It's just going from bad to worse for the Philadelphia Eagles. After an embarrassing loss to the New York Giants on Thursday Night Football, edge rusher Za'Darius Smith dropped the shocking news that he's retiring from the NFL. Smith signed with the Eagles just after the start of this season and retired just over a month after joining the team.
The unexpected turn of events leaves the Eagles in a tricky situation moving forward. The veteran was a key part of their rotation on the defensive front and played a unique role for Vic Fangio's unit. Without him, Philadelphia is more vulnerable than ever to being overpowered by elite offenses.
To keep their Super Bowl hopes alive, the Eagles should strongly consider adding one of these three players to the roster.
3 options for Eagles after Za'Darius Smith retirement
1. DeMarcus Walker
If the Eagles are looking for a quick, cheap replacement option, DeMarcus Walker might be their best bet. He's currently a free agent and could likely be signed for a small, one-year deal. At 31 years old, Walker has experience in plenty of different defensive fronts. He even played for Fangio with the Denver Broncos, so he'd be familiar with the Eagles' defensive scheme.
At 280 pounds, Walker could provide some of the edge-setting qualities that Philadelphia got from Smith. He's not a one-for-one replacement at this point in his career, but he's about as close as it gets on the free agent market.
2. Arden Key
Ian Rapoport and Mike Garafolo reported earlier this month that Tennessee Titans' edge rusher Arden Key has garnered trade interest recently. If the 29-year-old defender is available, Philadelphia should absolutely consider making a move for him.
Key isn't the same archetype of edge defender as Smith. At just 240 pounds, he's more of a designated pass rusher than a stout run defender. Still, he would be a valuable addition to the Eagles' rotation.
3. Trey Hendrickson
Why not just swing for the fences? Trey Hendrickson has voiced his frustrations with the Cincinnati Bengals. He's in the last year of his deal and could be traded before the deadline. Adding Hendrickson could immediately reassert Philadelphia atop the NFC.
Read more: Za'Darius Smith just dropped the stunning news Eagles fans were blindsided by
There would be some financial gymnastics necessary to even fit the superstar edge rusher into the Eagles' salary cap situation, but if anyone can make a deal like that work, it's Howie Roseman.