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The Eagles have managed one of the surprise movements of the off season by making the acquisition of Michael Bennett, the defensive end of the Pro Bowl three times, in a deal with the Seahawks. Then, the club had to do something to fight against the departures of Vinny Curry (released) and Beau Allen (free agency), both of which are in Tampa Bay.
Was the act of juggling a success? It is surprisingly difficult to predict whether the Super Bowl Eagles champion will be better or worse along the defensive line after the changes.
Better
Pbad rush
Curry has recorded 8½ bags in the last three years. Bennett has 8½ bags in 2017 alone. That's not to say that Curry is not getting any pressure – his 22 quarter-finals, including the playoffs last season, have been at the top of the team – but Bennett is a finisher, with eight bags averaged over the last six seasons
. rush in the middle as well. The five-time Pro Bowler Haloti Ngata appeared in just five games in 2017, but his two sacks equaled Allen's four-year total in reserve.
New additions aside, there is reason to believe that the Eagles might have more defensive production. Barnett too. Chosen 14th overall in last year 's draft, Barnett finished his rookie season with six sacks and two forced fumbles in his last 13 games, including the playoffs. Pbad-goers often spend a big leap forward into second grade, so beware.
Worse
Older
Bennett turns 33 in November. Ngata was 34 and was still recovering from a torn bicep in June. In contrast, Curry is 29, Allen is 27 this year and both players are currently in good health. What the Eagles gained in power of the stars, they also gained in attrition.
Then there is Chris Long. Long, 33, Long is 33 years old and briefly thought about retirement during the off season.
Bennett, Ngata and Long are at this age where the wheels can come off at any time, yet all three are broke for important roles in 2018. It must be a serious concern for the Eagles.
The Same
Brandon Graham, Fletcher Cox
The Eagles' top four is still intact, a unit that was the driving force behind the NFL's No. 1 defense in 17. [19659002] Graham turned 30 in April, although the defense has never been better with new personal records for sacks (9½) and tackles for losses (15). Cox does not necessarily fill the box score, but continues to be extremely disruptive in the middle – his 24 quarter shifts, including the playoffs tied to the senior team.
Just write these names on the depth chart and worry about the other
The unknown
Tim Jernigan
Jernigan had a dazzling start to the Eagles, ambading eight tackles for the loss and one and a half bag in his first nine games. The club quickly signed the defensive tackle for a four-year extension based on this performance.
In the 10 games that followed, Jernigan scored a tackle for loss and a sack. Then, in May, the 25-year-old has undergone surgery for a herniated disc in the back, and he should miss at least one game. There has been speculation that he could be out much longer.
He looked like a star for half a season, then disappeared. Now he is on the shelf until who knows when.
If nothing else, Jernigan should be motivated on his return. The Eagles have reworked his contract after the injury, eliminating all the money guaranteed in the coming years.
Better or worse?
It's tricky, in part because a lot of rides on Jernigan. If he's absent for a long time, trying to complete these attacks will probably have an impact on a heavy unit on more than 30 players.
Since Jernigan was invisible for half of last season anyway, we might as well badume the same thing. 2018 and focus on what we know. The Eagles essentially traded Curry and Allen against Bennett and Ngata, which, baduming the old guys hold on, seems like a win. Barnett's continued development should relieve the pain of any age-related decline, and Florida State's fourth-round pick Josh Sweat is a wild card here.
Better provided that Jernigan returns in the middle of the season. Otherwise, WORSE.
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