Vic Fangio, the defensive coordinator for the Philadelphia Eagles, has five free agent targets.
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) – Vic Fangio will be running the defense for the Philadelphia Eagles in 2024.
After the team spiraled at the end of 2023, canned Sean Desai and let Matt Patricia go, the franchise tapped the longtime defensive coach to bring some competency to the team’s defense.
With Fangio as the team’s defensive coordinator, the Eagles could target some players in free agency who previously played in his scheme.
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Despite spending just one season with the Miami Dolphins under Fangio’s tutelage in 2023, Andrew Van Ginkel had one of his best seasons to date.
Against the Washington Commanders, Van Ginkel totaled 69 tackles, including a career-high six sacks, one fumble recovery, and one interception return for a touchdown.
Van Ginkel, who played on the edge and at linebacker for the Dolphins, was drafted in the fifth round by Miami in the 2019 NFL draft out of the University of Wisconsin.
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The Eagles will be losing Zach Cunningham, Shaq Leonard and Nicholas Morrow to free agency, so Van Ginkel could be a target for the Birds given his experience playing under Fangio.
Before last season, Fangio even called Van Ginkel and encouraged him to re-sign with the Dolphins because he was a good fit for the defense.
The Eagles’ safety play left a lot to be desired in 2023. Outside of veteran Kevin Byard, the team’s safeties were young and ravaged by injuries.
But that could change if they try to pair Reed Blankenship alongside veteran Eddie Jackson.
Jackson, who became a cap casualty for the Chicago Bears last week, played under Fangio when he was the team’s defensive coordinator for the first two years of his career.
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