Howie Roseman’s at it again! According to Josina Anderson and Adam Schefter, the Eagles are set to sign 29-year old defensive tackle, Malik Jackson. Here’s everything you need to know.
The player:
After establishing himself in one of the most ruthless defenses in recent memory, Jackson left the Denver Broncos and landed himself a six-year, $85.5M contract with the Jags back in 2016. In the last three years he started 42 games, accumulating 105 tackles and 18 sacks, as he continued to rise up as one of the league’s best defensive tackles. A career high 8 sacks in 2017 set the tone, but Jackson’s ability to penetrate the backfield and bring down running backs is what really shines.
Jackson is in his prime at the age of 29 and with experience playing both inside and outside, he could well be regarded as the perfect hybrid replacement for both Bennett and Jernigan.
The contract:
A three-year $30M deal (an average of $10M per year, NOT what Schefter first reported which looked like a $10M deal across those three seasons) seems like an absolute bargain for a player who as aforementioned, was rewarded handsomely for his play during the Broncos Super Bowl run. If you consider that the Eagles were paying Michael Bennett $7.2M and Jernigan over $10M anyway, this makes a lot of sense. The money they gained is immediately reinvested in the trenches.
While his play arguably didn’t live up to the monster number, the Eagles are cashing in on what is now extreme value. It appears as though Jackson is betting on himself with a lower number and over the course of three years, he’s almost destined to receive a bigger payday if he can exceed expectations. The Eagles have had a busy few weeks freeing up cap space and with their estimated budget being estimated at around $25M, this is an absolute steal for the Birds, there’s no doubt about it.
The fit:
As mentioned earlier, Jackson’s fit with the Eagles is an obvious one. The Eagles lost a lot of bulk in Jernigan and Bennett and this 6’5, 290 lbs, pass-rusher has the explosiveness and versatility to play wherever asked of him.
There’s a lot to like with this move. The Eagles sign a cheap pass-rusher who has flashed elite credentials, including a Pro Bowl appearance in 2017, and someone who is still in the prime of his career. This is the prototypical Howie Roseman signing and if this is the tone we’re setting…it’s going to be a very fun offseason.
