Eagles Re-Signing Hassan Ridgeway Could Indicate Big Moves Are Coming on the Defensive Line

The Philadelphia Eagles opted to retain Hassan Ridgeway, bringing back the defensive tackle on a one-year deal for the 2020 season.

While keeping the 25-year-old in Philly was the right call for the Birds, it could indicate a series of big moves are on the horizon in regards to the rest of the defensive line.

With Ridgeway locked in for 2020, the futures of two fellow defensive linemen in Philly are far less certain. The decision to bring back the 25-year-old could signal the departure of fellow defensive stalwarts Tim Jernigan and Malik Jackson.

While the Eagles certainly won't be cutting Jackson, who carries an insane $17.2 million dead cap value, it's possible the team looks to offload the 30-year-old via trade. Getting his contract off the books via trade could allow Philly to pursue other areas of need on the open market, though it's possible the team would prefer to retain him and utilize Ridgeway as a depth piece.

Meanwhile, Jernigan, who is an unrestricted free agent, seems far less likely to return to the Eagles following the deal with Ridgeway. The fact that he has only played in 12 games over the past two seasons is all the evidence needed to suggest the team would be better off exploring other avenues.