Linebacker has always been a strange position when it comes to the Eagles’ roster construction. It’s hard to say the last time the Birds truly had an elite linebacker to anchor the defense – it just never really seemed like a valued position in the Howie Roseman era. While I understand the thought that LB shouldn’t be valued over positions like edge and corner, I can’t argue in good faith that the lack of impact play at linebacker hasn’t been infuriating to watch these past few years. However, this off-season has seen somewhat of a departure from the Eagles’ neglect of the LB position – with a couple of key additions at the position on top of some underrated home-grown talent, it’s possible we see the start of a linebacker renaissance in Philly. With the stigma behind the position’s past and burgeoning excitement I have about its future, I thought it would be pertinent to go in-depth on each player, old and returning, and see if the potential for a truly high-level linebacker corps is really there or not.
TJ Edwards
Starting off with the “surest thing” of the returning group, TJ Edwards has proven himself much more than a replacement player at Linebacker for the Eagles. The 25-year-old was picked up as a UDFA by the birds three years ago, and has proven himself a diamond in the rough on the front seven. Logging a 76 PFF grade in the middle for a banged-up and shallow linebacker corps in 2021, TJ has a case for being one of the most underrated pieces for the birds on either side of the ball. He’ll probably get a chance to prove himself a valuable piece again this year, as the Wisconsin product is the longest-tenured player of the group.
Davion Taylor
Davion Taylor is probably the least talked about part of the Eagles’ notorious 2020 draft class, but outside of Jalen Hurts, he arguably has the most to prove in 2022. Drafted out of Boulder, it was well known Taylor would be a massive project. He’s an elite athlete, logging a 9.08 relative athletic score, but only started playing football at age 18 due to his communities’ religious beliefs – so he’s really just starting to get a feel for the game. The 23-year-old received considerable snaps in 2021 and looked good with his ranginess and solid tackling on full display. However, Taylor was injured midway through the season, and his on-field development was halted. I’m very excited to see Taylor play in 2022, and think he has the chance to prove himself a part of this young Eagles LB corps moving forward. With his youth and athleticism, more time in the building should only serve to make him better.
Kyzir White
One of the Birds’ first big defensive additions of the off-season, Kyzir White was an absolute steal for his 5 mil price tag. The former Charger is a tackling machine, logging 144 in 2021, good for 8th in the NFL. White is another super young, super athletic player – the 26-year-old has high-level speed in pursuit and quick twitch in coverage. At the moment, White is probably the best linebacker on this squad. He should provide an immediate impact both on the field and off, as he’s a perfect mentor for the young guys here. I wouldn’t be surprised if White is a guy we end up re-signing long-term this season, as he’s more than capable of being a top-tier LB in all phases behind this defensive line.
Nakobe Dean
Many Eagles fans wanted us to draft Nakobe Dean in round one – and while I believe that would have been a slight reach, getting him in the THIRD ROUND is an absolute steal. My closest player comparison for Nakobe dean was none other than Kyzir White – but Dean actually provides a bit more when it comes to rushing the passer. Dean reportedly fell in the draft due to injury concerns, but it seems the Eagles believe they’re insignificant; Dean was apparently a full-go for minicamp and should be a full participant in training camp this summer. The 21-year-old Georgia product has the twitchiness and speed you love to see in an off-ball linebacker – and while his detractors may say his production was a product of a dominant Georgia defensive line, he’s stepping into a very similar situation on the Eagles. I have no doubt Dean will be a very good player for a very long time on the Birds, and he’s a major reason for my optimism at the linebacker position.
Depth: Jacoby Stevens, Shaun Bradley
All of these guys are battling for a potential fifth and sixth linebacker spot, and unfortunately for Jacoby Stevens and Joe Ostman, I think Bradley is going to be a lock based on how the Coaching staff raves about his special teams impact. If I had to choose between Stevens and Ostman, I would probably go Stevens based on his youth, but here you’re really nitpicking. Stevens and Ostman should be able to find work in other places if they don’t end up making the team in 2022, and either should be able to provide solid depth.
Note: I believe Haason Reddick will primarily play at EDGE, so I didn’t list him here.
Editor’s Note: Joe Ostman was released by the Eagles with a failed physical designation.
The Verdict
I’m excited about this Eagles linebacker corps. Really excited. Howie Roseman has assembled the perfect blend of youth and athleticism that makes the sky the limit for any position grouping, and it’s showing with how excited the coaching staff and fans seem to be about these guys. Edwards and White should be able to anchor this defense early, but it’s only a matter of time before Dean and Taylor prove why they were drafted by this front office – and the rotation of those four athletic specimens could be deadly. Obviously, question marks are inherent with the youth of this squad, but with the garbage the Eagles have put on the field over the past few years, it’s nice to finally be excited about Eagles Linebackers.
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Noah Berger is a featured writer at The Birds Blitz. For more from Noah, check out his archive and read through our Eagles articles for the latest news about the Birds.
