Philadelphia Eagles to sign Javon Hargrave: Grade, reaction and more
By Nick Villano
The resounding thought going into NFL Free Agency was the Philadelphia Eagles were going to make a splash. It took them until the end of the first day to make a signing, bringing in nose tackle Javon Hargrave.
Javon Hargrave doesn’t have to move very far, staying in the Keystone State and signing with the Philadelphia Eagles, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter. He spent four seasons with the Steelers, and had his best season in 2019. Hargrave had a career-high 60 tackles, 35 of which were solo tackles and he had seven tackles for loss.
Nose tackle is a position that wasn’t always valued in the league, mostly because it was hard to get the counting stats at the position, but with 10.5 sacks over the past two years, he can still drive pressure up the middle.
He joins Malik Jackson and Fletcher Cox in the middle of the Eagles defensive line. Some might say something has got to give, with Cox making $23.8 million this season and Jackson making $4.6 million. They both also have a significant amount of dead cap coming with their deals, so maybe the Eagles have something in mind.
Contract Details
Schefter reports that Hargrave is getting $39 million over three years, with $26 million guaranteed. That makes him the highest paid nose tackle in the history of the league. Is he worth that? Well, it’s always the next player to hit free agency to get the highest deal, so it makes sense.
The fit is a little strange, because the Eagles were already strong up the middle. Adding to a strength if it feels like a fit is how a lot of teams win, but with the guarantees the Eagles are dealing with at the position it makes it a little difficult.
National Reaction
NFL News: #FlyEaglesFly sign NT Javon Hargrave to a three-year, $39 million deal (h/t @RosenhausSports) and (@RapSheet)
— Ryan Sakamoto (@BEASTwriter) March 17, 2020
*Highest paid NT in NFL
*$26 million fully guaranteed
*One of the best NT in NFL who brought interior push as rusher while being a clog up the middle.
Javon Hargrave is explosive pic.twitter.com/XZkrLIyPXy
— Chris Trapasso 🏈 (@ChrisTrapasso) March 17, 2020
Fletcher Cox and Javon Hagrave are going to absolutely wreck so many offensive plays next to each other in Philly. My goodness.
— Field Yates (@FieldYates) March 17, 2020
Javon Hargrave is a stud. He next to Fletcher Cox is going to be FUN.
— Ty (@HandsTeamTy) March 17, 2020
Don’t forget - Malik Jackson is the rotational pass rusher, too.
Entering his prime. Only 27 years old. #Eagles https://t.co/soZCN0hrFY
The reaction to the deal is almost universally positive. Again, adding to a position of strength is how some of the best teams in the league keep winning. It’s going to be very hard to keep the interior contained against the Eagles on a weekly basis.
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The guarantees make this a little scary for the Eagles, but overall they made the right move. It’s not like any wide receivers were signed in lieu of this deal, so they still have a chance to upgrade their weakest positions. For now, the Eagles now have one of the best defensive tackle positions in all of the NFL.