With most of these names being older pass rushers, it goes without saying that the Eagles would be wise to invest a higher draft pick at the position.
Young pass rushers don’t hit the open market often, and they cost a king’s ransom to trade for. Nonetheless, Schwartz’s rotation can never have enough bodies, and I expect them to add at least one edge player before free agency is over.
Everson Griffen
I wrote about Griffen last week. We knew that the Vikings cap situation was likely to prevent an extension between him and the only team he’s ever know, and that’s exactly what happened.
He may be 33, but he’s still effective at rushing the passer, and his first step is as quick and powerful as ever. The question the Birds needs to ask is if Griffen can be had for a fair price. While he’s still producing, he’s past his prime, and it’s possible he’s looking for prime pass rusher money.
Beyond that the Eagles aren’t in a situation to guarantee money beyond 2020—starting in 2021 the Eagles cap situation is bleak. Could Griffen be had on a one-year deal or on a front-loaded two-year deal with a third year non-guaranteed? Possibly. But the only way I see a 33 year old pass rusher joining the team is if Howie gets creative with the numbers, and if Griffen’s market underwhelms.
Jabaal Sheard
Sheard is a lean pass rusher who specializes at getting to the quarterback. He doesn’t blow you away but he’s been fairly consistent throughout his career. 51.5 sacks, 71 TFL, and 92 QB hits in 134 career games is nothing to sneeze at.
He can be had on a reasonable contract considering his age (31) and would make a ton of sense on a shorter deal. Again, he’s not a long-term fix but we shouldn’t let that blind us from making incremental, short-term improvements.
I suspect he’ll get decent money on the open market, but if the offers don’t materialize then he could be a good fit in this defense.
Michael Bennett
I’m not entirely sure why the team decided to move on from Bennett, as it was abundantly clear the defense could have used his disruption along the line in 2019. He was traded mid-season from New England to Dallas, and was better in nine games with the Cowboys—logging 4 sacks, 11 TFL, and 11 QB hits (40% of snaps). He definitely has some gas left for the right situation.
His best days are obviously behind him, but he’s familiar with this defense and would fill a nice role in Schwartz’s rotation. He wouldn’t be the most inspiring addition, but we could do a lot worse than bringing back Bennett.
Markus Golden
Golden is the only young name on this list if you consider 29 to be young, and he’s also the best pass rusher on the list—fresh off a career-high 27 QB hits to go along with 10 sacks.
It goes without saying that he’s in line to get paid. I can’t say exactly how much he’ll command, but he’s the one name left at the position who I could see Howie throwing money at (though it’s not likely).
Ezekiel Ansah
I’m not entirely sure what Ansah’s market looks like. He’s been a highly-lauded edge player throughout his career but hasn’t always had the numbers to back it up. He fell out of favor in Seattle and at age 31 should be looking for the right situation as much as money.
In his rookie season in Detroit under Schwartz, Ansah notched 8 sacks and 11 QB hits on roughly 50% of the defensive snaps. With 14.5 & 12 sack seasons on his resume, he certainly has a ceiling worth taking a flier on relative to the other names on this list.
Vinny Curry
Curry is obviously a familiar face who was with the team last season, though that’s about all he has going for him. He’s a good depth piece to have in the rotation, and while he’s a solid candidate to return, I can also see another team desperate to add experienced DL depth paying him more money or promising more playing time.
It’s also possible that he recognizes Schwartz’s ability to get the most out of him in limited playing time, and would prefer to spend his final years in the only organization he’s ever really known—he’s certainly welcome.