It’s 2 logical signings. Jack has talent and can absolutely push to be a starter at OLB. Cunningham is a back up player and we have no depth there. I’m glad and relieved that they’ve added to the LB position.

"We really do feel good about the room," Head Coach Nick Sirianni said shortly after the announcement. "We just wanted to bring in some extra competition to let things shake out and see. At the end of the day, the best guys will play."
 

https://www.philadelphiaeagles.com/news/eagles-zach-cunningham-myles-jack-agree-to-terms

Sirianni is basically telling us this is an open competition, and if they truly felt good about the room then they don’t bring in two veteran players. I don’t think Morrow or Dean should feel like locks to start considering Nick”s last comment is "At the end of the day, the best guys will play.” Bottom line is Morrow is not a lock to make this roster. 

Morrow should not be a starter on a superbowl caliber team...why not just put Nolan Smith in there?

2 hours ago, opa-opa said:

Morrow should not be a starter on a superbowl caliber team...why not just put Nolan Smith in there?

Because he is a raw rookie that also we don't know if he should be a starter yet

4 hours ago, EazyEaglez said:

"We really do feel good about the room," Head Coach Nick Sirianni said shortly after the announcement. "We just wanted to bring in some extra competition to let things shake out and see. At the end of the day, the best guys will play."
 

https://www.philadelphiaeagles.com/news/eagles-zach-cunningham-myles-jack-agree-to-terms

Sirianni is basically telling us this is an open competition, and if they truly felt good about the room then they don’t bring in two veteran players. I don’t think Morrow or Dean should feel like locks to start considering Nick”s last comment is "At the end of the day, the best guys will play.” Bottom line is Morrow is not a lock to make this roster. 

They literally cut Davion Taylor from a group of only 6 at camp to be able to bring in the 2nd extra guy.  They do not feel good about the room

 

9 minutes ago, Procus said:

 

They needed guys but the durability of Dean probably factored in at least a little bit.  It's not like they'd ever say they are panicked about Dean to the press

What happened to Jack? I mean, why is he available so cheap and this late? He was a star in Jacksonville.

1 hour ago, Procus said:

 

Saying Dean won’t miss anytime and then saying he’s day to day is kind of an oxymoron. 😂

3 minutes ago, beto_eagles said:

What happened to Jack? I mean, why is he available so cheap and this late? He was a star in Jacksonville.

He’s kind of one dimensional and in the NFL the linebacker position is as bad as the RB position when it comes to contracts unless you are a linebacker who gets sacks. 

3 minutes ago, beto_eagles said:

What happened to Jack? I mean, why is he available so cheap and this late? He was a star in Jacksonville.

In 2021 with Jacksonville his PFF rating was 37.7 (76/86 qualifying LBs)...went to the steelers and stole $8million from them posting the following statline:

13 starts (692 snaps) - 3 TFL, 0 sacks, 0 FF, 0 FR, 0 INT - 53.6 overall PFF grade (worse than Devin Bush's) - Fewer than 15 snaps per game over final 3 games

The  guy could never get off blocks and has no real value, outside of SOME ability to cover because of his athletic ability...other than that, PURE trash. He' was below-avg at BEST with Pitt...which is a LB factory...so yeah he's bad

9 hours ago, EazyEaglez said:

If Howie signed some UDFA guys or some PS guys I would tend to agree more with your stance. Why bring in vets to do that then they already basically know what they can provide? If Morrow was impressing in camp then why bring in more vets? Frankly if I were them I’d rather see what VanSumeren has to offer than use vets Howie is paying 2 plus mil for to be camp bodies. I just don’t buy it’s for just camp bodies when they cut a camp body in Taylor to bring them in. 

I didn't say the only reason they sign guys is camp bodies, I also said DEPTH or other reasons. Clearly they wanted to look for ways to improve the depth at LB, but it's not some desperation move.  Some fans definitely overreact as if signing depth players is a panic move.  This is a time of year that some players are available and Howie will add guys to the roster to get a chance to see them in camp.  Sure, they might not like some backup or bubble players so they look to see what's out there.  It doesn't signal panic at a position, but rather looking for ways to improve the roster any way possible.  Howie has signed free agents in the past that later get cut, and when they were first signed fans did the same overreaction reading into it...then the guy gets cut and they realize it was just to kick the tires on a player to see if it worked out or not.  

Both good moves. Myles Jack should easily start over Morrow at WLB. He's not anything special at this point in his career but he is a definite upgrade. Cunningham gives them depth and insurance behind Nakobe at MLB. They basically had zero depth at the position and went out and got two of the best guys still without a team.

3 hours ago, NOTW said:

I didn't say the only reason they sign guys is camp bodies, I also said DEPTH or other reasons. Clearly they wanted to look for ways to improve the depth at LB, but it's not some desperation move.  Some fans definitely overreact as if signing depth players is a panic move.  This is a time of year that some players are available and Howie will add guys to the roster to get a chance to see them in camp.  Sure, they might not like some backup or bubble players so they look to see what's out there.  It doesn't signal panic at a position, but rather looking for ways to improve the roster any way possible.  Howie has signed free agents in the past that later get cut, and when they were first signed fans did the same overreaction reading into it...then the guy gets cut and they realize it was just to kick the tires on a player to see if it worked out or not.  

I wouldn’t call it panic, but it definitely says that the Eagles did not feel comfortable with what they had. They did have two linebacker injuries and they cut Taylor so they were thin at the spot, but they brought in these vets to compete and possibly start for them.

Neither one of these LB adds moves the needle too much aside from depth. The best that can be said is that they have a good deal of pro snaps under their belts as opposed to the dudes we had in camp prior. We are just so low in the totem pole at LB that this seems to many like a better move than it really is.

12 hours ago, opa-opa said:

Morrow should not be a starter on a superbowl caliber team...why not just put Nolan Smith in there?

They don't really play the same position, despite both being categorized as "linebackers". 

Morrow is penciled in at the weak side (with Dean in the middle) while Smith is an edge rusher. I guess Smith might be athletic enough to play off the ball, but that doesn't seem to be where the Eagles project him. 

23 hours ago, Utebird said:

I don't get the Cunningham signing, he's been a backup the last few years and I'm not sure how much he offers on special teams or how willing he is in teams.

Where as Jack should push for playing time at off ball or OLB as well.

The Cunningham signing just seems odd to me.

Depth or a chance to compete in camp to make all the LBs better?

I assume if Dean is healthy he is the starter but they all have a legit shot I guess until Preseason is over.

FWIW  Cunningham started 14 of the last 17 games he played the last 2 years. He was not a backup.

He has been hurt a bunch (missed 14 games the last 2 years after missing 2 his first 4 years)  but that does not make him a backup.

 

That does not mean his role in Houston or Tennessee has a direct comparison to LB in this defense.

He did have a 107 tackles on a good Texans D in 2018 (ranked 4 points 12 yards) but its been bad Ds and injuries since then.

 

The Texans gave him a huge contract and then quickly moved on from him partly over a discipline issue.

They did something similar to Justin Reid and he just won a SB.

You can't take any football moves from Houston seriously after BOB and the chaplain with personnel power took over.

 

On 8/6/2023 at 3:02 PM, Procus said:

The other variable is Nakobe Dean and if he can withstand the beating the body takes during the season

Of all LBs..Dean Health is the number one suspect. And if he can not stay on the field then I would rather take someone less talented, who can stay healthy.

On 8/7/2023 at 3:54 AM, Bwestbrook36 said:

Because he is a raw rookie that also we don't know if he should be a starter yet

Also They see him as a future Hassan Reddick. Not exactly a cover LB. More a blitzing DE type of role.

11 minutes ago, Traveler Vic said:

Of all LBs..Dean Health is the number one suspect. And if he can not stay on the field then I would rather take someone less talented, who can stay healthy.

Well that was the risk and the Eagles felt they were in a position to take that risk...which they WERE but now that we're relying on Dean it seems a little silly...only time will tell

Depth signings. Hopefully they both work out, but I'll be happy if just one of them makes the team.

Neither guy moves the needle.  Best thing you can say about either of them is that they "have starting experience".  

I suspect Howie isn't finished here...if he can find an adequate trade at some point.  If he can't find a trade...

1 hour ago, EaglesAddict said:

Neither guy moves the needle.  Best thing you can say about either of them is that they "have starting experience".  

I suspect Howie isn't finished here...if he can find an adequate trade at some point.  If he can't find a trade...

It is all about fitting in into a new scheme with transfers.

And if Eagle fans give these guys more than 24 hours to try to fit in. Maybe one of them will.