Philadelphia Eagles: Will They Defend Their Nest in 2018?

Philadelphia Eagles: Will They Defend Their Nest In 2018?

Author : Robert D. Cobb

With the first wave of free agency already passed and teams dumping both players and salaries, one team that has flown quietly under the radar are the newly-crowned Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles, as they appear primed to make another title run.

With casualties such as tight end Trey Burton--who signed with the Chicago Bears, running back LeGarette Blount to the Detroit Lions, wide receiver Torrey Smith to the Carolina Panthers--in a trade for DB Daryl Worley, CB Patrick Robinson to the New Orleans Saints and both DT Beau Allen and DE Vinnie Curry to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, the Eagles still have a good chance at defending their proverbial nest in 2018.

1 / 2 While retaining OLB Nigel Bradham is considered a big win for the Eagles, RB Darren Sproles, FS Corey Graham, OLB Darnell Ellerbe and longtime veteran tight end Brent Celek are still unsigned free agents. While some who left for greener pastures were considered vital and integral pieces to the Eagles Super Bowl puzzle, the acquisition of former Super Bowl champion defensive tackle Michael Bennett from the Seattle Seahawks, WR Mike Wallace from the Baltimore Ravens and DT Haloti Ngata from the Detroit Lions is a nice way to offset some key personnel losses.

Whether it is Super Bowl LII MVP QB Nick Foles or NFL MVP contender in Carson Wentz, the road to defending their new crown just got a lot tougher as perhaps their biggest threat in the NFC in the form of the Minnesota Vikings landed former divisional nemesis in Kirk Cousins from the Washington Redskins for three years and $84 million.

Other NFC rivals such as the Los Angeles Rams and New Orleans Saints have also made some noteworthy moves in adding big names such as DT Ndamukong Suh and re-signing Canton-bound QB Drew Brees.

Can they do it again with a proverbial target on their backs in 2018? It may be possible, but depending on what happens during the rest of free agency, the path to another title will likely prove to be a more difficult one for the Eagles.

2 / 2