The Philadelphia Eagles went slim at middle linebacker in 2024, cutting ties with Devin White early to allow Nakobe Dean to shine alongside Zack Baun.
Philadelphia drafted Jeremiah Trotter Jr. with a fifth-round draft pick last year, but he didn’t get much run on defense until a couple of less-than meaningful games late in the regular season. When Dean went down with a torn patellar tendon in the playoffs, it was veteran Oren Burks who got the starting nod from the divisional round forward.
Burks was able to parlay his strong postseason and special teams prowess into a two-year deal with the Cincinnati Bengals, leaving the Eagles short at inside linebacker after the first wave of free agency.
Glenn Erby of USA TODAY’s Eagles Wire predicts the Eagles will fill that need by pursuing seven-year pro Ja’whaun Bentley, a former team captain who was recently released by the rebuilding New England Patriots:
“The veteran linebacker has been a tackling machine when healthy, posting 114, 125, and 109 total tackles while missing just two regular-season games from 2021 to 2023,” Erby wrote for Eagles Wire. “With Nakobe Dean likely to miss most of 2025 and Jeremiah Trotter Jr. entering his second year, Philadelphia could look to add another veteran similar to the signing of Oren Burks last off-season.”
Bentley was entering the final season of a two-year, $13.5 million extension with the Pats. He’ll turn 29 this season, and barely played in 2024 due to a Week 2 pec injury. But if he proves to be healthy, he could be an ideal candidate for Philly to bring in on a one-year deal to give Trotter Jr. some competition and add insurance for Dean.
Follow The Sporting News on WhatsApp
This will be the second consecutive offseason where Dean is attempting to work his way back from a major injury. He was ahead of schedule last summer after Lisfranc surgery derailed his 2023 campaign. He’ll have an uphill battle to be ready for training camp this year, as his patellar tendon tear occurred on Jan. 12.
It was a bit surprising that the Eagles didn’t retain Burks in free agency, but based on their cautious approach to the 2025 league year to date, they were probably out on a multi-year contract. GM Howie Roseman has been clearing cash in future years in preparation for the team’s slew of yet-to-be-paid young stars, so the chance to add Bentley on a cheap prove-it deal would fit their plan (and fill a need) for 2025.
MORE EAGLES NEWS:
Read the full article here
