NFL Rumors: Philadelphia Eagles Will Steal Show With Ray Edwards Signing

Philadelphia Eagles head coach Andy Reid loves to horde defensive linemen, and the team was reported to have interest in Tennessee Titans end Jason Babin.

While Babin had the best numbers of any defensive end on the free-agent market, he is not the best player and certainly not who the Eagles should be targeting.

The player who would fit Philadelphia’s schemes even better than Babin would be Minnesota Vikings defensive end Ray Edwards. At 26 years old, Edwards is almost six years younger and has a much higher ceiling than Babin.

Philadelphia Eagles Insider Gary Cobb is saying:

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You know the Eagles formula. They want to sign young, ascending players to long term deals.

If you looked at the production alone, the Eagles would be pursuing former Eagles, now Tennessee Titan free agent defensive end Jason Babin and his 12.5 sacks rather than Minnesota Vikings free agent defensive end Ray Edwards and his eight sacks.

The sack number isn’t the only thing the Eagles are interested in when they compare Babin to Edwards. One is 31 years of age and the other is only 26.

Yes Edwards hasn’t lit up the sack numbers as of yet, but he’s one of the most effective pass rushers in the league.

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While the Eagles are solid on the right side with Pro Bowler Trent Cole, the left side of the defensive line has serious questions with rookie Brandon Graham’s knee injury and the fact that Juqua Parker is getting older by the second.

The popular belief was that Babin would come back to his former team and work with the coach that helped him have the best year of his career last season in new defensive line coach Jim Washburn.

Judging by the shape he was in during his offseason activities, Edwards would be an athletic end that would compliment Cole nicely on the left side. With his strength and the size of Brodrick Bunkley, Mike Patterson and Antonio Dixon clogging up the center of the line, the duo of Edwards and Cole would be a nightmare for the opposition.

Philadelphia may have to pay a little more than they’d like to bring him in, but they could lock him up long-term as the perfect compliment on a dominate front line.

Playing like they did last season, the defense has to improve, and if the Eagles can snag Ray Edwards off the free-agent market, they would move closer to that ever elusive Super Bowl title.

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