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Two NFL pundits had differing opinions on the value of Philadelphia Eagles linebacker Nakobe Dean in 2026 NFL free agency.
The Philadelphia Eagles have a difficult decision to make this offseason with linebacker Nakobe Dean. In a perfect world, the Eagles will bring him back but on a team-friendly, affordable contract.
In recent days, NFL pundits have sent mixed signals on Dean’s 2026 NFL free agency.
NFL.com’s Kevin Patra included the Eagles linebacker on a list of potential undervalued players this offseason. But Dean’s free agency projection from The Athletic’s Daniel Popper was a rather expensive one.
Patra raved about Dean as a player. But the analyst pointed to Dean’s injury past as a reason teams could undervalue him on the open market.
“The defender hasn’t played a full slate since 2017, missing 21 missed regular-season games over the past three seasons alone, and was out for most of Philly’s Super Bowl run in 2024,” wrote Patra. “Teams generally shy away from spending big on players with long-term durability questions, which could put Dean on a short-term prove-it path.”
However, Popper made no mention of Dean’s injury past.
“Dean is one of the best blitzing linebackers in the league. He appears to be shot out of a cannon on those reps,” Popper wrote. “He is a matchup advantage against running backs as a pass rusher, with a 35.7 percent pressure rate on 28 pass-rushing snaps.
“Dean is small and a limited athlete. His size prevents him from being an impactful run defender. He relies on instinct and anticipation as a zone-coverage defender.”
Projecting Free Agency Value of Eagles’ Nakobe Dean
Dean has dealt with a few significant injuries during his short NFL career. Most notably, he suffered a patellar tendon tear in his left knee during the NFC wild card round in January 2025.
The linebacker returned about nine months later. But still just a little more than a year removed from the injury, teams could be cautious with signing Dean to a long-term deal.
Spotrac, which is typically known for overvaluing players, projected Dean’s average annual salary to be $7.9 million on a four-year deal. But most pundits have argued Dean will probably have to sign a shorter deal due to his injury resume.
That is not, though, how Popper sees it. He projected Dean to sign a four-year, $40 million deal. That’s not a short-term contract, and that projection is more than the average annual salary Spotrac estimated.
During the 2025 NFL season, only 17 linebackers made $10 million or more.
Are the Eagles Interested in Re-Signing Dean?
It’s important to note the conversation around the Eagles re-signing Dean isn’t just about money.
After Dean sustained his patellar tendon tear, the team drafted linebacker Jihaad Campbell in the first round last year. As a rookie, Campbell posted 80 combined tackles, including two for loss with three pass defenses and an interception.
Campbell played a lot more when Dean was still recovering from his injury. In one contest after Dean returned, Campbell didn’t receive any defensive snaps.
But Campbell is certainly the succession plan at linebacker if the Eagles see re-signing Dean too big of a risk.
“The smart money is that Dean will find a new home elsewhere simply because the Eagles won’t want to block the talented Campbell’s ascent to the starting lineup for another year,” wrote SI on Eagles’ John McMullen.
Whether or not the Eagles find re-signing Dean too risky, though, could greatly depend on his market value. At the moment, pundits don’t agree on what that market could be.
Dave Holcomb is a sports reporter covering the NFL and MLB for Heavy.com, with a focus on the Pittsburgh Steelers, Philadelphia Eagles and Detroit Lions. Originally from Pittsburgh, Holcomb has covered college and professional sports for outlets including FanSided, Rotowire and Yardbarker. More about Dave Holcomb
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