The Philadelphia Eagles are seeing another key defensive piece depart in free agency.
The Las Vegas Raiders are signing linebacker Nakobe Dean to a three-year, $36 million deal, delivering one of the bigger surprises early in the market. This deal includes $20 million in guaranteed money.
Dean started 27 games during his time in Philadelphia and emerged as one of the league’s most dangerous blitzing linebackers.
His exit could quietly reshape the Eagles’ defense moving forward, opening the door for younger players like Jihaad Campbell and Jeremiah Trotter Jr. to take on significantly larger roles alongside veteran breakout defender Zack Baun.
Raiders Invest in Eagles’ Defensive Playmaker
Las Vegas made adding defensive talent a priority this offseason, and Dean quickly emerged as a top target on the open market.
His new deal reportedly averages roughly $13 million per season, placing him among the highest-paid linebackers in the league according to contract data from Over The Cap.
Dean’s rise into that tier reflects how valuable he became to Philadelphia’s defense over the past several seasons.
His combination of speed, instincts and pass-rushing ability made him one of the more disruptive linebackers in the NFL when healthy.
The Raiders clearly believe Dean can be a centerpiece of their defensive front moving forward. His versatility allows him to pressure quarterbacks, defend the run and drop into coverage, giving Las Vegas a dynamic presence in the middle of the field.
One factor that likely influenced Philadelphia’s decision was Dean’s injury history.
Over his four NFL seasons, he dealt with several significant lower-body injuries, including a torn patellar tendon during the 2025 Wild Card win over the Packers, a Lisfranc foot injury that cost him most of the 2023 season, and multiple issues in 2025 including a knee sprain, hamstring strain and a dislocated elbow.
Like Jaelan Phillips, Dean earned a big pay day that the Eagles couldn’t afford.
This will open up opportunities for Jihaad Campbell and Jeremiah Trotter Jr. at LB alongside Zack Baun. Smael Mondon is
Those setbacks limited Dean to roughly 1,500 defensive snaps during his Eagles tenure.
With durability becoming an ongoing concern and several major contract decisions looming elsewhere on the roster, Philadelphia ultimately allowed the talented linebacker to test the market in free agency.
Eagles Face Another Free Agency Departure
Dean’s departure also highlights the difficult decisions facing the Eagles this offseason.
Philadelphia entered the 2026 offseason with 18 players eligible for restricted or unrestricted free agency, creating a challenging salary cap situation for the front office.
The team is also preparing for potential long-term financial commitments elsewhere on the roster. They just gave Jordan Davis a three-year, $78 million extension on Saturday.
Additionally, the team may soon face a major contract extension decision involving star defensive tackle Jalen Carter.
Because of these long-term commitments, the Eagles could not keep everyone.
That became clear Monday as both Dean and Jaelan Phillips departed in free agency after landing massive new contracts elsewhere.
The Eagles have now lost two of their key defensive free agents and offseason priorities.
While the team is far from finished making moves, the question now becomes: what comes next for Howie Roseman and the Eagles’ front office on the defensive side of the ball?
Eagles Officially Lose Defensive Playmaker as Raiders Strike Big Deal