By Paul Macrie, Sports Talk Philly staff writer 
The Eagles continued their productive offseason on Tuesday afternoon by acquiring defensive tackle Timmy Jernigan from the Baltimore Ravens in exchange for a swap of third-round picks.
The Eagles moved down 25 spots in the round, 74th overall to 99th, to add much-needed youth and depth to the defensive line.
Jernigan was a second-round pick of the Ravens in the 2014 Draft when, at the time, Eagles Vice President of Player Personnel Joe Douglas was Baltimore's national scout. There is little doubt Douglas had a big say in the decision to acquire Jernigan, who has had an inconsistent start to his career after being a part of a National Championship team at Florida State in 2013.
Last season, he compiled 31 tackles, 5.0 sacks and an interception while playing defensive end in the Ravens' 3-4 scheme. He should make a smooth transition to the Eagles' 4-3 scheme, a system he was a part of at the collegiate level. The addition of Jernigan alleviates the loss of Bennie Logan, who signed with the Chiefs in free agency.
Jernigan is three years younger than Logan, and has 13 career sacks compared to Logan's 5.5. Logan has compiled more tackles in his career, but the Eagles are in need of more help at rushing the passer, and Jernigan has the bigger upside.
Inconsistency plagued Jernigan in Baltimore and after extending nose tackle Brandon Williams to a huge guaranteed deal, it appeared the organization didn't want to commit to the former second-round pick beyond this season.
Jernigan carries a minuscule $1 million cap hit for 2017, and is scheduled to be a free agent after the season. The Eagles seem willing to take a one-year flier on the defensive lineman to see if he can be the team's long-term answer opposite of Fletcher Cox. Beau Allen will remain in a rotation role, though it has been previously reported an extension was in the works for the free agent-to-be after 2017.
Douglas and Howie Roseman have made it a priority to add depth to the defensive line this offseason, especially after losing Logan in free agency and parting ways with Connor Barwin. Adding Chris Long and Jernigan should be considered a modest upgrade from the two players that recently departed. Long signed a guaranteed two-year deal to add a veteran presence at defensive end, while Jernigan adds much-needed youth to the interior of the line.
Despite the productive offseason, the Eagles have more work to do in order to even be considered a playoff contender. The addition of corner Patrick Robinson aids in a depleted unit, but there isn't a reliable starter on the current roster. Jalen Mills showed some promise as a rookie last season, but there is enough holes in his game to lack confidence in his long-term prospects. Robinson is a proven veteran, but is far from elite. Corner is a big area of need heading into the draft.
With the moves the organization has executed this offseason, cap space is limited. Releasing Mychal Kendricks remains a possibility, and if it does occur, it should happen after the draft. It will largely depend if the Eagles draft a quality linebacker or two in the draft, a position that lacks depth at the moment.
Though no awards should be given for productive offseasons, it is an encouraging sign to see the Eagles attempting to upgrade the roster. On paper, most, if not all, of the free agency moves have had a significant purpose.
The team needed to upgrade at wide receiver, and they did with the additions of Alshon Jeffery and Torrey Smith. Nick Foles upgrades the quarterback depth chart. Chance Warmack adds depth to the offensive line, and the aforementioned Long and Robinson signings give the team some much-needed help on the defensive side of the ball.
Tuesday's trade for Jernigan is another step in the right direction. Though the former second-round pick needs to prove his worth during the upcoming season, it should be a positive for the team and himself. Getting traded usually results in a wake-up call, something that can help Jernigan grow as a player in a contract season. Defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz will have the task of getting the most out of his new defensive piece.
When the month of April comes to an end, the Eagles roster for 2017 will almost be in full focus. The NFL Draft is a crucial step in the team rebuild, but free agency has been used properly by the organization. However, the real answer on how productive this offseason has been won't take shape until the regular season begins in September.
