The Philadelphia Eagles are the defending NFC East champions and in order to defend their title, they’ll need a few under the radar guys to take a major step forward this season.
The Eagles don’t have many holes on either side of the ball but they do have five players who look to take the next step in their maturity as players.
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1. Will Parks
The former Broncos safety Will Parks turned out more lucrative offers to join his hometown Birds on a one-year deal.
Parks brings a physical style of play coupled with versatility.
Parks can play in the slot, he can play in the box and he’s got a pretty good range as a safety.
Parks has racked up 148 tackles, four interceptions, two forced fumbles, and 13 pass breakups during his NFL career in limited snaps. Look for Parks to increase those numbers while bringing some attitude to the Eagles defense.
2. Isaac Seumalo
The Eagles left guard is set to continue his improvement at left guard after struggling earlier in his career. He’s remained consistent and raised his play as the reputations have increased. With more confidence, look for Seumalo to vie for a Pro Bowl spot this season.
3. Josh Sweat
Projected as a developmental defensive end coming out of Florida State, Sweat has flashed the potential to be an every-down edge rusher for the Eagles. After gaining weight during the 2019 offseason, Sweat increased his production last season and despite a lower number of snaps, Sweat’s pass-rush productivity was second to only Brandon Graham per PFF.
4. Derek Barnett
Barnett had his fifth-year option picked up by the Eagles after a 2019 season that saw him appear in 14 games and record 6.5 sacks, 30 total tackles, 10 tackles-for-loss, 22 quarterback hits, and two forced fumbles.
Barnett has 14 career sacks in his brief career but looks prepared to take the next step as an edge-rusher and should see plenty of one on one opportunities with offenses focusing on Fletcher Cox and Javon Hargrave inside.
Jim Schwartz and the Eagles will finally get to see the versatile defensive end live up to his enormous potential.
5. T.J. Edwards
Looking to have a huge 2020 NFL season, the former undrafted free agent is giving Howie Roseman his money’s worth and then some. The likely starter at middle linebacker, Edwards is a tackling machine who’s getting better by the day.
Edwards had the highest tackle rate among linebackers with a minimum of 100 snaps in the NFL (20 percent, or 22 tackles on 110 defensive snaps) and the second-best run defense grade among linebackers in the NFL per PFF’s grading system (90.3).
