Eagles' Best Answer On Edge Should Come In The Draft

One-year free agent signings have been hit-or-miss, so the team should focus on finding a long-term solution through the draft.

Mar. 30, 2026 at 4:43pm

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A cubist, geometric painting depicting an NFL edge rusher in action, with sharp planes of green and black representing the player's movement and energy on the field.The Eagles' search for a dominant edge rusher may require a bold investment in the NFL Draft rather than relying on short-term free agent signings.Atlanta Today

The Philadelphia Eagles have signed a few one-year free agent edge rushers in recent years, like Arnold Ebiketie and Joe Tryon-Shoyinka, hoping to uncover a hidden gem. However, these short-term signings have had mixed results, with some players failing to live up to expectations. The team's best path to finding a dominant edge rusher may be through the NFL Draft, where they can target prospects like Keldric Faulk or Akheem Mesidor in the first round or Gabe Jacas and Malachi Lawrence in the second.

Why it matters

The Eagles have struggled to find consistent production from their edge rushers in recent seasons, relying on one-year free agent signings that have not always panned out. Investing a high draft pick in a promising young edge rusher could provide the team with a long-term solution at a critical position on defense.

The details

The Eagles signed Ebiketie and Tryon-Shoyinka to one-year deals this offseason, hoping they could replicate the success of past one-year signings like Zach Baun. However, previous one-year edge rushers like Azeez Ojulari and Josh Uche have failed to make a significant impact. The team's last high draft pick used on an edge rusher was Derek Barnett in 2017, and they've had mixed results finding contributors on Day 3 of the draft at the position.

  • The Eagles signed Ebiketie and Tryon-Shoyinka to one-year deals this offseason.
  • The last time the Eagles drafted an edge rusher in the first two rounds was Derek Barnett in 2017.

The players

Arnold Ebiketie

A one-year free agent signing by the Eagles this offseason, Ebiketie is hoping to prove himself and earn a long-term contract.

Joe Tryon-Shoyinka

Another one-year free agent signing by the Eagles, Tryon-Shoyinka was a first-round pick by the Buccaneers in 2021 but has yet to live up to his draft position.

Zach Baun

A one-year free agent signing by the Eagles in 2022 who was able to turn his prove-it deal into a lucrative three-year contract.

Azeez Ojulari

A one-year free agent signing by the Eagles in 2022 who struggled with injuries and failed to make a significant impact.

Josh Uche

A one-year free agent signing by the Eagles in 2022 who had a minimal role and was inactive for key games.

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What’s next

The Eagles will look to the 2023 NFL Draft to find a long-term solution at edge rusher, potentially targeting prospects like Keldric Faulk or Akheem Mesidor in the first round or Gabe Jacas and Malachi Lawrence in the second round.

The takeaway

The Eagles' recent history of signing one-year free agent edge rushers has been hit-or-miss, so the team would be wise to invest a high draft pick in a promising young pass rusher who can provide consistent production for years to come.