Why did the Eagles sign Ndamukong Suh? Jordan Davis injury prompts veteran addition

Total times read this article : 5

The Eagles are making another big in-season splash as they look to contend for another Super Bowl title.

Philadelphia announced Thursday it has agreed to a free-agent deal with defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh. Suh, 35, will provide the team with a savvy veteran on the defensive line and continue to shore up depth along the Eagles’ great defensive front.

Suh had remained unsigned since his contract with the Buccaneers expired after the team’s 2022 postseason exit. He is in his 13th season and while he may not be the same, elite talent who was once good enough to be the No. 2 pick in the 2010 NFL Draft, he still has been an effective all-around player for Tampa Bay the last couple of seasons.

Now, he will hope that his solid skill set can lead him to success in Philadelphia.

But why exactly did the Eagles sign Suh? Some may view this deal as a luxury for the team, but in reality, he provides them with some much-needed help on the defensive interior.

IYER: NFL picks against the spread, predictions for Week 11

Why did the Eagles sign Ndamukong Suh?

The Eagles signed Ndamukong Suh because they needed to shore up their run defense. In recent weeks, that has been an area of weakness for Philadelphia, and that shouldn’t be a major surprise.

Philadelphia’s first-round pick, Jordan Davis, had made a major difference along the defensive line during his rookie season. Pro Football Focus grades Davis as the eighth-best run-stuffing interior defender in the league with a mark of 77.7. He has been credited with just 11 tackles and six stops on the year, but the 6-6, 340-pound behemoth has created more disruption than that thanks to his enormous frame.

Unfortunately, Davis suffered a high-ankle sprain in Week 8 and was placed on IR as a result. He has missed two games but will need to miss at least two more before he returns to action.

Davis plays just 33 percent of the Eagles’ snaps, but he often does so on early downs. Without him, the team has struggled against the run and is allowing 136.7 rushing yards per game since he got hurt. Per Dov Kleiman, that is good for the fourth-most in the NFL.

With that said, the Eagles needed some reinforcements on the interior. They signed veteran nose tackle Linval Joseph, who is expected to help the team deal with that issue, and Suh will do the same.

Suh has had six sacks in each of the last two seasons, but he has typically been solid against the run as well. He recorded 112 total tackles over his three seasons with the Buccaneers and has typically graded out as a solid run defender, per PFF. As such, it made sense for the Eagles to add him in addition to Joseph, as both will be solid role players and add a good mix of skills to the table.

As NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo pointed out, Suh had expressed a desire to come to Philadelphia. Eagles GM Howie Roseman was happy to add him to provide depth.

Now, the Eagles are better equipped to make a Super Bowl push. As for Suh, he will get a chance to play, even if it is just a rotational role, and he could take home his second ring if all goes well.

Thus, the signing appears to be a mutually beneficial one where the team and the player are on the same page and share the same goal.

MORE: Why Jalen Hurts fell to the second round of the 2020 NFL Draft

Ndamukong Suh teams

Before joining the Eagles, Suh spent time with four different NFL teams. He was drafted by the Lions, signed a lucrative free-agent contract with the Dolphins and has spent the latter stages of his career chasing championships with the Rams and Buccaneers.

Below is a breakdown of the teams Suh spent time with and how many years he spent at each location.

  • Lions: 5 years
  • Dolphins: 3 years
  • Rams: 1 year
  • Buccaneers: 3 years
  • Eagles: TBD

MORE: How long is Dallas Goedert out? Eagles shorthanded at TE after injury

Ndamukong Suh stats

Suh has been a prolific sack artist during his time in the NFL. He came out of the gate on fire, recording 10 sacks during his Defensive Rookie of the Year campaign in 2010, and while he has never reached that number again, he has posted at least four in 11 of his 12 seasons to date.

Below is a breakdown of Suh’s total numbers on a team-by-team basis, as well as his career totals in all major statistical categories:

Team Seasons Games Tackles TFL Sacks FF Pass defenses
Lions 5 78 238 66 36 2 15
Dolphins 3 48 181 37 15.5 2 13
Rams 1 16 59 4 4.5 0 4
Buccaneers 3 49 112 23 14.5 1 6

Suh has also received three AP All-Pro first-team nods during his career. Those came in 2010, 2013 and 2014. He also made the All-Pro second team twice (2012 and 2016) and was named to the Pro Bowl five times. His last nomination came in 2016.

Facebook Comments Box

Hits: 0

RELATED ARTICLESMORE FROM AUTHOR