Where are the Eagles in spending at each key position entering training camp?

The Philadelphia Eagles have one of the clearest building blocks in the NFL entering training camp, and the latest cost breakdown shows just how important their young defensive core is.

According to salary data from Over The Cap, Philadelphia ranks 31st in the NFL in defensive spending at $84.4 million. Only the Miami Dolphins spend less on defense. That’s an impressive number on a team that has Jalen Carter, Nolan Smith, Quinyon Mitchell, Cooper DeJean, Moro Ojomo, and several other key defenders on rookie contracts or cost-controlled deals.

The Eagles aren’t cheap on offense. They ranked No. 9 in offensive spending at $164.4 million, with big investments on the offensive line, quarterback, and around the skill position group. That makes the difference even more stark. Philadelphia paid for offensive stability while building much of its defensive base through the late draft, creating a roster structure that gives the front office flexibility.

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The biggest defensive saves come in the second and last. The Eagles rank 31st in safety spending at $8.5 million, ahead of only the Dolphins, and 29th in edge spending at $17.6 million. That edge number is especially noteworthy because Smith is expected to be one of the most important players on the defense, while the smaller running backs and rotation pieces give Philadelphia significant value without incurring the cost of a high-profile veteran contract.

The Eagles also ranked number 26 in cornerback spending at $19.8 million, another direct reflection of their draft success. Mitchell and DeJean give Philadelphia two premium defensive ends in rookie deals, allowing the team to carry high-end talent in the secondary without paying veteran prices. In a league built around quarterbacks and pass efficiency, that kind of residual value at cornerback can be a huge competitive advantage.

Philadelphia ranks 23rd in spending on interior defensive line at $21.4 million, despite the fact that Carter is already one of the NFL’s most disruptive young defenders. The development of Ojomo adds to that, and the Eagles have been building their defensive identity with the depth of the line of scrimmage. The current spending number shows how much value Philadelphia is getting from recent draft investments before those players are eligible for second-big contracts.

Linebacker is the Eagles’ highest-rated defensive tackle at No. That is in line with the organization’s long-standing approach to this position. The Eagles have tended to avoid spending big on linebackers while prioritizing the trenches, offensive line, and top positions.

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The offensive levels tell a different story. Philadelphia ranked eighth in offensive line spending at $66.9 million, reflecting the franchise’s commitment to protecting the quarterback and controlling plays up front. The Eagles are ranked seventh in tight ends, ninth in rushing, 13th at quarterback, and 23rd at wide receiver. Their offensive spending is in the top third of the league, while their defensive spending is near the bottom.

That doesn’t mean the defense doesn’t have talent. It means the Eagles are getting their defensive play at a discount.

That’s a great place to build a list that every competitor wants. When young first-round picks and Day 2 picks become impact starters before their second contracts, the team can spend elsewhere while still fielding a playoff-caliber defense. Carter, Smith, Mitchell, DeJean, and Ojomo give Philadelphia that kind of window.

The challenge is that profits will not last forever. Carter, Smith, Mitchell, and DeJean will eventually call if they continue on their current routes. The Eagles have already shown a willingness to pay for elite homegrown talent, but the current structure gives general manager Howie Roseman a temporary opportunity to increase the value of a small defense before the next wave of extensions arrives.

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Currently, Philadelphia’s spending profile is one of the most interesting in the league. The Eagles are built around a veteran offense paired with a young, up-and-coming defense. That formula can be powerful if young defenders continue to develop quickly, because the team is not paying replacement-level production prices. It’s getting first-rate, strong, production from players still available on rookie deals.

Entering training camp, the numbers show a clear competitive advantage. The Eagles rank near the top 10 in offensive spending and near the bottom of the league in defensive spending, yet their defense includes the most valuable young players on the roster. If that team performs at a high level, Philadelphia will have one of the NFL’s best salary-cap figures: expensive where it should be, inexpensive when it’s written right, and with enough talent on both sides of the ball to stay firmly in the NFC title picture.

This article originally appeared on Eagles Wire: Where the Eagles rank in spending at every key position