Tuesday might feel like just another day, but that is most certainly not the case at the NovaCare Complex, as it marks the end of compensatory pick part of free agency.
The team should celebrate by adding the pass rusher on the market, defensive end Ziggy Ansah.
Ansah, 6-foot-6, 275 pounds, remaining unsigned up until this point of free agency is surprising, but it is something the Eagles should take advantage of. Prior to Tuesday, signing Ansah — who is likely to command a large contract even this late into the game — would have cost the Eagles one of the compensatory picks they are likely to receive in 2020. With the Eagles currently projected to receive two extra picks next year, signing Ansah would have cut that number in half, something the Eagles almost certainly took into consideration when deciding whether to bring him in.
Now, they no longer have to worry about losing a compensatory pick, making the decision to sign Ansah a much easier one.
As much as the team's play at quarterback has dominated the headlines the last two seasons, it is their pass rush that has played the biggest role in the team winning four playoff games — and one Super Bowl — during that span. A line that once featured elite pass rushers like Michael Bennett, Chris Long and others is now in need of help, however.
Brandon Graham is back, but he is coming off of a season in which he had just 4.0 sacks. Although there is reason to be optimistic he will have a bounce back season now that he will have a full healthy season, Graham does not have much help around him even if that does happen. Third-year player Derek Barnett has upside, but at this point he remains a question mark since he is coming off of a shoulder injury. Vinny Curry is coming off of a down season in Tampa Bay. Young players Josh Sweat and Shareef Miller are complete unknowns.
Ansah would come in and immediately give the Eagles a pass rusher opposing teams would have to worry about. Although a shoulder injury cut his season short last year, Ansah totaled four sacks in the seven games he did play, and had 12 sacks in 2017. He totaled 35 pressures and 13 quarterback hits his last two seasons. Ansah also has a history with defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz, who was the head coach when Detroit drafted him in 2013.
Financially, signing Ansah would be a hit. The team currently has $24 million in cap space, and unless the team is willing to sign Ansah to a long-term deal, a one-year "prove it" deal is going to eat up a large portion of that remaining money. Considering cap space in the NFL rolls over from season-to-season, the $24 million is a pot of money the team should be very careful with how they spend.
That being said, this is a crucial year for the Eagles. They have a roster capable of winning the Super Bowl right now, and they have a quarterback in Carson Wentz that is in desperate need of some success in the postseason. Looking down the line, and saving cap space, is important, but arguably not as important as loading up for this season.
To do that, and to have the best pass rush they can get, they need more help at defensive end.
Help they can now get at arguably an elite level by bringing in Ansah.
You can follow Eliot Shorr-Parks on Twitter at @EliotShorrParks or email him at esp@94wip.com!
