What are the Eagles doing at LB?
Philly.com, Inquirer, and Daily News coverage of the Eagles
What are the Eagles doing at LB?
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?
That's right don't count out Jamar Chaney. Even Stephen Tulloch wasn't an instant success in Tenn playing behind a wide nine alignment. Chaney showed much potential his rookie season. He never played behind the wide nine before. With a season of experience under his belt he MAY get a lot better. Young players can get better.— soulman386- young players CAN get better but ours never do. it is not always their fault since they should never have been drafted in the first place. — coloradoeagle
- The Eagles are trying to find a way out of drafy Luke Kuechely or Vontaze Burfict— Ace-Philadelphia
- Connor could have played for his hometown team but he goes to Dallas. That's just great Roseman .Chayney is only LB who should start next year. Matthews, Rolle and Chayney for depth and special teams. Please no Fokou or Akeem Jordan. Get Lofton or Tulloch and draft Kuelchy and they'll be good to go. It's big boy time Howie- step it up!— friedmozzarela
- Let's see, with you logic our starting linebackers would then be some guy named Chayney (which I assume is Chaney), Kuelchy and either Lofton or Tulloch, who all play the same position, MIKE, with Matthews, Rolle and Chayney (again I assume you mean Chaney or perhaps Clayton since you already have Chaney starting) as back-ups. No Fokou or Jordan, which means Chaney goes back to the strong side? And if he gets hurt, he will back himself up? Brilliant. — BeFrank
- I like the idea of maybe a two year contract for Fletcher so he can school our LB corps. Draft Kuechly (or whoever Mayock tell us to) and let Fletcher show him the ropes - and hope Kuechly takes over 1/2 way through the season or so (then drop Fletcher next year and let him retire a 'Skin).— gdibig
- If anything, he'd retire a Ram. — SteveS11
- The Sixers should trade Jodie Meeks to the Eagles for cash considerations. Meeks is 6'4'' and a little light at 210 but he could bulk up to 230 or 235 by wintertime.— Leegles
- still need a QB— osi is hurt boohoo
- You writers are idiots. You may think the Eagles need a linebacker, but the fat man is much smarter than you.— Justaschmuck
- Exactly, who said we have a LB problem? Everything is okay. — DennyP
- Eagles need a starter or 2 at LB.— P Even
- Eagles need a starter or 2 at LB.— P Even
- The Eagles don't have any starting LBs under contract. They've got an excellent group of special teamers though.
That's pretty much the way it's always been since we realized that even though Dhani Jones wasn't that good, he was better than anything that was likely to start after he left.— banned - I am not sure these jokers would even be special teamers for an organization that knew anything about NFL talent evaluation. — coloradoeagle
