NFL News: Eagles snag DE Michael Bennett in trade with Seahawks

The defending Super Bowl champions aren’t done yet.

The Philadelphia Eagles took not just the NFC East, but the entire NFL by storm in 2017. With an MVP-caliber quarterback, a stout cast of offensive skill players, and a fear-inducing lineup in the trenches, they were able to steamroll their way to the Super Bowl, where they would effectively be crowned champions of the NFL.

The Eagles’ defensive line has repeatedly been alluded to as the team’s most brazen strength. With Fletcher Cox, Timmy Jernigan, and Vinny Curry dominating the inside, while Brandon Graham and Derek Barnett invoke havoc from the edges, the Eagles could already make a case for the strongest front four in the entire NFL.

Now, that front four will become just a little bit stronger.

The Eagles appear to have gotten Bennett for a considerably cheap price, and from a certain perspective, this makes sense. Michael Bennett, 6-foot-4, 271, may have logged 8.5 sacks in sixteen games last year, but he turns 33 years old later this year. The three-time Pro Bowler has been a consistent disruptive force on the edge throughout his career, but his days in the NFL are numbered.

It’s also worth noting that the Eagles’ defensive line room is already full as is. In the coming weeks, the team will likely review trade options for Vinny Curry. But even so, Bennett will join an edge rushing unit stacked with names such as Graham, Barnett, Chris Long, and Steven Means.

It’s hard to picture Bennett having more than a rotational role at this point in his career, even with his recent production. And in just a year or two, the Eagles, who are far above the allotted salary cap as it is, will need to make the difficult decision of paying who they can and cutting ties with all others. The Eagles’ front line is scary. But their window for success with this group will close shortly.

Nevertheless, having Bennett means that the starters can be kept fresher, and kept faster. And when they aren’t on the field, Bennett will be a more-than-reliable substitute.

Next: Washington Redskins post-Combine mock draft

This move reinforces the Washington Redskins‘ dire need for a new starting left guard. The Eagles’ fearsome front is here to stay for at least another season, and the Redskins can’t afford to merely withstand. They must acquire players to counter these moves. Whether they do this or not in the near future will indeed be telling.