Eagles Rated As Having No. 1 Position Group in NFL
Not only do the Philadelphia Eagles have the top defensive line in the NFL currently, but a new ranking suggests that the group general manager Howie Roseman has assembled could be the best positional unit in the sport.
Former kick returner/defensive back/scout Bucky Brooks -- now a prominent analyst for NFL Media -- recently did a ranking of the top five position groups in all of football. The Eagles defensive line claimed the top overall spot:
"With difference-makers all across the front, the Eagles can confine quarterbacks to the pocket while generating the gut pressure to register sacks through simplistic rush schemes,” Brooks wrote. “And in a passing league, this dynamic unit is a big reason why Philadelphia has emerged as a perennial title contender."
What's scary when considering how good the defensive line of the Eagles projects to be on paper is that they lost star defensive tackle Javon Hargrave in free agency, as he signed a four-year, $84 million deal to join the NFC-rival San Francisco 49ers, a pact that guarantees him $40 million.
But even without Hargrave, consider what the Eagles have returning on their defensive line from a team that reached the Super Bowl a season ago:
- DT Fletcher Cox: The six-time Pro Bowler may not be what he once was, but Cox still had 43 combined tackles, 14 quarterback hits, seven sacks and seven tackles for a loss in 2022.
- DE Brandon Graham: In his age-34 season, Graham set a career-high with 11 sacks, also adding 16 quarterback hits and two forced fumbles.
- LB Haason Reddick: It doesn't matter where he plays, Reddick seems to rack up sacks. After stints with the Arizona Cardinals and Carolina Panthers, Reddick had a career-high 16 sacks in his first season with the Eagles.
- DT Jordan Davis: The 13th overall pick in the 2022 NFL Draft, Davis was limited to 13 games in his rookie season. The 6-foot-6, 340 pound defensive tackle -- a hero for Georgia during his final collegiate season -- should see an expanded role in 2023.
- DE Josh Sweat: In his fifth NFL season, Sweat recorded 11 sacks and 23 quarterback hits. It took him a little time to develop, but taking him in the fourth round of the 2018 NFL Draft has turned out to be a steal for Roseman and the Eagles.
- DT Milton Williams: A third-round pick in 2021, Williams has developed into a strong rotational piece, as evidenced by the nine tackles for a loss he posted in his second NFL season.
On top of an already-stout returning group, the Eagles used both of their first-round picks on former Georgia defensive linemen that should make an immediate impact in defensive tackle Jalen Carter (No. 9) and outside linebacker Nolan Smith (No. 30).
Additionally, the Eagles signed defensive tackle Kentavius Street to a one-year deal, landing a 27-year-old that had 29 combined tackles, five tackles for a loss and eight quarterback hits for the New Orleans Saints last season.
So as Brooks put it, the Eagles have more than enough defensive line depth to overcome the loss of Hargrave, which he says would be "a crippling blow" to most other teams. The only thing we're left to wonder is why the Eagles offensive line failed to join the list.
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