By Ben Sullivan
Trent Cole’s days as an Eagle are over, but the man who is second to Reggie White on the Eagles’ all-time sack list with 85.5, won’t be out of work for long.
“We spoke with Trent and his agent and expressed a desire to have him back,” Eagles head coach Chip Kelly said in the release. “We have been talking for a couple of weeks. However, at this point, we think it’s best to let him explore other options around the NFL.”
There will be interest in Cole, who made the switch from 4-3 defensive end to 3-4 linebacker and still recorded 14.5 sacks the past two years, and here are some teams that could use his talent.
Falcons: New head coach Dan Quinn needs pass rushers to make his defense work. Cole could easily fit into Atlanta’s front four.
Panthers: Carolina is another team weak up front and could use Cole’s veteran presence and pass-rushing skills. Coordinator Sean McDermott also knows him from their time together with the Eagles.
Bengals: Cole’s hometown team finished dead last in the league last season in sacks per pass play. He could make a difference and get a chance to go home again.
Cowboys: Dallas doesn’t have a lot of room under the salary cap, but owner Jerry Jones often finds ways to make things happen. Cole has always played well against the Cowboys, and that sometimes goes a long way in decision-making.
49ers: Probably a long shot, but San Francisco could use another outside pass rusher, and Cole would be perfect as a designated third-down-type rusher.
