Former Eagle Destiny Vaeao Signs With Carolina Panthers

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By Paul Bowman, Sports Talk Philly Editor

Another former Eagles has found a new home for the 2019 season.

Destiny Vaeao has proven himself to be a solid back-up defensive lineman in his three seasons with the Birds. Now he will get an opportunity to play for the Panthers.

We've signed DT @DestinyVaeao to a one-year deal 💪 pic.twitter.com/UjkRUTJXzy

— Carolina Panthers (@Panthers) April 8, 2019

Vaeao will join fellow ex-Eagle Elijah Qualls in Carolina and will serve as a backup to Dontari Poe and Kwann Short. It is a situation where he should be able to contribute much more than he was able to with a depleted position with the Eagles in 2018 or a stacked one in 2017.

Destiny Vaeao joined the Eagles as an undrafted free agent in 2016 and didn’t take long to make an impact.

Vaeao made the 53-man roster in Doug Pederson’s first year as head coach and appeared in all 16 games for the team. In a backup role, he managed to contribute 15 tackles, a forced fumble and two sacks.

With the acquisition of Jernigan in 2017, Vaeao’s playing time was limited even further as Beau Allen was also pushed into a backup role. With Allen departed via free agency and Jernigan on IR for much of the season, Vaeao was expected to see more time behind veteran Haloti Ngata in 2018.

Vaeao ended up starting three games, but was unproductive in the increased role, contributing just one sack and a total of two tackles. He suffered an injury after week six and was placed on IR, becoming one of 38 Eagles to miss significant time in 2018. He was waived with an injury settlement a few days later.

While the New York Jets picked him up and promoted him to the 53-man roster for the final game of the season, he was a gameday inactive and never played with the team. He will get a new shot with the Carolina Panthers.