Philadelphia Eagles: 7 training camp battles to key in on this offseason

Defensive End…?

Brandon Graham, Derek Barnett, Josh Sweat, Ryan Kerrigan, and Tarron Jackson. Pretty much everyone has been in agreement that that is how the Philadelphia Eagles defensive end unit is going to look heading into Week 1. The team only drafted one true edge rusher this past spring (Jackson), and only signed one through free agency (Kerrigan).

Barring any sort of post-draft roster transactions, one can only assume that Howie Roseman is locked into this current group of five defensive ends.

I definitely think that’s the case, however, there’s a high possibility that we could witness a proper competition for starting DE reps this year alongside Brandon Graham. Both Derek Barnett and Josh Sweat are set to be free agents after this season, and I personally don’t see the team re-signing both.

Extending one, and then drafting a shiny new pass-rusher with one of their 2022 first-round picks makes the most amount of sense for Philadelphia moving forward.

Taking the training wheels off Sweat, and allowing him to properly push Barnett for starting reps this offseason feels like the strategy Philly should employ. Some teams called about Barnett last trade deadline too, so there could be some salvaged value there if Roseman opts to re-open those discussions moving forward.