The best NFL franchises never rest in their pursuit of building a dominant defensive line.
There’s no better to disrupt an opposing offense than by consistently pressuring the quarterback. What do you need to accomplish this? A handful of high-end pass rushers, of course.
Looking across the league, a couple of front sevens stand above the rest. The cream of the crop is undoubtedly the Philadelphia Eagles, who were led by Jalen Carter, Josh Sweat, Milton Williams and Nolan Smith on their way to a Super Bowl victory.
Even with their success in the trenches last season, general manager Howie Roseman will certainly be looking to build up the defensive line this offseason. Could he land a former Defensive Player of the Year in free agency?
Philadelphia Eagles Sign Khalil Mack: Prediction Reaction
The Eagles have been tied to the Myles Garrett sweepstakes, but they have not really been mentioned as contenders to sign one of the top free agent pass rushers — Khalil Mack.
Although they’re not in the mainstream discussions when it comes to Mack, one NFL analyst has Philadelphia pegged as Mack’s new home. Aaron Schatz of ESPN believes another star player will don the Kelly Green next year.
“If Josh Sweat leaves and Brandon Graham retires, the Eagles are going to need some pass rush help. This seems like the perfect place for a well-regarded veteran to chase a championship ring, so let’s put the 34-year-old Mack here… there’s still a lot of pass-rushing talent here, and the Eagles can use Mack as more of a rotational, targeted player,” wrote Schatz in a free agency predictions column.
This would be a slam-dunk signing for Roseman and the Eagles.
As Schatz mentions, Philly is set to lose multiple pieces on the defensive line this offseason. The aforementioned Graham and Sweat could be gone, while DT Milton Williams is also set to hit free agency. Reinforcements will have to be brought in to make up for the lost production.
There’s no better way to build up the defensive line than by bringing in a player who won DPOY in 2016 and had 17 sacks just two years ago. Yes, Mack has taken a step back from his peak form where he was a consistent game-wrecker, but he is still an asset to any defensive line.
Knowing how Roseman and this front office operate, they’ll also likely be able to bring in Mack while remaining flexible with the salary cap.
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