The Philadelphia Eagles made one of the biggest moves of the offseason so far, trading Michael Bennett to the New England Patriots for a fifth-round pick in the 2020 NFL Draft. Whether the decision was about money or his temperament in the locker room, the Eagles now have to replace his productivity and disruptive play against the run.
With the Eagles now sitting slightly below $20 million to spend in free agency, the possibility of adding a disruptive force on the open market is a positive one.
Here are six pass rushers the Eagles could sign to help ease the loss of Michael Bennett.
Trey Flowers Patriots
Tit for tat should be the motto here, and just because the frugal Patriots didn’t want to pay the 23-year-old pass rusher, doesn’t mean Howie Roseman won’t. Even with the Eagles paying Brandon Graham and former first-round pick, Derek Barnett returning, Flowers could fit the Eagles scheme and allow Jim Schwartz to move his parts around for a versatile and disruptive front line. Last season, Flowers finished 10th best among all edge rushers. Add in Brandon Graham’s ability to slide down inside, and Flowers could flourish on the outside or next to Fletcher Cox at times.
Ezekiel Ansah Lions
Ansah is uber talented but has yet to become the dominant edge rusher that the Lions expected him to be when they drafted him fifth overall in the 2013 NFL Draft. For every season where Ansah was able to notch 10 or more sacks, there were seasons where he’d have two, or four sacks as well. In total, he’s played 80 games in his career, amassing 218 tackles, 48 sacks, 110 quarterback hits and 60 tackles for a loss. If he can stay healthy, Ansah could provide the Eagles elite pass rushing in spurts.
Shaq Barrett Broncos
The 6-1, 250 pounds pass-rushing dynamo entered the league as an undrafted free agent out of Colorado State in the 2014 NFL draft. Barrett went from practice squad player to rotational pass rusher over the years, and over the past four seasons, Barrett has recorded 151 total tackles and 14 sacks. The outside linebacker could provide the Eagles with a versatile pass rusher who resembles Brandon Graham coming around the edge.
Dante Fowler Jr. Rams
On measurements and potential alone, Fowler should be one of the highest paid pass rushers in football. That enormous potential only comes in spurts from the guy that the Jaguars made the 3rd overall pick in 2015. Fowler resurrected his career in Los Angeles, and at just 24-years old, could be a player that the Eagles can integrate into their culture.
Za’Darius Smith Ravens
The least known name on the list, the Ravens pass rusher has been one of the best edge rushers in the league and could provide the Eagles with another dominant pass rusher to combine with the edge rushing forces they already have under contract. Smith finished the 2018 NFL season with a pass-rush grade of 82.8 to go along with 25 quarterback hurries, per Pro Football Focus.
Anthony Barr Vikings
Barr isn’t your normal hand-down pass rusher from the front four. The linebacker could provide the Eagles with a versatile cover guy, who can bear down on quarterbacks. Just ask Aaron Rodgers. In the right scheme, with Schwartz penchant for rotating and moving around players, Barr could flourish.
