Realistic expectations for Josh Sweat during the Eagles regular season
Another Pro Bowl season isn’t a nig ask for Josh Sweat during the 2022-2023 NFL season.
Perhaps the biggest compliments that you can give Josh Sweat are the following. He’s improved every year that he’s been in the NFL. His fourth season, last year, was his best. Again, he made the Pro Bowl roster, but even though his story may not be the most discussed as we approach another season of Eagles football, you can best believe Philly won’t be able to hide him on game days.
This guy’s no longer one of pro football’s best-kept secrets. Everyone knows who Josh Sweat is. Every opposing head coach and offensive coordinator will attempt to devise a plan to stop him or limit his effectiveness. The questions are about how much we’ll see him. He’s passed Derek Barnett on the depth chart, right?
Last season, Sweat played 62 percent of the defensive snaps (655) while Barnett was on the field for 718, roughly 68 percent of the team’s total defensive snaps.
We’ve seen the Philadelphia Eagles value being right over being good sometimes. That happened again last season as we saw guys like Jalen Reagor, J.J. Arcega-Whiteside, and, yes Derek Barnett on the field much too often. Guys were given playing time because of their price tag and draft status as better players sat on the bench and waited for an opportunity.
In 2021, Sweat tallied 45 total tackles, including 19 of the solo variety and seven that resulted in a loss of yardage. He also pitched in with 7.5 sacks, four pass breakups, 13 additional hits on the quarterback, and a forced fumble. Barnett managed 46 tackles and two sacks.
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Hopefully, we’ll see more of Sweat than Barnett in 2022, but until the regular season arrives, we’ll throw out a few predictions anyway.