The Eagles' options at LB
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The Eagles' options at LB
Sheil Kapadia, Philly.com
Les Bowen and Jeff McLane caught up with Howie Roseman down at the Senior Bowl yesterday to get his thoughts on a variety of topics.
One of them was the organization's issues with adequately addressing the linebacker position. In the interview, Roseman indicated that the Eagles wanted to make a move at linebacker last offseason (whether that was in free agency, through trade or in the draft), but it didn't work out.
Which brings us to this offseason.
The Eagles' defensive line is in good shape going into 2012. They may swap a couple of rotational guys, but my guess is the core (Jason Babin, Trent Cole, Mike Patterson and Cullen Jenkins) will stay in place.
In the secondary, they have to make a decision on Asante Samuel and possibly add some depth, depending on how they view guys like Curtis Marsh and Brandon Hughes. And at safety, they have to decide whether Nate Allen, Kurt Coleman and Jaiquawn Jarrett can be above-average starters.
But linebacker is the one area where the Eagles have to get better.
One option would be the draft. Mike Mayock of NFL Network recently released his list of the top five prospects at each position. Here's who he has at linebacker:
1. Courtney Upshaw, Alabama
2. Luke Kuechly, Boston College
3. Dont'a Hightower, Alabama
4. Zach Brown, North Carolina
5. Vontaze Burflct, Arizona State
Kuechly is the most common name I've seen linked to the Eagles at No. 15 in mock drafts. Both Brown and Burfict have been mentioned too.
Upshaw is considered a hybrid outside linebacker/defensive end. And Wes Bunting of the National Football Post praises Hightower's ability against the run, but thinks he's probably better suited for a 3-4.
The Eagles have not drafted a linebacker in the first round since 1979 (Jerry Robinson).
Below is a look at the nine linebackers who were named AP All Pros this past season (first and second teams), along with where they were drafted.
| Linebacker | Round Drafted |
| Patrick Willis | 1st |
| Navorro Bowman | 3rd |
| Derrick Johnson | 1st |
| Brian Cushing | 1st |
| London Fletcher | Undrafted |
| Terrell Suggs | 1st |
| DeMarcus Ware | 1st |
| Tamba Hali | 1st |
| Von Miller | 1st |
Of course, several of the names on the list (Hali, Ware, Suggs, Miller) are more hybrid DE/LB types.
But as you can see, seven of the nine linebackers on the list were first-round picks. The only two that were not were Bowman and Fletcher.
The Eagles have taken nine linebackers in the past five drafts: Casey Matthews (4th/2011); Brian Rolle (6th/2011); Greg Lloyd (7th/2011); Keenan Clayton (4th/2010); Jamar Chaney (7th/2010); Moise Fokou (7th/2009); Joe Mays (6th/2008); Andy Studebaker (6th, 2008); Stewart Bradley (3rd, 2007).
However, none of have been taken in the first two rounds and only one, Bradley, has been taken in the first three rounds.
The Eagles could instead (or additionally) opt to add a linebacker or two via free agency.
Rotoworld.com has a master list of players who will be available. There are some intriguing names like Atlanta's Curtis Lofton, who is only 25 years old and was fifth in the league with 147 tackles last season, according to NFL.com. He's also a team captain and seems like the kind of player Atlanta would want to hold on to.
Fletcher was the league's top tackler and earned an All-Pro nod for the first time in his career, but he turns 37 in May. Stephen Tulloch was a free agent last offseason, but only signed a one-year deal with the Lions. He played behind the wide-nine in both Detroit and Tennessee.
Unlike last year, the Eagles will be working with a "normal" offseason. And regardless of who's running the defense, Roseman and Andy Reid need to upgrade the talent at linebacker.
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Plain and simple we need an absolute beast at LB. Not a smart person with good instincts, but a beast who can run sideline to sideline and blow things up. See Patrick Willis and Navarro Bowman... beasts!— Blue and White- Yes section 730 for the Redskins and Cowboys let me compare the Birds to them from 1960 to now.
The Skins have gone through 10 years of being bad where the birds went through decades of being bad! Lets see we went to Championship in 1960 and won that against the Pack and in one Super bowl and lost that is it! How many Sb's were the Skins in and won? I rest my case on them.
The Boy's own Philly for decades and how many SB' did they win? They went just a few years of being bad!
Remember I said the Biggest! Listen I have been a Eagles fan from 1960 and I'm tired of seeing the same thing I went through decades of seeing the same thing!
Hope this clears and answer your ?— losteagle - Amazed to see how many all-pro LBs were first round picks! I wonder if this is somewhat unique to the linebacker position? (I'm guessing that it is).
Really like the comments from camasbud (need LB and/or safety that can cover tight-ends!) and soulman, who suggests Eagles go hard after Tullock... But if price is too high for him, that will or course put more pressure on the draft. Either way, this will be a big draft for Roseman and AR.— Mr. Magee - Bruce Irvin. Don't overlook Bruce Irvin.
- draft an lb in the first round, sign a fa lb and get rid of castillo.— psualum
- Wow! Amazed that no one mentioned that two of the nine All Pros are Penn Staters. So, I bet that the Eagles see this and draft Mark D'Onofrio, Scott Radecic, or some other stiff. I mean, Vyto Kab, third round? In the meantime, Steve Jordan from Brown taken in the 7th round. I think Brown had even played at Penn State that year.
I actually remembered the first part of that paragraph, and the last sentence. I really need to get a life.— HolidayinCambodia - please dont draft a white linebacker, for the love of god.— AndyReidsMustache
- Yeah, last thing we need is another Brian Urlacher or CLAY Matthews (CLAY not casey)
go back to drinking your 40s and flash mobs while the rest of us work for a living— s1360m - Guys, we all know the truth. Big Red, Howie and Banner are smarter than we are. They will absolutely not take a linebacker with a first round pick. Linebackers are not a necessity in the brilliant Castillo-Washburn "Wide 9." Give it up, you know another undersized defensive lineman or cornerback(for depth) will be the pick. When is Lurie going to realize that the Giants are the NFC East "Gold Standard" and start building a team that uses the Giants as a model? By the way, Mike Vick in no way fits the Giants Super Bowl model.— ManU63
- ok I have to admit the Ernie Sims reference spooks me, but I still think the ASU guy is such a nutjob aka Ray Lewis type he will be unreal in the NFL for a long time. He's the kind of player that QB's are a little afraid of.— djack10
- LOVE Burfict! He is the PERFECT and is a BEAST!— dudega
- Burfict and Zach Brown are nice.. with Brown being a guy that can cover tight ends and is tremendous in space. Two other options may be: #1 Trade Ashante Samuels and use that cap money to sign Curtis Lofton, Sign David Hawthorne as the SAM and draft Zach Brown. Move Rolle to SS. #2 Trade Samuels, sign Lofton and Hawthorne and draft Still (DT Penn State). Then look at a Nigel Bradham LB FSU in maybe the 3rd Round.. If Lofton wants too much money look for a guy like Tulloch... I think the Eagles value OL and DL more though so a more realistic scenario through round 4 is: Draft DT Still in 1st round, sign Tulloch, 2nd round Zebrie Sander OT, FSU,or Andrew Datko OT, FSU and Dwight Jones WR. NC or Casey Hayward CB, Vanderbilt.. Round 3: Nigel Bradham LB, FSU or Tank Carder LB, TCU... Round 4: Brandon Weeden QB, OSU, and Winston Guy SS, Kentucky.. if the Eagle go OL in round one look for them to take Derek Wolfe DT in second or third round.— soldierboy
- I like Burfict - but wait until the 2nd round. His stock is dropping. Don't reach for him...— Bobphxville
- Andy Reid "What is a linebacker?"— eaglessuck@life
- Ain't no LineBacker coming in the 1st Round— Wide-9
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