3 positions groups the Philadelphia Eagles must address in 2021 NFL draft

Philadelphia Eagles (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
Philadelphia Eagles (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images) /
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Brandon Graham, Fletcher Cox (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images) /

. . . The defensive line. . player. 54

The Philadelphia Eagles’ defensive line seems to be getting older by the second.

The defensive line might be able to mask some of the expected deficiencies at linebacker this coming season. As long as defensive end Brandon Graham and tackle Fletcher Cox are playing in the “City of Brotherly Love,” the Eagles defense will have a chance to make plays, but this could be B.G.’s last year in Eagles green.

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Cox is still young and should have, at least, a couple of prime years left. He’s 29. Graham is 32, and at times in 2019, he looked like he could use a day or two off. There’s always the question of how much gas he has left in the tank, but it’s hard to imagine a scenario where he’s re-signed for big money.

Derek Barnett is another interesting case. Every year since his rookie season, “Birds” fans have been of the belief that every season will be his breakout. Game-changing moments from him have been few and far between, and at this point, it’s fair to wonder if he just isn’t as good as everyone thought. There’s no indication that he’s trending upward.

Once you get past him, everybody playing defensive end is a question mark. The addition of Javon Hargrave and a healthy Malik Jackson makes for a very formidable defensive tackle rotation, but if nobody is capable of stepping upon the edge, don’t be surprised if the Philadelphia Eagles are back in the market for a defensive end again in 2020’s draft.