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How can Eagles replace Milton Williams, Josh Sweat? Ranking top NFL draft options
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- How can Eagles replace Milton Williams, Josh Sweat? Ranking top NFL draft options
Howie Roseman doesn't need an excuse to invest in his defensive line.
The Philadelphia Eagles executive vice president and general manager has made his proclivity for focusing on his fronts well known. And with a relentless pass rush keying his team's Super Bowl 59 rout of the Kansas City Chiefs , setting the tone at the line of scrimmage remains at the forefront of his mind.
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"Always on the lookout for those positions at every level," Roseman said at the NFL scouting combine of the offensive and defensive line, "whether it's in free agency, whether it's in the draft, whether it's after the draft, whether it's on the street. It's really, like, an unhealthy obsession."
Now, Roseman has added reason to indulge it.
Not long after the NFL's negotiation period opened Monday ahead of the official start of free agency, the Eagles learned they had two critical defections: edge rusher Josh Sweat , who agreed to a four-year, $76.4 million contract with the Arizona Cardinals , and defensive tackle Milton Williams , who landed a four-year, $104 million deal with the New England Patriots .
Both played a vital role in the Eagles ' title run, particularly down the stretch. Sweat engineered a team-high six pressures and 2½ sacks in Super Bowl 59, while Williams added two more against the Chiefs and ranked sixth among interior defensive linemen in ESPN's pass-rush win rate (13%) on the season.
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For Philadelphia, the effort to address the departures will no doubt begin with the in-house options. At outside linebacker, Nolan Smith Jr. enjoyed a late-season breakout that featured four sacks in the team's first three playoff contests. But counting on 2024 third-round pick Jalyx Hunt and Bryce Huff – last year's marquee free-agent signing who was inactive for the Super Bowl after becoming an afterthought in the edge-rush rotation – could be a dicey proposition. Meanwhile, defensive lineman Moro Ojomo is slotted to take on a more substantial workload in his third season, but the Eagles could be compelled to add further help next to Pro Bowl selection Jalen Carter and Jordan Davis up front.
That could prompt Roseman to give both positions heavy consideration early in the draft, either with the final pick in the first round or either of the team's Day 2 selections. With both spots seeming to be deep on talent as strong points of the class, there should be several potential considerations for Roseman, even if the top players at each position – including Abdul Carter , Shemar Stewart and Mykel Williams at edge rusher along with Mason Graham at defensive tackle – will almost assuredly be long gone by the time Philadelphia comes on the clock at No. 32 overall.
With that in mind, here are the Eagles' top five options in the NFL draft at both edge rusher and defensive tackle:
Eagles' top edge rusher options in NFL draft
1. James Pearce Jr., Tennessee
In pure pass-rushing upside, Pearce doesn't have a peer among the potential options here. The 6-5, 245-pounder combines a blistering burst off the line of scrimmage with a penchant for converting speed to power. While his approach is still underdeveloped and too often leads to missed tackles, Pearce flashes significant untapped potential thanks to his instincts, length and balance. Even if he's a potential liability against the run early in his career due to his subpar strength, pursuing a highly athletic threat off the edge who's yet to put everything together has worked for the Eagles before – look no further than Sweat, the former five-star recruit who was a fourth-round pick in 2018.
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2. Mike Green, Marshall
The Football Bowl Subdivision leader in sacks with 17 makes his mark by screaming off the edge in the passing game, but he's also growing his capabilities against the run. What, then, is the knock against Green? For one, his 6-3, 251-pound frame has prompted concerns of how his ultra-aggressive style will translate to the next level, leaving him as somewhat of an all-or-nothing player until he bulks up or takes a more disciplined approach. But teams will also have to take a closer look after Green twice faced sexual assault allegations – he denied both one in high school and another at Virginia that preceded his transfer – that could put a player who might otherwise be solidly entrenched in the first round into the Eagles' range.
3. Donovan Ezeiruaku, Boston College
At just over 6-2 and 248 pounds, he might seem like an odd candidate to take over for the rangy and explosive Sweat. But in racking up 16½ sacks last season, Ezeiruaku has demonstrated he has plenty of different ways to chart a course to the quarterback. He's more physical than one might expect from an edge rusher of his build, and he has a knack for picking the right pass-rush move to exploit a would-be blocker. While his athletic limitations might leave him with a lower ceiling than the top two options on this list, his sound and steady approach should help him remain a highly disruptive presence at the next level – though his stock might be ticking higher into the first round.
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4. JT Tuimoloau , Ohio State
A bit of a throwback defensive end, Tuimoloau relishes the chance to lock onto offensive tackles. And after recording 21½ tackles for loss last season, he's shown he can make a distinct mark against the run while routinely pushing the pocket. Replicating the pass-rush efficiency he demonstrated with 12½ sacks last season, however, seems far-fetched given that he can be rigid and clunky when trying to close in on passers.
5. Jordan Burch , Oregon
If Roseman wants to follow Sweat's thread of a former blue-chip recruit who never reached his full potential in college, it might lead him to Burch. The 6-4, 279-pounder finally began to put things together last season, recording 8½ sacks in 10 games after only showing occasional flashes of his promise at both South Carolina and Oregon. Burch's size belies his capabilities both for better – his explosiveness and fluidity make an imposing matchup as a pass rusher – and worse, as he too often comes up small against the run. As a Day 2 option, he should be plenty alluring.
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Eagles' top defensive tackle options in NFL draft
1. Walter Nolen , Mississippi
Unafraid to barrel into blockers or snake past them, Nolen has the tools to become a mainstay in opposing backfields. The 6-4, 296-pounder can throw linemen off balance shortly after the snap with either his quickness or strength, and he's one of the few defensive tackles in this class who can also moonlight on the edge.
2. Derrick Harmon, Oregon
Versatile? No question, as Harmon is comfortable attacking offenses from anywhere along the line. Disruptive? And then some – no interior defender had more pressures last season (55, according to Pro Football Focus) than the Michigan State transfer. The 6-5, 313-pound Harmon might not measure up to Williams in the ability to finish plays given limitations in his fluidity, but he can create consistent headaches for opponents and open up opportunities for others.
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3. Kenneth Grant , Michigan
Far more nimble than his 6-4, 331-pound build would suggest, Grant has been likened to Davis as an astonishingly athletic big body in the middle with room to grow as a pass rusher. His inconsistency might not deter Philadelphia as much as it would other teams considering him in the late first round, as Roseman could see a physical and versatile force who demands double teams.
4. Tyleik Williams, Ohio State
Pushing his way into the backfield isn't a problem for Williams, who routinely jolted interior offensive linemen off the snap. But while teams can count on him to be a force against the run, his production as a pass rusher is much harder to project, as he too often is neutralized when he can't win with his bull rush.
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5. Alfred Collins, Texas
Like Tyleik Williams, Collins wouldn't represent a replacement for Milton Williams so much as an opportunity to reconfigure the defensive line as a whole. He might lack the playmaking streak as a pass rusher that would catch Roseman's eye. But whether by force or movement, the 6-6, 332-pounder consistently puts himself in the right position. A high-end run-stopper who can help control the line of scrimmage should still be of great utility to this defense.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Eagles free agency: Who will replace Milton Williams, Josh Sweat?
