Chip Kelly admitted Wednesday that bolstering the Eagles pass rush remains a priority. Given so few remaining linebackers remain in free agency, Auburn's Dee Ford may be the team's best fit come draft day. (Image courtesy of CBSSports.com)
Clearly continuing to build the defense has been a top priority for the Eagles this offseason, but one component still remains just out of reach.
The first move out of the gate by general manager Howie Roseman and company once free agency opened was to ink safety Malcolm Jenkins and shore up the safety position.
Corner Nolan Carroll and safeties Nate Allen and Chris Maragos followed in short order.
Yet adding an edge rusher which seemed to be one of the glaring deficiencies in coordinator Bill Davis Jr's defense that ranked last in the league against the pass has remained elusive. Even though the market has settled for the most part, the Eagles eyes remained trained on that prize.
"I think our pass rush got better," Chip Kelly said Wednesday from the NFL owners meetings in Orlando. "Our defense got better towards the end of the year. I think we need a little bit more rush. We'll continue to improve, but we are excited about where we are at as a defense."
Last season the Eagles rotated Trent Cole and Brandon Graham opposite Connor Barwin at outside linebacker and that is the one position many viewed would be due an off-season upgrade to help pressure the quarterback in 2014.
Even Barwin and DeMeco Ryans admitted on locker clean-out day two days after losing to the New Orleans Saints in the playoffs that inking a double-digit sack threat was a top priority to help lift the defense to the next level.
Cole led the team with 8 sacks, while Barwin posted 5 and the combination of Ryans along with fellow inside linebacker Mychal Kendricks each posted 4.
In spotty playing time, Graham notched three sacks but consistently made his presence felt in the backfield, Kelly believes that the 2010 first-round draft choice could take on a vastly expanded role this season.
"He can start (at outside linebacker). Brandon gave us quality snaps last year. Everyone has the opportunity to start."
It appears that if the Eagles truly hope to upgrade this position, they will need to add it to their list of draft day wishes.
Dee Ford of Auburn may be the team's best bet to add an impact defensive player in the first round who can contribute immediately and who has both the athleticisim and instincts to dominate as a rookie.
Ford finished with 29 tackles and 10.5 sacks while playing defensive end as a senior at Auburn, at 6-2, 240 pounds he likely translates best at outside linebacker in the NFL.
Kony Ealy likely could be an option as well at 22. The 6'5, 275 pound Missouri product finished his junior season with 42 tackles, eight sacks and in interception. He's a more physical presence than Ford, but may be better suited to play defensive end.
While safety may remain a need on the defensive side of the ball, worth addressing with the likes of Calvin Pryor and Haha Clinton-Dix both on the board, it seems that through free agency the Eagles are content with what they've done to bolster the secondary.
"We looked at everything," Kelly said. "We didn't just look at one guy. We all felt that after looking at everything, Malcolm was the best fit, and he was our No. 1 guy going into (free agency). He is a former corner, his ability to cover, his football IQ."
If that is indeed the case, and if the team sees the arrow pointing up for the newly re-signed Allen, the road to adding Ford, should he be available at the 22nd overall pick, appears to be paved.
Regardless of whether pass rush is a first-round priority or just an area the Eagles target during the mid-to-late rounds of the draft, pressuring the quarterback remains on the team's radar.
