Eagles are turning over every rock to add one more piece to their defensive line

Ladies and gentlemen, the Philadelphia Eagles might have something. They are home to one of the best young quarterbacks in pro football, one that worked his way into the MVP race a season ago. They have what might be the best starting outside wide receiver duos in the league though the Miami Dolphins might have something to say about that. They may also have the best starting outside cornerback duo. As you comb through the rest of the roster, the adrenaline rush continues.

Philly is home to one of the NFL's top tight ends. They feature solid starting slot wide receivers and corners, the game's top offensive line, and a talented defensive line and pass rush. Some may argue that they're often negligent in their efforts to stock their cupboard at both linebacker and safety (and, they are), but from top to bottom, it's hard to find a team with more talent.

Here's something we have noticed, and you have probably noticed the same. They have been turning over every rock in an attempt to add one more piece.

Here is one more thing to make note of. Keep an eye on these 300-plus-pound defensive linemen the Eagles keep adding.

Here's a theory we're hearing more often. Perhaps you have heard the same thing. If you have been paying attention, you have seen the physical evidence of its accuracy.

The Eagles have never been shy about disclosing that roster building always begins with the interior of their defensive line, and that has been evident in the addition of some solid stars over the years: Fletcher Cox, Javon Hargrave, Jordan Davis, and Jalen Carter among others.

Philly's rotation at edge rusher is impressive. Look at it this way. The guy at the bottom of their depth chart is a former first-round selection. It's hard to find a weak point on their defensive line, but that doesn't mean that Philly isn't hard at work and turning over every rock to add more force. Just look at all of these 300-plus-pound guys they have added, especially recently.

The Eagles have placed a ton of confidence and hope in Jordan Davis, but there appears to be a goal that ends in finding a solid backup nose tackle, someone to play second-fiddle to the 2022 first-round draftee. There's just one issue. Guys who are six-foot-six, 336 pounds, and possess elite athleticism don't grow on trees.

We have seen success stories, even if that success didn't last for long or they found better options like Marlon Tuipulotu (six-foot-two, 307 pounds) and Linval Joseph (six-foot-four), 329 pounds. The Birds have also given up on a few guys: Marvin Wilson (six-foot-four, 303 pounds), Kobe Smith (six-foot-two, 312 pounds), Renell Wren (six-foot-five, 315 pounds), and Anthony Rush (six-foot-four, 361 pounds) for instance.

The hope was Noah Elliss could be the guy. After all, he's six-foot-four and 346 pounds. Philly added him as an undrafted rookie free agent in 2022. They waived him last summer and stashed him on the reserve/non-football injury list to hang on to him. Unfortunately, he is injured again, and it appears there is a possibility that the same strategy will be employed.

The Eagles acquired Olive Sagapolu recently (six-foot-two, 341 pounds). He has spent time on three NFL rosters prior to now and most recently played for the USFL's Pittsburgh Maulers. He also drew a flag in his first preseason game.

Philly added two interior defensive linemen late this summer. Caleb Sanders is one of them. The other is Robert Cooper, a six-foot-two, 335-pound monster. Sagapolu and Cooper are long shots to make the roster, but one of them could earn a practice squad role. Keep your eyes on them.

If the Birds find satisfaction in adding this final piece, it will be a nice feather in the cap for what is already, without question, the top defensive line in all of pro football. The question is this. How do you squeeze another guy on the roster when there are already so many good interior defensive linemen in-house?

Check out these other Eagles stories as well.