Eagles pick up accomplished defensive end early in 6th round

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The Eagles completed an early 6th-round double dip on the defensive line, taking defensive end Tarron Jackson from Coastal Carolina with pick 191.

That pick came just two spots after they landed Marlon Tuipulotu from USC.

Jackson, 22, finished his college career as Coastal Carolina’s all-time sack leader. During his college career, Jackson piled up 26 1/2 sacks to go along with 44 1/2 tackles for loss and 6 forced fumbles.

How would Jackson describe his pass rush style?

“I would say relentless,” he answered on a Zoom call with reporters. “I’m the guy who’s trying to come off the ball as hard as he can, trying to be violent with my hands. Every year, I’ve tried to improve on my bend, trying to bend around the corner instead of rounding it.”

Over the last two seasons, he had 18 1/2 sacks and 27 TFLs. He was a First-Team All-Sun Belt conference player in 2019 and was the conference’s Defensive Player of the Year in 2020.

Jackson said he wasn’t heavily recruited coming out of high school but felt like he fit in at Coastal Carolina, which made the transition from FCS to FBS early in Jackson’s college career.

At 6-2, 254 pounds, Jackson has a stocky build and could project as a rotational defensive end piece for the Birds.

Here’s what The Athletic’s Dane Brugler wrote about Jackson:

“With his upfield energy, Jackson is quick to soften the edge with his heavy hands and cross into the neutral zone. While he is gap sound and holds up at the point, he has a tweener body type and needs to improve his anchor strength and shed skills. Overall, Jackson’s gaudy college production might not translate, but he is a spark plug rusher with the snap quickness and pop in his hands to line up inside or outside. He projects as a base end who can reduce on passing downs.”

The Eagles bring back Brandon Graham, Derek Barnett and Josh Sweat as their top defensive ends in 2021 but the position is far from settled long-term. Graham is 33 now, Barnett is playing this season on his fifth-year option and Sweat is entering the final year of his rookie contract.

It’s almost a little surprising the Eagles didn’t address the defensive end position a little sooner.

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