PHILADELPHIA − As expected, the Eagles didn't address the defense in the NFL draft until they used all three of their seventh-round picks on them. At that point in the draft, it's not guaranteed that they would even make the 53-man roster.

That doesn't mean the Eagles didn't address the defense. In fact, they made a major trade on April 24 by acquiring edge rusher Jonathan Greenard, one season removed from having his second straight 12-sack season.

Eagles pick up Jalen Carter, Nolan Smith 5th-year option

On April 27, the Eagles picked up the fifth-year option for two of their defensive linemen in defensive tackle Jalen Carter and edge rusher Nolan Smith. As first-round picks in 2023 − Carter at No. 9 overall and Smith at No. 30 − the Eagles and every NFL team had until May 1 to pick up the option for first rounders.

If the Eagles were to decline the option, both players would have become free agents after this season. By picking up the option, Carter is expected to make about $27 million in 2027, Smith $14 million. The salary is determined by a formula that includes when the player was drafted, Pro Bowl and All Pro honors.

Carter has been selected to the Pro Bowl twice and named an All Pro once. The Eagles have said they want to sign Carter to an extension. The jury is still out on Smith, who had 3 sacks last season while dealing with a triceps injury.

Eagles projected depth chart on defense

Philadelphia Eagles edge rushers

Who's here (projected starters in bold, draft picks in italics): Jonathan Greenard, Jalyx Hunt, Nolan Smith, Arnold Ebiketie, Brandon Graham, Joe Tryon-Shoyinka, Keyshawn James-Newby, Jose RamirezPositional breakdown: Greenard is seen as the Jaelan Phillips replacement after the Eagles traded third-round picks in 2026 and 2027 to the Vikings, then signed him to a four-year contract extension worth as much as $100 million. The Eagles also added to the rotation behind returnees in Hunt and Smith by signing Ebiketie and Tryon-Shoyinka in free agency. Graham has said he wants to return for a 17th season. James-Newby, the seventh-round pick, is undersized, but has been productive in college. What's next: The Eagles have a solid four-man rotation with Greenard, Hunt, Smith and Ebiketie. But Phillips played 78% of the snaps during his eight games with the Eagles. They'll need Greenard to fill the majority of those defensive snaps, while also getting back to his 2023-24 production when he had a combined 24 ½ sacks. A better season from Smith would help too.

Philadelphia Eagles defensive tackles

Who's here (projected starters in bold, draft picks in italics): Jalen Carter, Jordan Davis, Moro Ojomo, Byron Young, Ta'Quon Graham, Gabe Hall, Ty Robinson, Uar Bernard

Positional breakdown: The Eagles are set at D-tackle. Davis got a three-year extension worth as much as $78 million in March, and Carter is next in line. That will probably be significantly more than what Davis got. But Ojomo is also entering the last year of his rookie contract, and it's possible another team could pry him away by outbidding the Eagles, like the Patriots did with Milton Williams after the 2024 season. That is in part why the Eagles drafted Ty Robinson in the fourth round in 2025. Young, Graham and Hall are all good depth pieces.

What's next: Bernard, who was drafted in the seventh round out of the International Placement Program, has never played a down of organized football in his life. But he's 6-4, 306 pounds and freakishly athletic. Still, Bernard could be at least a few years away from being able to contribute. Remember, it took left tackle Jordan Mailata two full seasons and part of a third before he started a game after coming through IPP from Australia as a rugby player. As for Robinson, the Eagles will need to see more from him in Year 2.

Philadelphia Eagles linebackers

Who's here (projected starters in bold, draft picks in italics): Zack Baun, Jihaad Campbell, Jeremiah Trotter Jr., Smael Mondon, Chance Campbell, Chandler Martin

Positional breakdown: Baun is coming off back-to-back Pro Bowl seasons while Campbell is expected to be a full-time starter after Nakobe Dean left in free agency. But Campbell, the Eagles' first-round pick in 2025 (No. 31 overall), is recovering from a shoulder procedure over the winter, and it's not known if he'll be ready for the start of training camp. Trotter and Mondon provide solid depth and special teams prowess.

What's next: The Eagles didn't draft a linebacker. So if injuries hit, or if Campbell isn't ready for the start of the season, don't be surprised if the Eagles go after a low-cost veteran free agent. Still, it's a solid unit, as evidenced by the Eagles not drafting anyone for only the second time since 2019.

Philadelphia Eagles cornerbacks

Who's here (projected starters in bold, draft picks in italics): Quinyon Mitchell, Riq Woolen, Cooper DeJean, Jonathan Jones, Kelee Ringo, Jakorian Bennett, Mac McWilliams, Brandon Johnson, Ambry Thomas, Tariq Castro-Fields

Positional breakdown: This could be as talented a group of cornerbacks as the Eagles have had in years. Mitchell and DeJean are both coming off All Pro seasons, and Woolen as CB2 is a significant upgrade over Adoree Jackson. Jones is in his 11th season and would be a capable backup at nickel and on the outside. Ringo, Bennett and McWilliams are depth/special teams players.

What's next: Last season, DeJean was the outside corner in base defense, which the Eagles were in about 20% of the time. This season, DeJean could be the base safety next to Andrew Mukuba. Either way, DeJean will spend the vast majority of the game at nickel, where he's arguably the best in the NFL. Both DeJean and Mitchell are the key to the Eagles' secondary.

Philadelphia Eagles safeties

Who's here (projected starters in bold, draft picks in italics): Andrew Mukuba, Marcus Epps, Michael Carter, Cole Wisniewski, Andre Sam, J.T. Gray

Positional breakdown: Mukuba was becoming more and more reliable as last season wore on. That is, until he broke his fibula in Week 12. The Eagles are expecting him to keep improving, and that will be paramount after Reed Blankenship left in free agency. Epps and Carter, a veteran nickel who's converting to safety, will battle for the other starting job.

What's next: Keep an eye on Wisniewski, the seventh-round pick who's 6-3, 219 pounds. Eagles GM Howie Roseman already compared him to Blankenship in that Blankenship was an undrafted free agent in 2022 who became a full-time starter the next season. Blankenship turned that into a three-year, $24.8 million free agent deal with the Texans.

Philadelphia Eagles specialists

Who's here (projected starters in bold, draft picks in italics): Jake Elliott (kicker), Braden Mann (punter), Rocco Underwood (long snapper)

Positional breakdown: The Eagles keep expressing confidence in Elliott despite two straight seasons of making less than 80% of his field goals. So it wouldn't be surprising to see a kicker brought in at some point this spring as competition. Mann was recently signed to a four-year extension after a second straight strong season. Underwood was signed on April 25 as an undrafted free agent.

What's next: This is a critical spring and summer for Elliott. If he's not kicking well, the Eagles will likely go in another direction.

Contact Martin Frank at mfrank@delawareonline.com. Follow on X @Mfranknfl. Sign up for the "Eye On The Eagles" newsletter, emailed to your inbox every Friday morning. Read his coverage of the Eagles’ championship season in “Flying High,” a hardcover coffee-table book from Delaware Online/The News Journal. Details at Fly.ChampsBook.com

This article originally appeared on Delaware News Journal: Eagles depth chart after NFL draft, how Jonathan Greenard changes D-line