ClutchPoints
The Philadelphia Eagles made a bold move at the trade deadline, landing edge rusher Jaelan Phillips in a clear sign they’re all-in on a playoff push. But one move remains, and it’s vital. To give Phillips and the defense their best shot, they should sign veteran defensive tackle Christian Wilkins. The former All-Pro interior disruptor would plug the A-gap, collapse the pocket, and complement the edge upgrades.
Wilkins is available after the Las Vegas Raiders released him amid a contentious rehab dispute and a locker-room episode that escalated tensions, a situation that left Wilkins on the market despite his proven upside up front. Leaving him available to any contender willing to pay for dominance in the trenches. The Eagles should be that contender.
Phillips brings explosive athleticism off the edge, but even the most dynamic pass rusher struggles if the center and guards dictate the pocket. Wilkins offers exactly what the Eagles’ interior rotation lacks: High-level penetration, disruptiveness, and the kind of presence that forces offenses to respect the middle.
Wilkins has been one of the most disruptive interior defenders in football over the last three seasons. He’s a former first-round pick (2019) who combines power with elite hand usage, racking up 89 and then 98 tackles in back-to-back seasons from 2021 to 2022, via ESPN, ridiculous production for a defensive tackle.
With Wilkins lined up next to Jordan Davis, offensive coordinators would be forced to pick their poison. Double Davis and let Wilkins slice through one-on-ones, or double Wilkins and give Phillips the runway to wreak havoc. That’s a nightmare setup, and it’s the kind of front-four balance Howie Roseman has been chasing.
By signing Wilkins, the Eagles would gain more than a body; they’d gain a game-changer. A three-tech who wins at the point of attack shifts schemes. It forces offenses to keep chips and double teams in the interior, which opens up chances for the edge rushers and linebackers to roam free. With Phillips now added along the edge, Wilkins gives coordinator Vic Fangio the flexibility to mix pressures, stunts, and A-gap attacks instead of just letting opposing offenses set up shop at will.
Running teams will also feel the change when the middle is clogged, gaps shrink, forcing backs into tighter windows and giving the Eagles’ front seven more chances to make plays. It tightens up the run defense and raises the ceiling when the opponent tries to beat Philadelphia on the ground.
The trade for Phillips signalled urgency. But urgency needs alignment, edge addition + interior upgrade = functional pressure. Wilkins is available. He’s not a high-risk, long-term project. He fits now.
Also, because Wilkins is a defensive tackle, he won’t cannibalize Phillips’ snaps or disrupt the edge rotation. Instead, he anchors it. Philadelphia doesn’t need to pay over market for an edge now; they paid for one. They do need to add the missing interior gear....
