Barwin picked up four tackles and a pass defensed in Monday's 26-24 loss to the Falcons.

EDGE Analysis

Barwin continues to be a consistent tackler, but his big-play potential has been missing as of late. He didn't record a sack during the preseason, nor during the first game of the 2015 season, after recording a career-high 14.5 last year.

Barwin recorded five tackles, including one for a loss, in Saturday's 39-26 win over the Packers.

EDGE Analysis

Barwin hasn't recorded many big-point plays this preseason, but he's been near the top of the stat sheet in tackles in each of the team's first three preseason games. He stays around the ball, which bodes well for sacks, fumbles and knockdowns, all of which he brought to the table last season. Barwin remains a sensible IDP selection after his 14.5-sack campaign in 2014.

Barwin finished the 2014 season with 64 tackles (47 solo), 14.5 sacks and two forced fumbles in 16 games. Barwin's 2014 was a smashing success and easily the best of his career. He's obviously a very good fit in defensive coordinator Billy Davis' scheme, and he'll be back as the team's lead edge defender in 2015. It would probably be best to expect more modest production from Barwin in 2015, however -- he totaled just eight sacks over two years the last time he posted double-digit sacks (11.5 in 2011).

Eagles OLB Connor Barwin will be more involved as a pass rusher this season. The only Eagle with experience as a 3-4 outside 'backer, Barwin was asked to play the versatile "Jack" role in the Philadelphia defense last season, a role that saw him drop into coverage on a whopping 42 percent of his snaps. Conversely, Trent Cole only dropped into coverage 22 percent of his defensive snaps as he filled the more aggressive "Predator" role. With Cole now more comfortable playing linebacker and versatile rookie Marcus Smith on the roster, Barwin should be given more freedom to get after the quarterback this season.

Eagles OLB Connor Barwin played 94 percent of Philly's defensive snaps in 2013. Eagles DC Billy Davis employed Barwin as a sort of swiss-army knife at left outside 'backer opposite rush specialist Trent Cole. Barwin is a below-average pass rusher, but has cover skills and graded out as a top-seven run-stopping 3-4 OLB per Pro Football Focus. He finished with 59 tackles and five sacks.

Eagles GM Howie Roseman believes OLB Connor Barwin's sacks dipped from 11.5 in 2011 to 3.0 in 2012 because of how the Texans used him. We disagree, but Barwin isn't our problem. He's Roseman's, for $36 million across six seasons. "He was more on the open side two years ago," Roseman said of Barwin's 11.5-sack campaign. "He was more in position to set the edge and cover the tight end this year. We watched him two years ago on the open side and then even this year when they played the Lions when he was doing it more. ... We think we know what we're getting here in a high-motor guy."

Eagles signed OLB Connor Barwin, formerly of the Texans. We're not surprised Barwin's market was so slow to develop because he lacks explosive edge-rush ability and that's a necessity for 3-4 outside 'backers. 26-year-old Barwin could be a utility defender in Philadelphia, but shouldn't be a realistic option to start over Trent Cole or Brandon Graham. Barwin finished last season with just three sacks across 18 starts, including playoffs.

The Eagles are "on the verge" of a deal with free agent pass-rusher Connor Barwin. The Eagles are in search of an edge rusher as they remake their defensive line, and Barwin would fit the bill. Greeted by a soft market, Barwin is probably wishing he didn't twice turn down extension offers from the Texans.

The Eagles "have been talking" to free agents Connor Barwin and Victor Butler. The Eagles are remaking their front seven, and both Barwin and Butler could come cheap if their early markets are any indication. Butler could have more upside than Barwin, but Barwin certainly has a greater track record of production. Butler had trouble getting on the field in Dallas.

CBS Sports reports "at least three teams" are interested in free agent OLB Connor Barwin. This could be agent-driven, but Barwin will certainly have a market once the likes of Cliff Avril and Paul Kruger get signed. However, it's possible his comedown 2012 will limit him to one-year offers. We wouldn't be surprised to see him end up back in Houston on a team-friendly deal.