Difference Makers

Posted May 20th, 2026

One of the things that separates good teams from great teams is what I’ll call difference-makers. These are players who can consistently make game-changing plays. All teams want them, but Howie Roseman is aggressive about adding them every year, if possible. He traded for AJ Brown in 2022. He drafted Jalen Carter in 2023. He signed Saquon Barkley in 2024. All three played a big part in the Eagles winning the Super Bowl.

The Eagles traded for Jonathan Greenard on Day 2 of the draft. We’ve talked about him a fair amount since then, but I’m still not sure everyone appreciates the significance of the move. The trade happened when we were obsessed with stealing Makai Lemon from Pittsburgh and trying to figure out what to make of Eli Stowers. Greenard grabbed our attention for a bit, but we went right back to draft mode after that.

Greenard is really talented. Devin Jackson recently posted clips showing just how disruptive he can be.

I think Greenard will be a difference-maker for the Eagles. You saw the impact that Jaelan Phillips had when he joined the Eagles at midseason. Greenard is a better player than Phillips. And Greenard will have a full offseason to learn the scheme and fit in with his new team.

The Eagles would love to see Greenard rack up 12 sacks like he did in 2023 and 2024, but the real key is for him to be consistently disruptive. He has 43 TFLs in his last 44 games. He’s got 56 QB hits in that same time. Sacks are great, but aren’t the only important stat.

Greenard’s presence should help Nolan Smith, Jalyx Hunt and Arnold Ebiketie. His pressure will create opportunities for them. If Jalen Carter is healthy and back to his 2024 form, the pass rush could be outstanding.

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Sometimes guys develop into difference-makers. Brian Dawkins was a good player from 1996-1998. Jim Johnson took over the Eagles defense in 1999 and unlocked Dawk’s full potential. Dawk became a special player for the next decade.

I’m curious to see what Jalyx Hunt’s ceiling is. I don’t think many people realize how productive he was last year. He had 3 INTs, 6.5 sacks, 24 QB hits, 9 TFLs and 2 FF. That is one heck of a season. And remember he’s still doing a lot of learning. He was a DB in his early college years.

Vic Fangio really wanted Hunt in the 2024 draft. He saw something. I think we’ll all agree that Fangio has a pretty good feel for good defensive players.

If Hunt continues his upward trajectory, he could become a difference-maker. It will be interesting to see what he does this season.

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I think Jihaad Campbell could also develop into something special. He’s more of a projection because he is coming off his rookie season and a limited sample size. We saw him show the ability to play the run, cover and blitz. It will be fun to see what he does this season.

https://igglesblitz.com/2026/05/difference-makers/

The defensive line of Greenard, Carter, Davis and Hunt is going to be dominant.

Guys that are called "difference makers" thrive off the support of the players around them. There are lousy teams that have difference makers, but the supporting cast and the scheme are lackluster. What's critical is having an OC or a DC who knows how to take full advantage of the talent at his disposal.

Great teams need a combination of difference makers, smart, efficient support players, and a coach that knows how to use that to full advantage. They also need consistency, discipline, leadership and composure. We saw, over the years, how one player can cause friction and frustration that leads to breakdowns......