3 Free-agent linebackers that could be a good fit for the Eagles

The Eagles went through the 2023 season with two free agent linebackers, Zach Cunningham and Nicholas Morrow, who replaced 2022 third-round pick Nakobe Dean, who was lost for the season with an injury.

Eagles Eagles Executive Vice President and General Manager Howie Roseman recently said that he likes what he has gotten from the linebacker position. 

"I think maybe there are some preconceived notions that at the linebacker position, that we don't care who we play at linebacker," Roseman stated back on Jan 24. Again, our two Super Bowl teams over the last six years, the linebacker play was good from those guys."

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The team did get good play from T.J. Edwards and Kyzir White in the teams run to the Super Bowl, but allowed them both to talk in free agency before the 2023 season.

"We lost two linebackers at that spot, two good players from our Super Bowl team, and we had [LB] Nakobe [Dean] waiting in the wings," Roseman explained. "We drafted him for that role. Obviously, it didn't work out perfectly for him this year. That doesn't change the belief we have in the player."

So it sounds like Dean will be back and a part of Vic Fangio's 2024 defense, and if the team is willing to invest at the position, there will are options available, so who will be is partner?

Here are 3 options from CBS Sports for Roseman to consider.

Jordyn Brooks, Seattle Seahawks

Brooks' tape is often devoid of the kind of splashy plays typically expected of first-round picks, but he's been one of the steadiest starters for an otherwise volatile Seattle Seahawks defense. Appearing in 63 of 67 possible games over four years, he's also eclipsed 110 tackles in every year as a full-time starter.

According to salary cap website, Spotrac.com, the 26-year old's market value is a four-year, $45,355,196 deal, in the range of $11.3 million per season.

Brooks has had some injury issues, having reconstructive ACL surgery in January of 2023 and then missing time with multiple ankle injuries.

Josey Jewell, Denver Broncos

Jewell is the definition of a floor-raiser at LB, rarely garnering accolades but surviving multiple regimes as a tough and instinctive Denver Broncos mainstay. He's not the youngest, which is why Denver could be primed to pass the baton at the position, but he still registers as a plug-and-play defensive signal-caller.

According to salary cap website, Spotrac.com, the 29-year old's market value is a two-year, $15,329,246 deal, in the range of $7.6 million per season.

Remember Jewell also played for new Eagles defensive coordinator Vic Fangio when Fangio was the head coach in Denver.

Patrick Queen, Baltimore Ravens

Queen didn't necessarily live up to his first-round billing to start his Baltimore Ravens career, prompting the team to pass on a fifth-year option. But as soon as Roquan Smith joined the team in 2022, Queen's own game reached new heights; he was arguably the most pocket-disruptive linebacker of Baltimore's imposing "D" in 2023. Can his play-making tenacity continue even if he's removed from a partnership with Smith? It's a fair question. But he entered the NFL with unteachable traits, and he's also proven durable, missing not a single game since his arrival. As a long-term defensive building block, you could do much worse.

According to salary cap website, Spotrac.com, the 24-year old's market value is a five-year, $92,642,310 deal, in the range of $18.5 million per season.

Final Thoughts

From the three free agent linebackers that CBS mentions as best fits, I think Jewell is the most likely, salary-wise. I don't see a scenario where Roseman will hand out a four or five year deal for Brooks or Queen.

One other name that keep an eye on is Kansas City linebacker Willie Gay, who had a tremendous 2022 with 88 tackles, 2.5 sacks and eight passes defended in 13 games.  Last year those numbers dipped a bit down to 58 tackles, four for loss, four pass breakups, three fumble recoveries and one sack.

According to Spotrac.com he has a market value of four years, $28,230,833