Birds one bold move away from Super Bowl material
There was almost no drama at the 2019 Eagles training camp, the possible exception being that $10 charge to watch the only public practice.
That’s good news, as is the Carson Wentz revelation that he’s on a gluten-free diet. So that’s why the energy level is up and the swelling in his knee is down.
It’s a good first step, for sure.
At the same time, the transactions list reveals unsettling issues this Eagles team must resolve before staking a claim as Super Bowl contenders.
The Eagles made 11 blocks of moves through Aug. 13, most of them on the defensive side. Three were acquisitions that could make the team in cornerback Orlando Scandrick, defensive end Eli Harold and safety Johnathan Cyprien.
Not coincidentally, the pass rush, the secondary and the linebacking corps, where the Eagles will be without the services of Kamu Grugier-Hill (MCL) for at least the first few weeks of the season, are concerns.
Harold has ability as an edge rusher, just not at the level of Michael Bennett, who was the Birds’ most effective pass rusher last season. Bennett wanted more money and a starting role, hence the Eagles shipped him to the New England Patriots.
Brandon Graham, Derek Barnett and Vinny Curry are a solid group of everydown defensive ends. For now, I don’t buy the unsubstantiated hype over Josh Sweat, who has a ton of work ahead of him before he catches up to Barnett, much less the others. At this point, we’ll take Daeshon Hall, although he’s banged up.
At linebacker, Nigel Bradham, Zach Brown and Nate Gerry are it until Grugier-Hill comes back. Bradham still isn’t all the way back from surgery on his big toe. The Eagles need another vet here unless defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz thinks Asantay Brown and a box safety like Cyprien can make a difference.
At cornerback, Ronald Darby is coming off a torn ACL, Jalen Mills is on PUP following surgery to a foot and Cre’Von LeBlanc is out indefinitely with a Lisfranc sprain. You could get by with Avonte Maddox, Sydney Jones, Rasul Douglas and Scandrick (slot) as your healthy corners.
What really is needed on defense is a bold move that could shake the balance of power in the NFC. Adding Jadeveon Clowney, for example, would give the Eagles their best line since the days of the late Reggie White and Jerome Brown, Clyde Simmons and Mike Pitts.
Clowney commands double and triple teams. So does Pro Bowl defensive tackle Fletcher Cox. Clowney, Cox, Malik Jackson and Brandon Graham and the Eagles – provided Wentz stays healthy on that gluten-free diet – would go to Hard Rock Stadium in Miami to play in Super Bowl LIV.
It’s no secret the Houston Texans want to get rid of Clowney, who hasn’t signed his franchise tender of almost $16 million, the precursor to reporting to training camp. Among other rumors is the Washington Redskins offering disgruntled offensive tackle Trent Williams for Clowney straight up in a trade.
The Eagles, according to OverTheCap.com, have $20 million in salary cap space with which to work. They could broker a trade sending, say, wide receiver Alshon Jeffery ($15 million cap charge) and a corner such as Darby or an offensive lineman like Halapoulivaati Vaitai to Houston, bite the bullet in dead money ($7 million or so against the cap) and make it happen.
Clowney’s options are limited. He can play this season for the franchise tag with the Texans or sit out the season. Trade for him, get creative and spread that salary out while giving him an out. There’s always a chance of re-signing him.
That would be the ultimate all-in.
Jackson has shown a serious inside burst that’s going to make it tougher for teams to double Cox. Tackle Tim Jernigan looks like he’s been reborn.
But Clowney, let’s face it, the man is a beast.
The Texans need offensive line help and corners always are in demand, although Darby’s injury could be an issue. So, throw Jones into the deal.
Eagles general manager Howie Roseman has two natural strengths – brokering trades and making the salary cap work for him. He choreographed the deals to move up from the 13th pick in the first round of the 2016 draft to No. 2, where the Eagles selected Wentz.
Sure, veteran safety Malcolm Jenkins deserves a raise, and one day it will arrive. But it would be tough to argue about putting it on the backburner to get a guy like Clowney.
No one, not even Wentz, knows if he can stay healthy enough to give the Eagles a chance to win every year. The Eagles surrounded him with the weapons he’s recently lacked, including running backs Jordan Howard and rookie Miles Sanders, tight ends Zach Ertz and Dallas Goedert, deep threat DeSean Jackson and rookie receiver JJ Arcega-Whiteside.
On paper, the Eagles have the firepower to reach the Super Bowl. The defensive side is much less settled.
It’s right there in the transactions.