Philly Leader

The Philadelphia Eagles have finalized a four-year rookie contract with Jalyx Hunt, their third-round draft pick. The team traded back twice to secure additional draft capital before selecting the Houston Christian outside linebacker at No. 94 overall.

Hunt began his college career as a safety and track athlete at Cornell before transferring to Houston Christian in 2022, where he transitioned to pass rusher following a growth spurt. "I was a late bloomer," Hunt explained. "I played receiver coming out of high school. Played DB. I grew into my body some more, so when I transferred to Houston Christian it was a natural progression."

Hunt's physical attributes are notable for their rarity among edge rushers drafted on Days 1 and 2 since 2015, sharing characteristics such as arm length and broad jump capabilities with players like Myles Garrett and Danielle Hunter.

Pro Football Focus highlighted Hunt's performance last season, noting his 25.3 percent pressure rate on third down—the second best among pass rushers at the NFL Scouting Combine this year. Executive Vice President and General Manager Howie Roseman praised Hunt's abilities: "Yeah, he's got freaky tools in his body," Roseman said. "He's an explosive guy... He's long. He's an extremely smart kid obviously coming from Cornell."

In 2023, Hunt earned the Southland Conference Defensive Player of the Year title after recording impressive statistics over ten games.

Hunt credits his mother, Jaaqua, for his unique name inspired by her favorite perfume Calyx but modified to fit the family tradition of names starting with 'J'. "So, my mom came up with my name," Hunt shared.