The Philadelphia Eagles' defense has struggled to generate a pass rush early on this season. Through six games, the Eagles have recorded just nine sacks. That represents a stark drop in production compared to how dominant the unit was last season. Unfortunately, the Eagles' pass rush took another hit earlier this week when veteran Za'Darius Smith, who led them in sacks with 1.5, unexpectedly retired.
Before Smith's retirement, Eagles general manager Howie Roseman was likely scouring the trade market for a pass rusher to bring in ahead of the deadline. However, now with Smith gone, the heat has been turned up even more. Fortunately, there is one veteran who may be available, with whom defensive coordinator Vic Fangio has a history, Bradley Chubb.
Eagles Should Pursue Deal for Bradley Chubb Ahead of Trade Deadline
In this projected trade, Philadelphia sends the Miami Dolphins a third-round pick for Bradley Chubb and a fifth-round pick. With Miami owning a record of 1-5 and looking like a team that is seemingly falling apart at the seams, a veteran like Chubb is a likely trade candidate. Currently, the 29-year-old is signed to a three-year $54 million deal with the Dolphins.
While the Eagles would have to do some cap gymnastics to make the trade work, there is no doubt that the acquisition would certainly help Philadelphia's defense. Chubb has recorded three sacks and 13 QB pressures this season, according to Pro Football Focus. Although those stats aren't spectacular, they would still be tops on the Eagles. Chubb's presence alone would give Philadelphia another edge defender capable of winning one-on-one matchups, something they’ve struggled to do this season.
Furthermore, the 29-year-old spent three seasons with Fangio in Denver during Fangio's tenure as the Broncos’ head coach. During that span, Chubb totaled nine sacks and 77 quarterback pressures. His production wasn’t higher under Fangio primarily because he missed time due to injuries in two of those three seasons. Still, Fangio understood how to get the most out of him.
At this point in his career, reuniting with Fangio could once again bring out the best in Chubb. If the 29-year-old provided Philadelphia's front seven with a consistent pass rush, it could help cover up the holes in the Eagles' secondary. Then, all the defending champions would need to do is figure out their offensive woes, and they’d be right back in the mix as a Super Bowl contender.