Eagles face challenge in LB search
Philly.com, Inquirer, and Daily News coverage of the Eagles
Eagles face challenge in LB search
Sheil Kapadia, Philly.com
On Monday afternoon, the Browns announced a new five-year deal for inside linebacker D'Qwell Jackson, which is worth $42.5M with $19M guaranteed, according to the Cleveland Plain Dealer.
We are two weeks away from the official start of free agency (March 13), and the linebacker market will continue to develop as teams try to re-sign their own players and make decisions on the franchise tag.
The question for the Eagles is: Where can they find a linebacker to solidify the middle of their defense and fill a hole from last season?
The team has three avenues to explore: free agency, a trade and the draft.
The Inquirer's Jeff McLane did a good job on Sunday of breaking down the potential free agent class. One name that's been discussed since the season ended is Falcons linebacker Curtis Lofton. There had been reports that new defensive coordinator Mike Nolan didn't view Lofton as a three-down linebacker, but apparently that's not the case.
"I spoke to the team and they told me it’s ridiculous to say Lofton isn’t a three-down linebacker," said Lofton's agent, Todd France, in an interview with D. Orlando Ledbetter of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
Ledbetter indicates that the Falcons would like to sign Lofton to a long-term deal before he's able to hit the open market.
The tough part for the Eagles is deciding if free agency is really their best option for upgrading the position. Free agency allows them to target players and pursue them aggressively. But with that likely comes a high price tag. Jackson got $8.5M per year with $19M guaranteed. It's reasonable to assume Lofton, who turns 26 in June and finished fifth in the league with 147 tackles last season, will be looking for at least something in that neighborhood.
Stephen Tulloch signed a one-year, $3.25M deal with the Lions last year, and head coach Jim Schwartz sounds like he wants the middle linebacker back in 2012.
"Stephen is a guy that fits our system very well," Schwartz told Anwar S. Richardson of MLive.com. "He's young. He's tremendously durable, he's tremendously productive. I think he can be a big part of what we're doing in Detroit. I think our linebackers were much improved last year."
Tulloch, 27, will likely be looking for some long-term financial security after settling for a one-year deal last summer.
The draft presents another option, and in some ways, a more attractive one. While someone like Lofton might cost around $8M per year, last year's 15th overall pick (Mike Pouncey) reportedly cost the Dolphins about $2.3M per season. Someone like Boston College's Luke Kuechly, who has been linked to the Eagles in many mock drafts, would be a less expensive option and still could potentially offer a major upgrade.
Of course, the problem with waiting for the draft is that it's risky. If Kuechly's gone by the time the Eagles pick at No. 15, there may not be another middle linebacker who the team views as a "plug-and-play" prospect.
The final option would be to trade for a linebacker. The Eagles have Asante Samuel as a potential chip, and DeSean Jackson could be one too if they use the franchise tag and deal him.
Whichever path the Eagles choose, they need to find a three-down player. It doesn't make sense to use a first-round pick or pay a free agent big money if he is going to come off the field in sub packages.
The focus around these parts is on stopping the run behind the wide-nine, and that makes sense, given the issues from a year ago. But don't forget about the athletic tight ends who provide matchup problems on a weekly basis. And remember that the Eagles ranked 29th in covering running backs in the passing game, according to Football Outsiders.
I took a look at Jamar Chaney's splits from Week 3 on last season, after he returned to the middle linebacker position. Here's how the plays were split up, according to Pro Football Focus:
| Stopping the Run | Blitz | Pass Coverage | |
| Jamar Chaney | 45% | 5% | 50% |
Half the time he was on the field, Chaney was in coverage. And keep in mind he was replaced in nickel situations during the final month of the season, or the numbers would lean even more towards pass coverage.
The point is the Eagles need a middle linebacker who can shed blocks and get to the ballcarrier against the run, but also someone who has enough athleticism to provide an upgrade in coverage. They could look to upgrade at the SAM or WILL positions too.
As the market plays out in the next two weeks, we'll find out which free agents actually become available and which path the Eagles choose to upgrade at linebacker.
You can follow me on Twitter or become a fan of Moving the Chains on Facebook.
As I said the other day, the worst thing imaginable that could have happened did happen: NE vs. NYG in the Super Bowl. Aside from the many reasons why that was the worst thing ever (and the result was even worse), it completely destroys any hope that we have in the Eagles finally putting some value in the LB position and going after some studs. Those two teams had terrible LBs (sure, probably not as bad as Philly's, but still really bad). To top things off, they beat two teams (SF and Balt) that have great LBs. This will just reinforce Reid's stance regarding LBs. Don't look for any major additions.— Penfold18- Seeing that the Eagles spent in last years FA they probably will go for the less expensive answer if they choose not to draft a MLB. Kuechly's 40 time of 4.58 and overall performance at combine would seem to make this a no brainer, however I would not be surprised if they sign London Fletcher for 2 years with large signing bonus and light contract.— glove69
- You can only assume at this point if the Eagles still do not value the LB position. With the change to the wide-9, and the play of the LB position last year, you have to hope they see the need to ensure they at least need solid players at the position. At this point, no one knows.
As far as evaluating the LB position, you also can only hope that Phil Savage and Rick Mueller, two guys not arround when they last took a LB high in the draft will have better sucess then Reid did.
Finally, as far as Roseman, he also was not the GM the last time they took a LB high, so I don't know how you can blame him for those shortcommings.— ErikS527 - If Reid doesn't upgrade the LBs then this will be his last season.— TVGuy22
- The Eagles need to pick BC's Kuchely, if he is available when their pick is due.— MUADDIB
- And what happens if they sign a MLB in free agency? Expecially Tulloch, who probably can not play the SAM? I don't see anything to indicate that Kuechley can play it either. Do you take him and waist one of them away on the bench? It is too early to say the team MUST draft anyone— ErikS527
- Sheil, what Eagles team have you been watching the last 13 years that makes you think they'll spend money on a premier LB? They might sign some scrub veteran for veteran minimum, but they aren't going to give Tulloch or Lofton a long term deal at 5 mil plus a year.
Mock drafts linking Kuechly to the Eagles obviously don't follow this team at all. It's an undersized DL known for rushing the QB if they even go defense. Most of us would probably be OK with a beast like Poe or even Brockers, but Since Cole and Babin are both on getting up there in age, we can't rule out yet another 250# DE. - i honestly dont think they are going after LB in the first round. 1. andy doesnt covet that position. 2. our "dead zone efficiency" is more of a concern than our LB's. the LBs made strides througout the year, unlike our RZE. 3. i would rather go after LB in free agency and get a guy that is familiar with the NFL like tulloch. i know everyone was sick of watching "rookie mistakes" last year and i know i dont want to watch it again with LK.so that leaves me to believe the eagles are finally going to pick a big name reciever in the draft to help in the red zone. Eagles pick Michael Floyd at 15.— kag281
- The Kid from Boston College seems to be a good fit so says is numbers from College and he had a decent showing at the combines.
My concern is the qualify of Guards and Centers assigned to block him in the ACC and his ability to cover Backs and Tight Ends in the ACC. The ACC this year didn't have mind blowing talents in positions that I thought openly challenged Kuechly skills set. He put up good numbers at the Combine and was surprising in my opinion but so did Mamula.
The Kid does have speed, size and quickness— Dexter - There is a Wide Receiver at Georgia Tech, Fast, Smooth this kid is a Football player with size to fit on the outside. I also think the Eagles would be better suited to take one of the massive defensive tackles to clog up their middle and play in front of a quality linebacker, whether they draft one in the Second, Trade or capture one in the Free Agent Market.
— Dexter - Not only would I like to see the Eagles take Kuechly but I'd also like to see them do some trading up, not down, to land some other prime NFL-ready talent to go with a key free agent signing or two. They would appear to have the trading chips to do so.— dasher
Follow
Sheil on Twitter. And become
a fan of Moving the Chains on Facebook.
Download our NEW iPhone/Android app for even more Birds
coverage, including app-exclusive videos and analysis. Download it here.
