Philadelphia Eagles: Every unit’s potential boom or bust player
54. . . . The defensive line: Josh Sweat. . player
The defensive tackle position is the only spot in the front seven where the Eagles don’t have question marks.
Ladies and gentlemen, if Derek Barnett doesn’t have that breakout season in 2020, there needs to be some sort of formal investigation. You can make the argument that any team that can make the statement that Fletcher Cox, Malik Jackson, and Javon Hargrave are a part of their defensive tackle rotation has made life easy for anyone they trot out to play defensive end, but if that’s the case, why is it every time we think about what the Eagles have on the edge, we do so with trepidation?
As you’re probably well aware, this might be Brandon Graham’s last season with the “Birds”. The jury is out on the aforementioned Barnett. The Eagles got nothing out of Shareef Miller in his first season. This could be Josh Sweat’s time to shine. We saw him make strides in 2019. Might it be possible that we’ve been sending too much time talking about one potential breakout and not enough time discussing another?
. Linebacker: T.J. Edwards. . player. 54. .
Have the Philadelphia Eagles finally driven a wedge in the revolving door that leads to their linebacker room?
As it stands right now, you have to believe that when the Eagles line up to play football that counts towards the win-loss total, they’ll be doing so T.J. Edwards getting the defensive signals and play calls from defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz.
One of 2019’s undrafted rookies started in four games and racked up 31 total tackles, including the one playoff game he appeared in during Year 1. With Nigel Bradham gone and with Philly employing quite a few new guys at linebacker, 57 appears to be primed for an expanded role and a nice season.