The Eagles have had an elite defense the past two seasons that has seen them win a Super Bowl and still carry a sputtering offense the following season to a division title and nearly a playoff win. If Philadelphia plans on recapturing elite Super Bowl form as the 2026 season approaches, they will need the defense to remain elite. Outside of just defensive coordinator Vic Fangio, who is perhaps the best defensive coordinator in the sport today, the personnel of the team on defense will have to be strong. Here I will go into detail assessing the secondary personnel of the Eagles as the 2026 season approaches.
Set to start at the first primary cornerback spot is former Seahawk Tariq Woolen who is coming over from Seattle after a Super Bowl win. Woolen has shown promise in the NFL as a 2022 5th rounder, Woolen graded in the above average to well above average range in terms of an overall defense grade among players at his position in each of his first three seasons in the NFL. Woolen however regressed during the 2025 season ranking slightly below average in that regard. Woolen in my estimation is a solid but not spectacular NFL starter, and he might be better suited as a high-end backup where he could transition if not on his A game.
Former 6th rounder Marcus Epps is set to start at strong safety for the Eagles and is a player who has a very high ceiling but lacks consistency and is likely better suited as a backup. Epps struggled as a rookie but then played at a borderline elite level the following two seasons albeit in reserve snaps. Epps has since consistently graded in the well below average to poor range in four seasons since taking both starter and reserve snaps in the NFL. If Epps is not on his A game going forward, he could transition to a reserve role at some point next season for Philadelphia.
Set to start at strong safety for the Eagles is 2025 2nd round rookie Andrew Mukuba who struggled as a rookie but still played at a respectable level. Mukuba was drafted with the last pick of the 2nd round before the 2025 season after having a standout career at Clemson and Texas. Vic Fangio and Nick Sirianni are banking on Mukuba to live up to his potential and be at least a solid starter going forward for the Eagles. However, similar to Woolen and Epps, if Mukuba does not play well he will be in line to transition to a reserve role as the season progresses.
2024 1st rounder Quinyon Mitchell is in line to start at the other primary cornerback spot for the Eagles, and he has been a star thus far in the NFL. Mitchell earned first team All-Pro honors during the 2025 season and has emerged as one of the better if not one of the best overall corners in the sport today. It will be tough however for Mitchell to retain his form with the loss of defensive backs coach Christian Parker who became the defensive coordinator of the Cowboys after being one of the premier position coaches in the NFL.
Rounding out the Eagles’ starting secondary is 2024 2nd rounder Cooper DeJean who has been a superstar thus far in the NFL. DeJean during the 2024 season graded as the third best overall corner in the NFL according to Pro Football Focus despite being a rookie and then graded seventh in that regard last season. DeJean could transition to safety or to a primary corner spot given the Eagles’ concerns at those positions, and he is likely the premier nickel corner in the NFL as of now. However, just like Quinyon Mitchell, he will have to adjust to life in the NFL without defensive backs coach Christian Parker for the first time in his career.
The Eagles also have some notable names from a depth standpoint in their secondary who could provide the team with some depth and/or could step into the starting lineup as the Eagles have some questions with their starters. Cornerback Jonathan Jones has shown an elite ceiling in the NFL but is very inconsistent. Safety J.T Gray has been very good in very limited NFL snaps but also has shown inconsistencies. Cornerback Michael Carter II has also shown a borderline elite ceiling but is very inconsistent. 2021 3rd round cornerback Ambry Thomas struggled to start his career but played very well in his last time on the field in 2023, although failing to see the field the past two seasons.
In totality the Eagles’ backend defense is concerning, Quinyon Mitchell and Cooper DeJean are two elite players, but both will have to adjust to life in the NFL without defensive backs coach Christian Parker for the first time. The remaining three starting spots are all occupied by players with many question marks, none of whom are definitive starting caliber players as of now. However, those three players all have a high ceiling, and the Eagles have several reserve players who also have a high ceiling who could step in and take a starting spot. A breakdown of the Eagles’ secondary personnel heading into next season can be found below.
2026 Eagles’ Projected Starting Secondary
LCB – Tariq Woolen – B-
SS – Marcus Epps – C+ to B-, very high ceiling, very inconsistent
FS – Andrew Mukuba – 2025 2nd rounder, C as rookie
RCB – Quinyon Mitchell – B+ to A-
NB – Cooper DeJean – A to A+
2026 Notable Eagles’ Reserve Secondary PlayersÂ
CB – Jonathan Jones – C+ to B-, elite ceiling, very inconsistent
S – J.T Gray – B-, very good in very limited snaps, has shown inconsistencies
CB – Michael Carter II – C+ to B-, borderline elite to elite ceiling, very inconsistent
CB – Ambry Thomas – C+ to B-, 2021 3rd rounder, struggled to start career, consistently good last time on field during 2023
