3 free agent linebackers the Philadelphia Eagles should toss a contract at
By David Esser
Like a majority of the team’s roster at the moment, the Philadelphia Eagles linebacker situation is in complete disarray.
Rookies Davion Taylor and Shaun Bradley barely played last season, TJ Edwards never took that leap forward, Alex Singleton (despite showing flashes in the run game) struggled in pass coverage, and both Nate Gerry and Duke Riley are set to hit the open market.
While funds are definitely going to be tight this offseason, Howie Roseman should do what he can to land at least one starting-caliber linebacker via free agency.
The Philadelphia Eagles could use some linebacker depth.
Three names stick out to me when glancing at the current free agent pool:
Anthony Walker Jr.
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2020 Team: Indianapolis Colts
As is becoming common with these free agent target articles, linking the Eagles to ex-Colts makes a ton of sense – on both offense and defense. Philly hired a whole boatload of Indy assistants this offseason, and the relationships that they possess with some of these players could lure them to the Eagles.
Anthony Walker Jr. has been a tackling machine for the Colts over the last couple of seasons, and is still just 25 years old. He recored 105 tackles in 2018, 124 tackles in 2019, and then 95 tackles this past season in 2020.
While Walker Jr. – like Alex Singleton – struggles when tasked with dropping back into coverage, his relationship with new Eagles defensive coordinator Jonathan Gannon could boost his development in the long run. The Colts tasked their linebackers (specifically Darius Leonard) with a great deal of defensive responsibility – Walker Jr. should be no stranger to that.
If the Philadelphia Eagles are unable to land a marquee LB during the 2021 Draft, the partnership of Singleton and Walker Jr. in the middle of the defense wouldn’t be the worst thing in the world.