Defense Will Regress Without Jenk
Admittedly, I am just as shocked and saddened about the departure of former Eagles captain Malcolm Jenkins. Not only was he one of the most productive, consistent, energetic, and valuable players to ever don the midnight green, he was an incredible human being, one of the most vocal activists in the league, and, of course, a key member of the team’s first-ever Super Bowl roster. His presence in Philly will be greatly missed, without a doubt, but I don’t think his departure will cripple the defense the way some others do.
There’s no doubting that Jenkins’ level of production will be tough to replicate next season, but after plugging two MAJOR holes in their defense with the additions of Darius Slay and Javon Hargrave, the Eagles defense may be better than they were a season ago. Still with plenty of time to further fortify the unit this offseason, to boot.
Sure, the Eagles corners will no longer have the comfort of knowing that Jenkins is covering their blind spots and helping them bottle up opposing offenses. The trade-off, however, is that the corners likely won’t be nearly as reliant on safety help as they’ve been in seasons prior. Additionally, the addition of Hargrave should help unearth a much fiercer pass-rush than a season ago, further softening the blow of Jenkins’ departure.
It’ll likely be a while before this myth is debunked, but it makes the list nonetheless.
Title Window Is Closed
Probably the least true of everything on this list, any train of thought suggesting that the Eagles title window is closed is completely false. Absolute fiction. An unprovoked lie. Utter nonsense. A misinformed opinion. Did I mention that the Eagles title window being closed is wholly untrue?
Most thought processes behind the belief that the Eagles window is closed or closing likely stems from the team’s age. It’s no secret that the Birds carry one of the more seasoned rosters in the league, but that shells in comparison to the abundance of talent on the roster- which is the true barometer for a team’s title window.
Already rostering their franchise quarterback, offensive tackles, cornerback, and defensive tackle, edge rushers, and head coach, the Eagles are loaded and ready to go at all the staple positions. Additionally, save for maybe the wide receiver and linebacker position, the Eagles boast one of the deepest rosters around and have demonstrated the propensity of acquiring useful talent as UDFA year in and year out- a trend that has greatly assisted them in the past.
Simply put, the Eagles are built to compete for the foreseeable future and any opinion stating otherwise is just that, an opinion.
Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports
