The Philadelphia Eagles are set to add another veteran with championship experience to their already stuffed defensive front. Defensive tackle Haloti Ngata intends to sign with the defending champions on a one-year deal, per ESPN’s Adam Schefter and Chris Mortensen.
Former Lions’ DT Haloti Ngata intends to sign a one-year deal with Eagles, per @mortreport and me.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 13, 2018
Ngata, 34, is coming off an injury-shortened 2017 season with the Detroit Lions after tearing his biceps in Week 5, which landed him on injured reserve. He played just five games last season, the first time he’s ever missed fewer than 12 games in his 12-year career.
Ngata had spent the last three seasons in Detroit. Prior to that, he had nine very successful years with the Baltimore Ravens, which he helped win the Super Bowl in 2013. He will now join another veteran defensive lineman with a ring in Michael Bennett, whom the Eagles recently acquired in a trade from the Seattle Seahawks.
Ngata will likely take the snaps of free agent Beau Allen backing up star tackles Timmy Jernigan and Fletcher Cox along the interior of the Eagles line. Ngata has been a reliable run-stopper over the course of his career and should see the field primarily in obvious running downs.
Although he has contemplated retirement in the past, Ngata likely didn’t want to go out while he was injured. He’ll find himself in an ideal situation with the Eagles, where he won’t be forced to over-extend his already declining body. And of course, he’ll have the chance to compete for one more championship ring before he calls time on what is potentially a Hall of Fame career.
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