Nov 3, 2024; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Philadelphia Eagles linebacker Jalyx Hunt (58) walks off the field after win against the Jacksonville Jaguars at Lincoln Financial Field. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-Imagn Images Eric Hartline
Brandon Graham had high praise for Eagles' edge rusher Jalyx Hunt during an appearance on The Ross Tucker Podcast.
Graham touched on the changes in the trenches for the Eagles, due to his retirement and the departure of Josh Sweat in free agency. Graham believes Hunt is ready for a big role after playing limited snaps as a rookie.
"The sky's the limit for him," Graham said of Hunt. "All he has to do is continue to stay focused, continue to keep learning and knowing defense in an out so he can play as fast as he can, because that boy is explosive."
“I’ve seen Jalyx Hunt already and he looked like he put on some weight. And he looked like he put on some good weight too at that.”
“I think for Jalyx, the sky's the limit for him.”@brandongraham55 with some big praise for the second-year DE: pic.twitter.com/VU3SiGIEbf
That's a bold proclamation considering Hunt produced just 1.5 sacks during the regular season. Though Hunt equaled that total in the postseason, Graham's setting the bar pretty high. Graham is a trusted voice within the Eagles organization, with the most regular-season appearances (206) in Eagles history and third-most sacks (76.5). It's clear Graham sees something special in Hunt after being around him for just one season.
For Hunt, it's pretty impressive considering five years ago he was a safety at Cornell. He spent two seasons with the Big Red before transferring to Houston Christian University in 2022. After moving to edge rusher, Hunt racked up 20.5 sacks across two seasons. His production led the Eagles to drafting him in the third round of the 2024 NFL Draft. Hunt was seen as a developmental project that had good speed off the edge, but needed some fine tuning.
That was evident by Hunt earning zero defensive snaps in five out of the Eagles' first nine games, and playing under 20% eight of those. However, with big-money free-agent signing Bryce Huff underperforming and at times injured, Hunt was thrust into a bigger role. In the Eagles' final seven games, Hunt played at least 34% of the snaps. In the playoffs, he was on the field for 38% of the Eagles' defensive plays.
Every Jalyx Hunt (#58) pressure from the 2024 playoffs pic.twitter.com/zew2RBSNmp
The progression was gradual for Hunt. With Graham gone and Sweat signing a four-year, $76.4 million deal with the Arizona Cardinals, more snaps are going to be available this year.
"It looks like he put on some good weight, so I'm excited to see him burst," Graham also told Tucker. "It's all about stopping the run in this league. In order for you to rush and go get the quarterback, you have to stop the first and second-down rush game and make sure you're in the backfield."
Graham was a vocal presence in the Eagles locker room for years. He added that as much as Hunt should be trying to help himself improve, it's also important he focuses on others as well.
The Eagles did add pass rushing depth by signing Azeez Ojulari and Josh Uche to one-year deals, but they are putting a lot of trust in guys they drafted, including Nolan Smith, whom Graham also spoke glowingly of Monday.
Smith blossomed into the Eagles' best edge rusher last season, tallying 6.5 sacks in the regular season. The former first-round pick truly broke out in the postseason with a team-leading four sacks.
"Nolan for sure, he got the torch right now," Graham said. "That room changed drastically real fast, now he's the guy."
Graham said Smith took a big leap with his play on the field and will need to take another step with his vocal leadership.
“Nolan, for sure, he got the torch right now…”
“That room changed drastically real fast with now he's the guy. Sweaty gone, myself, etc…”@brandongraham55 expects third-year edge rusher Nolan Smith to step up as the leader of the DE room this season: pic.twitter.com/kjY4EaIZtb
In terms of Smith and Hunt together, Graham believes they could be the Eagles starting edge rushers in 2025, especially after Huff was traded to the San Fransisco 49ers last week.
"I think Jalyx for sure could be right on the edge with (Smith)," Graham said. "People gotta grow up faster than normal, but that's what you should want coming into the NFL anyway. Once you got that spot, it's going to be mine for the taking."
The Eagles lost a veteran leader in Graham and a productive player in Sweat, who nearly won Super Bowl MVP. However, based on Graham's co-sign, the Eagles' defensive line could be in good hands going forward.
