Eagles’ T.J. Edwards Has Become One of NFL’s Best Linebackers

With the NFL playing 17 games and 18 weeks now, we have passed the halfway portion of the season, with the Philadelphia Eagles the lone unbeaten team at 8-0 entering their Monday Night contest with Washington.

To achieve an unblemished mark this deep into the season, there has to be some standout performers to help get there.

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When taking a look at Jonathan Gannon's defense, off-ball linebacker T.J. Edwards has been one of the best per NFL.com's Next Gen Stats.

He came in at No. 8 overall through nine weeks of the season.

Edwards has excelled as a pass rusher, as he entered Week 9 tied for third among off-ball linebackers with nine QB pressures this season (to go along with two sacks). But Edwards has been a tackling machine no matter what his role on a given play is, making a tackle on 15.8 percent of his defensive snaps (10th among all players through Week 8, min. 300 snaps).

Many people thought the Eagles would be using third-round pick Nakobe Dean in that role, but he has been unable to get on the field, thanks in large part to Edwards play.

"Nakobe is ready to go," said Eagles defensive coordinator Jonathan Gannon. "I think I talked about that with Kirk Herbstreit. He asked about him, and I said when Nakobe has to go in, I have no fret of him going in and functioning at a very high level,"

Another reason he can't get on the field?

Opposite of Edwards is free agent pick up, Kyzir White, who signed a one-year, $5 million contract in the offseason. NFL.com Next Gen Stats named him a honorable mention linebacker this season.

"I like where Kyzir and T.J. are at," said Eagles defensive coordinator Jonathan Gannon. "I think they are playing well with each other."

They sure are and are one of the biggest reasons the Eagles is one of the best units in the NFL.