time2rock Posted March 13 Share Posted March 13 NFL free agency: Eagles 'on the hunt' for linebacker help; 3 potential targets How will the Eagles fix their linebacker position during free agency? BY SHAMUS CLANCY PhillyVoice Staff ERIC HARTLINE/USA TODAY Jerome Baker picks of Jalen Hurts and takes it back to the house at Lincoln Financial Field. The Eagles keep making splashes in free agency. Bryce Huff is on his way down I-95 from the Jets to rush the passer. Chauncey Gardner-Johnson is returning to Philly on a three-year deal. Most notably, and most uncharacteristically, the Birds are paying big money to running back Saquon Barkley, too. Running back has long been the least valued position offensively on Howie Roseman's rosters. The least valued position overall, however, remains linebacker. That's continued into free agency as well. On Monday, the Eagles agreed to terms with former Saints linebacker Zach Braun, who's more of a hybrid pass-rusher than the true linebacker the Eagles sorrily missed in 2023. A report from CBS Sports' Josina Anderson on Tuesday indicates that the Eagles aren't done adding at that position though, as she states, "The Eagles are "still in the market" and "on the hunt" for a linebacker "one way or another." Unfortunately for the Eagles, the market has thinned out two days into "legal tampering," but there are logical targets available. Dolphins linebacker Jerome Baker is a free agent and spent the 2023 season playing under current Eagles defensive coordinator Vic Fangio in Miami. Baker had 78 tackles, 1.5 sacks and two interceptions in 13 games. Baker, 27, feels like the most reasonable choice out there given that defensive scheme familiarity and the fact that he likely won't command a ton of money on the market, which is exactly in line with how the Eagles handle the linebacker spot financially. The two biggest names available as of this writing are former elite guys who aren't still at that All-Pro level. Devin White, a Second-Team All-Pro choice during the Buccaneers' 2020 Super Bowl-winning season, is coming off a 2023 campaign where he 83 tackles, 2.5 sacks and two interceptions in 14 games. Before free agency, Spotrac projected White, 26, to have a contract worth just north of $21.5 million over two seasons. That just feels too pricy for Roseman and the Birds. Future Hall of Famer Bobby Wagner, 33, is still unsigned as well. Wagner playing for the Eagles may wade too close into "Patrick Ewing playing for the Seattle Supersonics" waters of past-prime stars having unremarkable stints late in the career, but, hey, I'm sure Philadelphians aren't too keen on seeing Shaq Leonard in midnight green again. Wagner gives some 2002 Levon Kirkland vibes in that light. Never count on a simple, yet uninspiring, move like bringing back Zach Cunningham or Nicholas Morrow to play alongside Nakobe Dean... https://www.phillyvoice.com/nfl-free-agency-rumors-eagles-linebacker-targets-devin-white-projected-contract-jerome-baker-bobby-wagner/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
UK_EaglesFan89 Posted March 13 Share Posted March 13 Howie please I beg you… Just go and get us a really good LB in FA. Then add one in the draft and let everyone battle it out. This started with Fangio needs it. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PoconoDon Posted March 13 Share Posted March 13 1 hour ago, UK_EaglesFan89 said: Howie please I beg you… Just go and get us a really good LB in FA. Then add one in the draft and let everyone battle it out. This started with Fangio needs it. I agree 100%. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
time2rock Posted March 13 Author Share Posted March 13 An updated look at the list of free agent LBs (who has been signed, who remains available): Can't really say anyone anyone left gets me excited. Baker would probably be ... OK. Best bet may be to explore trade opportunities. Perhaps a player-for-player swap (Sweat?). And then add 2 LBs in the draft ... one on day 2 (Colson? Eichenberg?) and another on day 3 (I like Liufau quite a bit). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rob331 Posted March 13 Share Posted March 13 I wonder if Baker is one of the Dolphins who ****ed about Fanzio. Devin Bush isn't onthe list but should be and I'd be happy with Bush, White, Wagner, or Baker. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Road to Victory Posted March 13 Share Posted March 13 10 hours ago, time2rock said: NFL free agency: Eagles 'on the hunt' for linebacker help; 3 potential targets How will the Eagles fix their linebacker position during free agency? BY SHAMUS CLANCY PhillyVoice Staff ERIC HARTLINE/USA TODAY Never count on a simple, yet uninspiring, move like bringing back Zach Cunningham or Nicholas Morrow to play alongside Nakobe Dean... https://www.phillyvoice.com/nfl-free-agency-rumors-eagles-linebacker-targets-devin-white-projected-contract-jerome-baker-bobby-wagner/ I would cry if they brought back Morrow. He doesn’t belong in the NFL. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
time2rock Posted March 13 Author Share Posted March 13 9 minutes ago, Road to Victory said: I would cry if they brought back Morrow. He doesn’t belong in the NFL. No worries, Morrow signed with Buffalo. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
UK_EaglesFan89 Posted March 14 Share Posted March 14 8 hours ago, time2rock said: An updated look at the list of free agent LBs (who has been signed, who remains available): Can't really say anyone anyone left gets me excited. Baker would probably be ... OK. Best bet may be to explore trade opportunities. Perhaps a player-for-player swap (Sweat?). And then add 2 LBs in the draft ... one on day 2 (Colson? Eichenberg?) and another on day 3 (I like Liufau quite a bit). I just think it’s outrageous that once again Howie is overlooking the position! Fangio is going to fail with the defense he has. This needed to be a defense heavy offseason and yet so far it’s been all offense. The defense was a disaster. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eggs Posted March 14 Share Posted March 14 Report wager close to signing w commanders - over the hill gang 4.0 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eggs Posted March 14 Share Posted March 14 If they sign baker for $5-6 Mm and cunningham for 2-3 mm and we’re all good. It’s supposedly not a great draft for lbs, but if we find value in day 2 or 3, take one. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
time2rock Posted March 14 Author Share Posted March 14 10 hours ago, UK_EaglesFan89 said: I just think it’s outrageous that once again Howie is overlooking the position! Fangio is going to fail with the defense he has. This needed to be a defense heavy offseason and yet so far it’s been all offense. The defense was a disaster. That's a bit of an exaggeration. It has been split 50/50 on both offense and defense: Defense: Huff (DE/EDGE) CJGJ (S) Baun (OLB/EDGE) Offense: Barkley (RB) Parker (WR) Hennessey (iOL) The top LBs may have been snapped up and while I was hopeful Howie may finally give more priority to the position I didn't really expect him to pay big $ to one of those guys. I do think he is likely exploring trade options (perhaps a player-for-player deal ... Sweat would make a decent trade chip there). Even if we pick up a player (who is better than those free agents that remain available) on the final year of his contract and then address LB in next month's draft (ideally we take someone on day 2 like Michigan's Junior Colson or NC State's Payton WIlson and another on day 3 like Notre Dame's Marist Liufau). Man if we could land both Colson in rd 2 and Liufau on day 3 I'd be super excited about the future of our LB unit. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Swimm Posted March 14 Share Posted March 14 I cant believe we didnt get one LB. We are literally going to be fielding practice squad level talent again ,it Killed us last year. . If the defense flops this year I hope Howie sees the door Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crazy Legs Posted March 15 Share Posted March 15 Done! One year, $7.5M. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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