By Tucker Bagley, Sports Talk Philly staff writer 
The Eagles defensive line was supposed to be an elite unit in 2016.
One year after signing Brandon Graham to a contract extension, the Eagles fattened the pockets of Vinny Curry and Fletcher Cox with long-term contracts. The group played so well after three weeks, a Steelers' offensive lineman even predicted the Birds would be Super-Bowl bound this year.
But as we all know, that didn't happen.
As we progress with the offseason, a lot of noise will be made about the plethora of holes on the Eagles current roster. They need wide receivers and cornerbacks. They need depth along the offensive line and a top-of-the-line running back too. In fact, the only two positions that don't really need to be addressed are quarterback and safety.
But one issue that needs to be fixed is the pass rush. After picking up 14 sacks in their first four games, the Eagles had just 19 during their final 12 contests as they limped to the finish line. In a league where the pass rush is more and more emphasized with each passing year, that just isn't good enough.
Perhaps the biggest question mark moving forward is Bennie Logan. The defensive tackle really seemed to come into his own during the early part of the season, but after missing a few games with a groin injury, he just didn't seem to have the same impact he had before he got hurt. Now, with limited cap flexibility, the Eagles need to decide if they want to lock Logan up and keep the band together, or let him walk and leave a 309-pound hole in the middle of their defense.
Another guy who could be on his way out is Connor Barwin. The long time outside linebacker had some ups and downs in his first season as a defensive end, posting five sacks and recording just 20 tackles on the year. Barwin isn't an ideal fit for Schwartz's scheme and the Eagles could save a lot of money by moving him in the offseason and giving Curry a shot at being a full-time starter for the first time in his career.
No matter what they do, the idea is simple: the Eagles need to generate constant pressure in 2017 and beyond if they want to win. As of right now, they have four decent guys under contract, plus Logan, but if the defensive tackle leaves, along with Barwin, that puts the Eagles in a difficult situation. With pass rushers being so highly-coveted, it has become incredibly difficult for a team to get their hands on one at a decent price. Even in the draft, pass rushers seem to move up boards at a meteoric pace that was only reserved for quarterbacks until a few years ago.
With where they currently sit in the first round, it will be hard for Howie Roseman and company to draft a defensive end who could truly make a difference in his rookie year, which once again leads us back to a free-agent class whose top defensive end is Jason Pierre-Paul and his seven fingers.
Maybe guys like Marcus Smith and Steven Means will continue to grow in their second year under Schwartz and maybe Curry can flourish in a full-time role, but things do not look so bright for the future of the Eagles defensive line.
