If the Eagles sign Minnesota’s restricted free agent defensive end Ray Edwards they will have shut me up and anybody else who has criticized their off season, so far. It would be a brilliant move.
Bob Grotz of the DelcoTimes.com says the Eagles are expected to make a run at Ray Edwards. This would trump not going after Julius Peppers and Aaron Kampman.
Edwards had four sacks during last year’s playoffs and that included three against the much hated Dallas Cowboys.
Going after Edwards makes sense to me if the Birds are going to hang onto veteran quarterback Donovan McNabb.
Edwards would provide an immediate impact to the defense because teams would have to focus on that left defensive side much more which would leave right defensive end Trent Cole single-blocked.
With the 24th pick in the first round, there’s no way the Eagles could draft a defensive end who could play on Edwards’ level. If they were to sign him and the Vikings didn’t match the offer, they would have to give the Vikes that 24th pick.
That’s a good deal. You wouldn’t have to wonder whether he could play or not like all those other rookie defensive ends.
Edwards is only 25 years old and getting ready to enter his prime. He has gotten better every year of his career. Last year he had 8.5 sacks.
The reason he is such a good target is because the Vikings foolishly tendered him at a first round level rather than a first and third round level.
“I’m surprised that they tendered him at a first-round pick versus the one and a three,” said Doug Hendrickson, Edwards’ agent. “Elite pass rushers are extremely hard to find, and their value as impact players is enormous, which is reflected in the defensive end franchise tag of $12.4 million. Ray is one of the top defensive ends in the league and at 25 he’s only going to get better. In my opinion, he will be a hot commodity for several teams looking to upgrade their defense.”
Go get him Eagles.
