The Philadelphia Eagles’ defense has been the backbone of the team for years, and the early returns from this offseason suggest that foundation is only getting stronger. Edge rusher Jonathan Greenard, the veteran addition Philadelphia desperately needed, offered some telling praise of his young defensive line counterparts. His comments about Jalen Carter and Jordan Davis are telling about the culture Vic Fangio is building on that side of the ball.

Greenard didn’t hold back when talking about the Eagles’ interior duo.

“It’s going to be a disruption,” Greenard said. “I think those two guys in Jalen Carter and Jordan Davis can destroy and take over a game at any point in time.”

A mentality the Eagles have been missing

That kind of endorsement matters, and honestly, it hits different when you think about the guys who came before Greenard in that locker room. Think about Bryce Huff. He wasn’t that guy. He never talked about Carter and Davis like this. He never carried himself like a veteran leader who wanted to elevate the players around him. Think about Jaelan Phillips. He was great for a couple of weeks, and then he was gone. The Eagles kept cycling through edge rushers who either couldn’t stay healthy, couldn’t produce, or couldn’t connect with this defense on a deeper level.

Greenard feels like the answer to a problem Philadelphia has been trying to solve for a while now. The Eagles need a consistent, every-week presence who can suit up next to Davis and Carter, push them, and be that veteran mentor the defensive line room has lacked.

I think Greenard can be that guy. Before his rough year and a half dealing with setbacks, he was a Pro Bowl player. He’s shown he can play at a high level in this league. And the way he’s already talking about his teammates tells you everything about his mindset walking into this building.

Fangio’s fingerprints are all over this

In Fangio’s defense, you don’t need the 20-sack guy. His scheme is built on collective disruption and on the system being greater than any individual player. And when you pair that philosophy with legitimate game-wreckers like Carter and Davis on the interior? That’s a scary combination.

We’ve watched Carter and Davis grow and develop over the years into two of the most dominant interior defensive linemen in the NFL. Carter in particular has taken massive leaps, and Davis continues to be an absolute force as a run-stuffer who can collapse the pocket. Now add Greenard on the edge, a guy who actually wants to be here, who respects what those young guys bring to the table, and who fits the culture Fangio demands.

Because make no mistake, Fangio is not going to allow any nonsense in that locker room. He’s old school and doesn’t care about your excuses. The type of camaraderie Greenard is already displaying is exactly what Fangio wants from his players. This isn’t about individual glory or stat padding, but about a defense that plays as a unit, trusts each other, and holds everyone accountable.

The defense remains the constant

Look, we can talk about the offensive questions all day. We can debate the wide receiver situation, the coaching staff changes, all of it. But the one thing that has remained rock solid for the Eagles over the last several years is this defense. With Fangio still running things, with Carter and Davis anchoring the interior, and now with Greenard bringing veteran leadership and production to the edge, this unit has a real chance to be even better in 2026.