Philadelphia Eagles DE Josh Sweat: NFL's Most Underrated Pass Rusher?

Philadelphia Eagles defensive end Josh Sweat has proven to be one of the best pass rushers in the NFL this season.

Despite still not being talked about among the elite defensive names in the NFL, Philadelphia Eagles defensive end Josh Sweat has turned himself into one of the best pass rushers in the league whether you know about it or not.

This season, Sweat has recorded 50 pressures through nine games, which is tied for the most in the NFL according to NextGenStats. He has specifically been dominant late in games, leading the NFL in fourth-quarter pressures by a large margin. He has recorded 23 pressures in the final quarter of games this year, with the next closest player being Baltimore Ravens' Jadeveon Clowney with 16. 

Sweat has 6.5 sacks this season as the Eagles are roughly midway through the year.

Josh Sweat recorded one sack against the Dallas Cowboys.  / USA Today Sports

After being drafted by Philadelphia in the fourth round of the 2018 NFL Draft, he's been everything the team dreamed he could be and more. At 26 years old, the edge rusher has recorded 35.0 career sacks including a career-high 11.0 sacks last season. In 2021, Sweat made the Pro Bowl after recording 45 tackles, 7.5 sacks, seven tackles for loss and four passes defended. 

The Eagles defensive line has been come alive in fourth quarters this season, most recently against the Dallas Cowboys. With Philadelphia only up by five points with 27 seconds left, the Cowboys had the ball on the 11-yard line with a chance to win the game. Sweat came off the edge and sacked Dak Prescott to set Dallas back to the 22-yard line. Two plays later, the Eagles won the game. 

Next up for Sweat and Philadelphia is a Super Bowl rematch against the Kansas City Chiefs after both teams have a bye week for Week 10. The game will be played on Monday Night Football in Kansas City on Nov. 20 at 8:15 p.m.