The Philadelphia Eagles' record might look good, but the tape doesn't necessarily match the numbers. Their offense has regressed tremendously this season, and their once-dominant defense has also been vulnerable in the trenches.
The Eagles are giving up a whopping 128.9 rushing yards per game this season, which is the ninth-most in the league, and they just allowed the Chicago Bears to put up 281 rushing yards on Thanksgiving. Clearly, the answer to their run-stopping problems might not be on the roster at this point, which is why they may need to dig deep into the free-agency pool. With that in mind, former Las Vegas Raiders defensive tackle Christian Wilkins looks like the best possible option to fix their woes.
Eagles Need to Take a Christian Wilkins Risk to Help Stop the Run
While he hasn't played this season, Wilkins is by far the best available run-stopper in the league right now. He could welcome an opportunity to not only get back on the field but also play meaningful games for a Super Bowl contender.
Wilkins was stellar against the run before his injury. In 86 appearances (82 starts), he registered 372 total tackles, 56 quarterback hits, 45 tackles for loss, 22.5 sacks, 19 passes defended, four forced fumbles, and two fumble recoveries.
Before his injury, Wilkins was a proven run-stopper. Per Pro Football Focus, he earned a run-stopping grade of at least 78.0 in each of the past four seasons — all while racking up 205 stops. He's also a factor as a pass-rusher, having generated 182 pressures (120 hurries, 34 QB hits, 28 sacks) throughout his career.
The fact that the Raiders chose to release him in the summer was a bit of a surprise, and it certainly didn't send the right message about his health. He suffered a setback from a foot injury, but he was just one year into his four-year, $110 million deal. The franchise reportedly thought he had to go under the knife again, which WIlkins didn't want to, and they unsuccessfully tried to void the remainder of his contract.
The Eagles still have to face the Los Angeles Chargers, who just got running back Omarion Hampton back, and they have Ashton Jeanty and the Las Vegas Raiders after that. The Washington Commanders, whom the Eagles will play twice, average 4.9 yards per carry (6th) and 138.9 rushing yards per game (3rd). That's without mentioning that Philadelphia will also have to deal with James Cook and the Buffalo Bills before the regular-season finale.
The Eagles have given up at least 100 rushing yards in three of their last four games, and with the offense failing to do much when they're on the field, they will need to roll the dice and hope that Wilkins is healthy enough to give them something to close out the year. He might not be a guaranteed fix, but he's the best option they have. General manager Howie Roseman should give the veteran free agent a kill.
Even if he's only a practice squad addition at this point in the season, Wilkins has more than enough talent to make the most of three potential elevations. And if that means bringing the Eagles one step closer to another Super Bowl win, it's a risk the defending champs need to take.