Speaking on 94WIP earlier this month, Eagles general manager Howie Roseman, as part of a longer answer, sent a clear message about the team's defensive ends and the faith he was putting in them this season.
"Those guys need to step up," Roseman said of the backup defensive ends, "If they don't, we'll address that at that time."
Well, that time has come — and it isn't just the backups that are the issue.
The Eagles are 1-2 following their brutal loss to the Detroit Lions, and there is little debate that one of the biggest issues — if not the biggest issue — with this team is the pass rush. The entire defensive line has two sacks. The defensive ends don't have any. There has been pressure in bits-and-pieces, but overall, the opposing quarterback has had way too much time in the pocket. The only real pressure has come when defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz has called a blitz, something he has been more willing to do, but not something he can continue to do all season.
Clearly, the Eagles need something to change. For all of the attention the quarterbacks have gotten in recent years, for better or worse, the Eagles' best unit consistently since 2016 has been the defensive line. Those days appear to be over and if it doesn't change this team is going to have a very hard time winning consistently this season.
The issue? Fixing the pass rush won't be easy. There does not seem to be a Jalen Ramsey out there at defensive end available for the Eagles. If there was, Roseman likely would have made a deal by now. If he has something up his sleeve, he would be wise to make something happen soon.
What can Roseman do?
Here is a look at some of the very few options that Eagles might realistically have at their disposal:
Yannick Ngakoue: If the Eagles have been discussing a trade with the Jaguars for Ramsey, they might want to shift their focus to edge rusher Yannick Ngakoue. At 6-foot-2, 245 pounds, Ngakoue had 64 pressures last season, which was good for 17th in NFL among all defensive linemen. He does more than just pressure the quarterback, however, as he has consistently shown he can bring him down as well, totaling 29.5 sacks in 50 career games. He has had at least eight sacks in each season of his career.
The Jaguars might not be willing to give Ngakoue up yet, but he is in the final year of his deal and is looking for a big-time extension. If the Jaguars don't feel they are going to pay Ngakoue, the Eagles could try to convince them to trade him now, landing an asset for a pass rusher they would let walk anyway. Landing Ngakoue won't be cheap — it is going to cost at least a second-round pick, and likely more. Of all the defensive ends that could theoretically be traded, however, he is the best and would offer the quickest impact for the Eagles.
Chris Long: The Eagles' decision to essentially force Chris Long out by taking away his snaps on third down rushing the quarterback is not going well. Long's name comes up each time there is an issue with the pass rush and it is easy to understand why. Long is still very popular in the Eagles' locker room and was one of their best pass rushers over the last two seasons. The issue is Long has now been retired for a few months, didn't take part in any OTA, minicamp or training camp, and seems to be enjoying his life without football. That isn't to say Long wouldn't come back — nothing should be ruled out. But to count on Long to come in and quickly change things on the pass rush might not be realistic anymore.
Muhammad Wilkerson: His lone season in Green Bay was a disaster, as he played in only 3 games because of an ankle injury. There is no question that has hurt his value, as Wilkerson played at a fairly high level in 2017 with the New York Jets. What could make Wilkerson attractive to the Eagles is both his versatility and experience. Wilkerson has the ability to play both defensive end and defensive tackle, something the Eagles find extremely valuable among their linemen. Wilkerson did a nice job rushing the passer from the defensive tackle spot in 2017, finishing with 25 quarterback pressures, and played well against the run as well. With 44.5 career sacks in 2014 games, Wilkerson could be a low-risk, high-reward option for the Eagles.
Ryan Kerrigan: This option is a shot in the dark, but it might be worth exploring for the Eagles. The Washington Redskins are 0-2, and very well could be 0-3 by the time Monday night is over. If they are, you have to wonder if they will consider selling off some of the talent on their roster, starting with Kerrigan. Kerrigan has two years left on his deal, including this season, and would save Washington around $10.5 million in cap space if they traded him. For the Eagles, adding Kerrigan would be expensive, but they know all too well how disruptive he can be for an opposing offense. There aren't many teams out there that are already out of it and also have an elite pass rusher — Washington is one of them, and Kerrigan would be a difference maker on the defensive line.
Daeshon Hall: This isn't an exciting option but it could be an immediate one for Thursday night. Hall was active on Sunday but didn't see the field for a single snap. Giving Hall some of the snaps Curry is getting could be a way of trying to ignite a spark along the defensive line. Hall was one of the best pass rushers in the league during the preseason, and although that doesn't always translate to success in the regular season, the Eagles are so desperate they shouldn't rule out any option. Hall should get more snaps on Thursday night against the Green Bay Packers.
You can reach Eliot Shorr-Parks on Twitter at @EliotShorrParks or email him at esp@94wip.com!
