What are the Eagles doing at LB?
The Philadelphia Inquirer Blog - Eagles
What are the Eagles doing at LB?
Jeff McLane, Inquirer Staff Writer
The Eagles need a linebacker -- probably two.
You know it. They know it.
But how will they go about addressing the need? Will they sign one of the top linebackers in free agency? Will they acquire a starting-caliber linebacker that isn't going to command top dollar? Will they just scrape one from the bottom of the free agent pool? Or will they take one high in the draft.
Three days into free agency, the most they've done is offer Dan Connor a one-year contract, one a league source described as low. Connor, formerly of the Panthers, ended up signing a two-year deal with Dallas. If, say, Connor took the Eagles' offer, it’s safe to assume he wasn’t being brought in as a three-down guy.
The team obviously liked him or they wouldn't have offered a deal, but they questioned his pass cover skills and his durability. Connor tore his ACL early in his NFL career. It sounds as if Connor would have been brought in simply to bolster the Eagles' run defense.
Other than that, the Eagles have just sat back and let the linebacker market set itself, which means they've watched it drop like an anvil. The top two linebackers available – according to most estimates – remained unsigned.
Curtis Lofton is scheduled to visit the Saints, but other than that his prospects remain unclear. Stephen Tulloch reportedly won’t take anything less than the five-year, $42.5 million contract D’Qwell Jackson signed last month, but those demands seem out of touch with interest in the Lions linebacker apparently tepid.
David Hawthorne is in New Orleans right now, but the Seattle linebacker is unlikely to land in Philly. Indications are that the Eagles don’t have him high on their list.
Perhaps it makes little sense to focus on the free agent linebackers that are looking to dent the bank if not break it. The Eagles have never committed much of their funds to the position, this we know. The 36-year-old London Fletcher won’t command a high salary and many guaranteed years. He could be the perfect stopgap if the Eagles plan to draft a linebacker relatively high in the draft.
Maybe it also makes little sense to focus exclusively on the middle linebacker spot. They still have Jamar Chaney. He was not great in the middle last season and by the end was not playing all three downs. He moved from strong-side to the middle early in the season after it was clear Casey Matthews could not hold down the position. Perhaps the Eagles feel that he could benefit from a full off-season working at MIKE.
If that’s the case, they could be after an outside linebacker like Erin Henderson or Leroy Hill.
The Eagles have eight linebackers under contract: Chaney, Matthews, Brian Rolle, Keenan Clayton, Akeem Jordan, Moise Fokou, Greg Lloyd and Monte Simmons. Chaney, Rolle, Matthews and maybe Clayton are probably here next season. The same can’t be said for the other four, although not much is known about Simmons, who was plucked from the 49ers practice squad.
The Eagles typically carry six linebackers. If the first four return, that leaves two spots. How will the Eagles fill them?
Man, those 8 names in that second-to-last paragraph are like a who's who among all-time NFL greats, like a Mount Rushmore of stalwart linebackers. Generations from now they'll be showing on NFL Films slow motion highlights with a deep voice narrator of Akeem Jordan getting bulldozed by a pulling guard, of Moises Fokou chasing a tight end into the end zone, of Jamar Chaney shooting the wrong gap and many other classic moments of these great warriors- Pick up Fletcher and draft Kuechly. The Fletcher pickup gives the Eagles a proven, yet old, plug and play LB that can assist in grooming Kuechly while contributing at a high level immediately. Plus, the move would weaken the 'Skins defense at the same time. No need to pay top-dollar to just above average LBs.— diamondd40
- No, no, no. This old geezer is playing on borrowed time despite his showing last season. I'd rather they move up aand draft Kuechly who has the talent and insincts to start right away. — essell
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- While it makes sense for the market to play out, and see if Tulloch's demands come back down to earth, the fact is the Eagles got themselves into this mess by ignoring the position for years and years and years. Guess what? If you want an impact player at the position you've gotta buck up! I know to the Eagles front office that will come as a surprise that 7th round draft picks and rookie free agents generally don't dominate the NFL, hence they can be had for a bag of chips. I can just see Banner's reaction to Lofton's agent: "And you're looking for that in American dollars? And for how many years? I see."
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- boloni and banned are correct. the fact is none of the linebackers on the Eagles roster could tackle a corpse. these guys should be doing something, anything, besides cashing an NFL paycheck. pathetic.— coloradoeagle
- Actually, all Keenan Clayton did was make play after play when he finally got an opportunity in the nickel...To boot, he has been great in pre-season games. The staff has been cool to him for poor practice habits. Maybe, they should see if he's a player at the weakside. Fletcher for a one year deal, and drafting Kuechly if he's there at #15 IS the best course of action...Overpaying for "run only" linebackers is silly. — bearsfriend
- I'd be fine with them signing Fletcher to a 1 or 2 yr contract and drafting Luke K.— mish798798
- Lets see, Leber is 35 so he's a given at a bargain price. Now all they need is to draft one in the 6th round thats coming off of extensive knee surgery and they are set at LBer. There, that wasn't so hard, was it! Arrogant Andy and Howie the Bean Counter have it all under control. Now lets go and get that High Motor 255 LB Defensive End in the 1st round! We need a bookend to go with Graham on the IR Bench.— younged
- Give Fletcher a three year deal, heavy on the upfront money so you don't have to keep him in year three if he has lost it by then. Draft a LB in Rd 1 and run with Fletcher, Chaney and Draft pick.— dennismithusa
- Ike Reese IS available...— Nicher
- Reports are that Oakland is going to cut LB Kamerion Wimbley today instead of paying him the 17 mill roster bonus. He had 7 sacks last year and has 42 career sacks. Any chance the Eagles may be interested?— mish798798
