Safety
Losing Malcolm Jenkins was the toughest possible pill for this team to swallow and we won’t really feel the effects of it until we’re a few weeks deep into the regular season. But Howie Roseman has done well to try and nullify the loss, spending the approximate value of Jenkins’ new contract on bringing back Rodney McLeod and moving Jalen Mills to Safety.
The big move was then bringing in versatile DB and local kid Will Parks. Someone who has played just about everywhere in his short career.
Standing at 6’1, 218 lbs, Parks will likely be part of a community effort to nullify the loss of Jenkins. four seasons with the Broncos, Parks has racked up 148 tackles, 4 picks, 13 passes defensed, and 2 forced fumbles.
Conclusion: The Eagles lost a big cog of their defensive machine in Malcolm Jenkins, but have negated it as best as they could. There’s room for some developmental talent, but I can’t see significant assets being spent.
Defensive line
Adding Javon Hargrave is a MASSIVE win for this team. The Eagles made the former Steeler the highest-paid NT in the NFL and with good reason.
The 27-year old nose tackle played in all 16 games for the last three seasons and has posted a total of 12.5 sacks in that time period. In 2019, Hargrave was rated as the 8th best interior lineman in the league with a grade of 83.4. He’s also rallied to 13 tackles for loss in his last two seasons.
On top of that, the Eagles brought back Hassan Ridgeway, who they traded for at last year’s NFL Draft. Their interior depth chart looks menacing.
DT1: Fletcher Cox
DT2: Javon Hargrave
DT3/EDGE: Malik Jackson
DT4: Hassan Ridgeway
As for the edge rushers, having Malik Jackson (who can line up at the 5-tech spot) adds a lot of stress-relief to a unit that doesn’t have much depth outside of Brandon Graham and Derek Barnett, who just so happens to be in his contract year.
Conclusion: That interior depth is just plain nasty, which is great. But there needs to be some love given to the EDGE position, especially with Vinny Curry still searching for a new deal.
Offensive line
No gains, only losses here. It’s one of the strongest positions on the team by a country mile, but that doesn’t mean that depth won’t ever be tested. Halapoulivaati Vaitai signed a fancy new five-year deal in Detroit, leaving the Eagles without a primary backup tackle.
Matt Pryor, a former TCU running-mate of Vaitai’s could back up Andre Dillard, who is inheriting the starting throne from free agent Jason Peters, but even then it’s a bit of a push.
Jordan Mailata is the next question mark for the team to deal with. At 6’8, 346 lbs, the project tackle was as raw as they come when the Eagles took a flyer on him, but presented a freak of nature project for Jeff Stoutland to nurture.
Now entering year three, Mailata could be in-line to push for a role on the final-53 that doesn’t end with an IR placement.
Conclusion: It’s all about confidence here. How confident are the Eagles in Pryor and Mailata? Do they need a backup center behind Jason Kelce? Expect draft assets to be spent here.
Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports
