2025 marks the final year of Nakobe Dean‘s rookie contract. No extension is viewed as likely for the Eagles linebacker, meaning a trip to free agency next spring is currently on track to take place.
Dean’s production in college was insufficient to prevent a drop down the order during the 2022 draft. Injury concerns resulted in a fall to the third round, although he did not miss a regular or postseason game as a rookie. The following campaign saw Dean limited to only five contests, however, and a torn patellar tendon suffered in this year’s wild-card game figures to leave him sidelined at the outset of the 2025 season. Given how late he went down last season, he could spend a significant portion of the year on the physically unable to perform list.
In no small part due to his injury history, PhillyVoice’s Geoff Mosher writes this will “probably” be Dean’s final year with the Eagles. They signed Zack Baun to a three-year, $51MM extension in March and drafted Jihaad Campbell in the first round of April’s draft, signaling that Dean is not a part of their future linebacker plans. Recent Day 3 picks Jeremiah Trotter (2024) and Smael Mondon (2025) have impressed as well, per Mosher, potentially giving Philadelphia cheap, young backups for the next few years.
If Dean were healthy, the Eagles’ linebacker depth might have made him a trade candidate, according to Mosher, but his inability to pass a physical would likely be an insurmountable obstacle to such a deal. Instead, he will start the year on the sidelines, and by the time Dean gets back on the field – if at all – there may not be a role for him in Vic Fangio‘s defense.
Beyond contributing in 2025, a full recovery will obviously be paramount in determining Dean’s free agency value next offseason. Teams will be unlikely to commit significant long-term money, so, like many players coming off a major injury, he may have to take a shorter ‘prove it’ deal and rebuild his stock for the 2027 offseason.
Nikhil Mehta contributed to this article.
Good player at a shallow position in the league. A shame he has so much injury trouble.
Big D will grab u next year Dean…
The Star on ur Helmet will fit u well…
LMAO he’ll be a Falcon
Big Detroit maybe . He wants to contend not go to a reality show
I really hope he can stick around. Been a big fan of his since Philly lite (UGA) He was playing great last year before the injury.
He won’t. They’re gonna let him go just like they did Hicks and then do nothing to replace him with a young player of a similar caliber just like what happened after they let Hicks walk.
The Eagles have never had so much depth at LB . They’ll be fine.
Man just stop it. They have ALWAYS had depth and “guys we’re excited about” at positions they devalue. It doesn’t mean anything and isn’t anything new.
We’re allowed to criticize the organization. I’ve been a fan my whole life. Get over it.
You could easily criticize the Eagles about the LB corps until now. They are investing in the position and Dean looks expendable even if he gets healthy.
He looks expendable but you’re relying on guys who haven’t been starters in the NFL to fill the gap. Who knows how they will play. I think Campbell and Baun will be fine but after that? We KNOW Dean can be a starter and play well. The other guys are question marks
No, you can absolutely criticize them still.
They’re letting a potential Pro Bowl LBer walk AGAIN and not replacing him with a known quantity. They have ONE LBer drafted above the fourth or fifth round if Dean walks. Pretending that’s good is delusional.
If you bring up Baun, I’ll point out they also re-signed Bradham to an extension after his surprise season in 2017. And they definitely didn’t draft Campbell to play LB.
Amazing how many of the same mistakes they’re making as 2018. This team is really not intelligently run in some ways but I trust Fangio.