This is the third and final position where starting appears to be still up for grabs. There is some competition along the interior of the offensive line, but the Eagles seem set to stick with Herremans and Jackson. Maclin, McCoy, and Ingram will all contribute, but likely only start in the event of an injury. And unless he decides to show up just to collect his paycheck, Sheldon Brown isn't in jeopardy of losing his snaps to Ellis Hobbs.
That being said, sorry we didn't save the best for last.
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Parker honestly doesn't have much going for him. Last year was his first full season as a starter, but he only managed to pick up 5 sacks. He doesn't put a lot of pressure on the quarterback, and he's not exactly a feared run defender either, even if teams do run at Trent Cole more frequently. Oh, and Parker is 31, so chances are we've seen the best this eight year veteran has to offer.
The problem for the Eagles is, while Parker doesn't do anything particularly great, at least he is a known commodity. Abiamiri was expected to battle for the job last summer, but an injury forced him to miss most of the regular season, and he wasn't really at full strength until the end of the year. The result being, after two cycles through the NFL, nobody is quite sure what to expect from the kid.
Though it would be a shame if he didn't win the job. Abiamiri is bigger and far younger than Parker. He doesn't project as a dominant pass rusher either, but he has long arms that can keep blockers at a distance, a nice advantage once he has learned the proper technique. At worst, he should be able to match Parker's '08 production, and who knows where the ceiling is.
It also might become a numbers game at this position. As of now, the Eagles carry six defensive ends (and Josh Gaines for the next few weeks). Cole and Clemons are locks. Howard was very effective last year and should return. Traditionally the team carries five, which leaves two spots for Parker, Abiamiri, or completely untested Bryan Smith. It's unusual to cut second and third round players without giving them a shot. Parker has three years remaining on his contract, mostly base salary, so there isn't a huge cap burden if he's released. It's not a given he's the odd man out, and injuries can change the current complexion, but he may need to win this job in order to keep his.
Abiamiri should start, it's really as simple as that. Juqua is solid, and if the change isn't working out, they can always go back to the reliable veteran, provided he's still on the roster. The Eagles need to figure out what they got with their '07 second round pick though, and we hope it's an upgrade. That could be a scary thought for opposing offenses looking for holes in the front four.