying edge defenders in pressure rate, per NextGenStats. His 17.3% pressure rate stacked up just higher than Myles Garrett (albeit on almost 150 fewer pass rush snaps) and his brief and now former Eagles teammate Jaelan Phillips."
"Hunt still has to shore up his play strength against the run, as he finished 2025 with only three run stuffs the entire season (his 1.1% stuff rate was tied for the second lowest among qualifying edge defenders), but he has shown the ability to get after the passer on a consistent basis because of his speed and twitchiness. And creating pressures and sacks are always highly valued. He could end up with double-digit sacks this season. If he becomes even a consistently average defender against the run, that's a very good starting player for Philadelphia."
Jalyx Hunt's development with the Eagles will start turning heads
Tabbing Hunt as a player closing in on a breakout campaign makes perfect sense. The edge rusher first exploded on the biggest stage in Super Bowl LIX, where the rookie third-rounder haunted Patrick Mahomes and company to the tune of a sack and multiple pressures. That performance put the ultimate finishing touches on a rookie season of impressive development, as the former Cornell safety who transferred to Houston Christian and became an edge rusher just a year prior had truly arrived.
Last season, in year 2, Hunt became a fixture in the Philadelphia defense, leading the team in both sacks (6.5) and interceptions (3). For a player still coming into his own and still developing in both phases, the upside is tantalizing.
Hunt now slots in opposite newcomer Jonathan Greenard, and the seasoned addition to Philly's front seven excels in stopping the run. Learning alongside Greenard can help improve that aspect of Hunt's game, as his ability to serve as more of an anchor against the run will be integral to his overall development. With the talent level of the defensive line commanding so much attention, a big season could be in the cards for Hunt, Greenard, Nolan Smith, and the entire edge unit.
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Hunt has been lost in the shuffle in a way, with all the hype accompanying the big-name pass rushers rumored to be on the move. If things continue to click for the third-year man, he could very well make the leap into that star echelon of edge rushers in 2026.
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