Few teams have lost more to a position group this offseason than the Philadelphia Eagles along their defensive line.
Stars like edge rushers Josh Sweat and Brandon Graham as well as defensive tackle Milton Williams have all moved on from the team after their dazzling appearance in Super Bowl LIX.
Following the trade of Bryce Huff, the Eagles have a clear need along the edge of their defensive line. And while the organization has never been shy of thinking outside the box for solutions, they may have one specific plan in mind.
When the Eagles picked linebacker Jihaad Campbell with the 31st pick in April's NFL Draft, the team seemed to open up to the possibility of a freak athlete like the Alabama star becoming an edge rusher.
“We’ve seen what [defensive coordinator Vic Fangio] can do with guys with this skill set,” GM Howie Roseman said. “I don’t want to put this player in that box [of stacked LB or edge rusher]. That’s what I’m saying. This guy can grow into anything that you want.
“You see it, what’s going on in the league, and Zack Baun is a great example. These guys, they can rush from the edge, they can play in space. They can affect the quarterback from depth, from the edge, and that’s what we’re looking for.”
If Campbell can become a similar player like Dallas Cowboys star Micah Parsons, it could change the very fabric of Philadelphia's defense.
That's a big ask. But it's part of the plan.
And if it works? It can keep the Eagles defense among the elite units in the league for a long time.