PHILADELPHIA — For the second year in a row, defense has been at the top of the Philadelphia Eagles’ offseason fix-it list.
While defensive coordinator Bill Davis’ unit made impressive strides last season — it held 10 of its final 12 regular-season opponents to 21 points or less after getting scorched for 138 points in the first four games — it still had some significant areas of concern, starting with a pass rush that managed just 37 sacks and a secondary that needed help at both safety and cornerback.
The Eagles used free agency to bolster their secondary, signing versatile safety Malcolm Jenkins and cornerback Nolan Carroll. Jenkins will team with either second-year safety Earl Wolff or veteran Nate Allen, who was re-signed to a one-year deal, on the back end. Carroll will compete for a starting job at corner against incumbents Cary Williams and Bradley Fletcher. But mostly what Carroll will provide is much-needed depth at the corner position.
Last year, the Eagles had Williams, Fletcher and nickel corner Brandon Boykin and nothing else. They were so thin at corner that they seldom used a dime package the entire season.
Even with the additions of Jenkins, a former corner who can drop down and cover slot receivers, and Carroll, the Eagles still will be on the lookout for corners and safeties in next month’s draft, possibly in the first round.
There weren’t a lot of difference-making edge rushers in free agency. The Eagles did sign former Houston Texans outside linebacker Bryan Braman. But he was primarily brought in because of his special teams prowess more than his pass-rushing ability.
It remains to be seen whether they will be able to find a difference-making edge rusher in the draft. The three best — Jadeveon Clowney, Khalil Mack and Anthony Barr — all are expected to be off the board long before the Eagles select at No. 22.
“There was no one in free agency that you were like, ‘Wow, I wish this happened,’” coach Chip Kelly said. “You also can’t force it. You can’t say, ‘He’s the best defensive end or outside linebacker available, so let’s sign him.’ Then all of a sudden he’s yours and you’re like, ‘Wow. I don’t think we improved ourselves.’”
The Eagles got 13 sacks from their two starting outside linebackers last season — eight by Trent Cole and five by Connor Barwin. Because he had experience in a 3-4 at Houston, Barwin, who had 11.5 sacks for the Texans in 2011, did most of the dirty work last year, dropping into coverage and setting the edge against the run.
Cole, who will turn 32 in October, had played with his hand on the ground as a 4-3 end his entire career, and struggled early on making the transition to a 3-4 last year. But he finished strong, collecting all eight of his sacks in the final eight regular-season games.
Kelly’s offense was prolific last season. It finished second in total yards gained and fourth in points scored. Quarterback Nick Foles had 27 touchdown passes and just two interceptions and running back LeSean McCoy led the league in rushing.
The Eagles will get wide receiver Jeremy Maclin, who missed all of last season with a torn ACL, back. They also re-signed Riley Cooper, who had a breakout season in 2013, catching a career-high 47 passes and eight touchdowns.
But in late March, the Eagles released their top wideout, DeSean Jackson. Jackson had a career-high 82 passes for 1,332 yards and nine touchdowns last season. But he also had a $12.5 million cap number and wanted a new deal. So the Eagles let him go.
Assuming Maclin can bounce back from his ACL injury — the second of his career — the Eagles should be OK at the first two wide receiver spots. But at the moment, they don’t really have a No. 3 wide receiver after releasing veteran Jason Avant.
They almost certainly will select at least one wideout in a draft that is thick with wide receiver talent. But how high?
General manager Howie Roseman has said that this draft is so deep at the wideout position that he thinks there will be wideouts available that the Eagles like in every round. That would seem to indicate that they will use their first-round pick on another position, possibly a cornerback, given that Williams’ cap number is going to be jumping to more than $8 million in 2015, or even offensive line, given that three of their starters are 32 or older.