Eagles Re-Sign DT Timmy Jernigan

Eagles Re-Sign DT Timmy Jernigan

Don’t count Timmy Jernigan among the Eagles offseason losses after all. After he received minimal interest on the open market, the Eagles decided to bring back defensive tackle Timmy Jernigan for at least one more season. He was a free agent after Philadelphia chose to decline his expensive 2019 option, but they get him back at a much cheaper price (exact terms undisclosed). Jernigan was rewarded a monster contract after his impressive start in 2017, but a mysterious career-threatening back injury severely limited his playing time this past season. He only played 45 total snaps throughout the season. Even before the unexplained injury, Jernigan’s play had fallen off after his hot start.

To replace him, the Eagles signed former Denver and Jacksonville lineman Malik Jackson, and rumors swirled that they were set to take another DT in the first round of the upcoming draft. Now that Jernigan has returned, Philadelphia keeps a very good third defensive tackle and can look elsewhere early in the draft.

Jernigan, who quickly became fan favorite in Philadelphia, was a second-round pick of the Baltimore Ravens back in 2014. The Eagles acquired him before their 2017 Super Bowl season. He has 15.5 career sacks and 124 career tackles to his name.

Philadelphia did not directly address the defensive tackle position through the draft, but they did attempt to trade up with Miami, presumably for Christian Wilkins out of Clemson. Talks fell through and they ended up trading their seventh-rounder to the Colts for DT Hassan Ridgeway. He’ll compete for the fourth DT spot with playoff hero Treyvon Hester. The only defensive player that the Eagles took in the draft was Penn State DE Shareef Miller. Chris Long had reportedly told the team to plan like he won’t be back, so Miller’s selection likely corresponds with that.

-By: Micah Jimoh