Philadelphia Eagles: Javon Hargrave is an explosive underdog

If there’s one area of the Philadelphia Eagles‘ roster where they are particularly strong, it’s on the offensive line.

They have incredible top-end talent that many an outlet has labeled the best starting line in the NFL, fantastic depth on the inside and out, and an offensive line coach who can get a good game or two out of any 300-pound so and so off the street.

And yet, what is the best defense to a good offensive line? A good defensive line, of course – one capable of finding the creases on the formation and working their man right into the lap of the quarterback.

Fortunately, the Philadelphia Eagles have a darn good defensive line, too, including one effective rusher so explosive he quite literally landed on the “Top-10 disruptors of 2021” list from the NFL’s Next Gen Stats: Javon Hargrave.

Javon Hargrave should remain a fixture of the Philadelphia Eagles’ defense in 2021.

Javon Hargrave has sort of become the forgotten man of the Philadelphia Eagles’ defensive tackle rotation.

I know, I know, he was just selected to the Pro Bowl in 2021, his first as a pro, and his sack total ranked sixth among defensive tackles in 2021, but between the release and then return of Fletcher Cox and the drafting of Jordan Davis, Hargrave has been the quiet, steady performer just waiting in the wings, preparing for his contract year.

Fortunately, Hargrave won’t have to continue to sit idly by in a perpetual slumber like Cthulhu under the sea for much longer, as before we collectively know it, the 2022 NFL season will be here, and Philly’s resident force of nature will be unleashed on offensive lines once more – free to feast from the interior of Jonathan Gannon’s defense.

You see, Hargrave isn’t a special player because he’s as big, fast, or strong as Davis. In Pittsburgh, Hargrave was actually one of the smallest nose tackles in the NFL but was still able to be a dominant force worthy of the biggest contract in the history of his position- $39 million over three years – because he could hold up against the run just as well as players who weighed in at 20-40 pounds heavier.

In 2022, Hargrave will have to primarily operate from an inside technique offset from the center, a defensive philosophy that Cox wasn’t particularly excited about last season, but with Davis in place, the Eagles may be more willing to move the South Carolina product around their defensive formation to feed on advantageous matchups over unsuspecting guards.

With a ton of available speed coming from Haason Reddick, Josh Sweat, and even Milton Williams, having a pair of big-bodied two-gappers who can occupy the interior three offensive linemen could present money, one-on-one looks on the outside, especially with a much-improved defensive secondary taking away the quick passing game.

Will Javon Hargrave be back in 2023? Only time will tell; fans of the Pittsburgh Steelers really seem to want to get their draftee back on the left side of the Keystone State, and paying up for another long-term contract may no longer be in the cards for Howie Roseman following the addition of Jordan Davis. Still, whether he’s a member of the Philadelphia Eagles for nine more months or nine more years, expect the fireworks to fly when Hargrave takes the field, as he made the aforementioned “Top-10 disruptors of 2021” for a reason.