Despite Losing Graham, Slay, and Sweat, Eagles Still Favored in NFC East Thanks to These Two Stars

The Philadelphia Eagles have said goodbye to some of the most respected names on their defense—Brandon Graham, Darius Slay, and Josh Sweat. Three pillars of leadership, production, and identity on that side of the ball are gone. In most cases, that kind of turnover would spark questions, doubts, and a drop in division power rankings.

But not in Philadelphia.

Despite the departures, analysts across the NFL continue to peg the Eagles as the team to beat in the NFC East heading into training camp. And the reason for that confidence lies not in the past, but in two dynamic forces shaping the team’s future: Saquon Barkley and Jalen Hurts.

Barkley’s arrival from the rival New York Giants was one of the boldest moves of the offseason. Known for his explosive cuts, vision, and ability to turn routine runs into game-breaking plays, Barkley gives the Eagles an entirely new dimension in their backfield. For years, the run game relied heavily on designed QB runs and short-yardage pounding. Now, with Barkley lined up behind Hurts, the play-action game becomes lethal, the RPO system gets faster, and defenses are forced to pick their poison.

Then there’s Hurts—the heartbeat of the franchise. Despite some critics pointing to a “down year” in 2024, Hurts remains one of the most dangerous dual-threat quarterbacks in the league. His leadership, poise, and ability to make clutch plays have never been in question. With a loaded offense that now includes Barkley, A.J. Brown, and DeVonta Smith, Hurts has more tools than ever to attack defenses vertically, horizontally, and on the ground.

What makes this duo especially dangerous is their complementary skill set. Barkley can command attention from linebackers and safeties, freeing Hurts for read-options or clean throwing windows. Hurts, in turn, forces defenses to stay honest, preventing the box from stacking too heavily against the run. It’s a tactical advantage few teams can replicate.

The loss of veterans on defense is real. There will be growing pains with a younger, restructured unit. But the Eagles’ offense looks ready to carry the load, and in today’s NFL, elite quarterback play paired with a true game-changing running back is often enough to mask defensive holes—at least early in the season.

As training camp nears, the message from inside the building is clear: The Eagles know what they lost, but they also know what they gained. And with Hurts and Barkley leading the charge, the rest of the NFC East should be on notice.