Getty Bears head coach Matt Eberflus.
An under-the-radar signing of a veteran linebacker is starting to look like a low-budget steal for the Philadelphia Eagles, according to Pro Football Focus.
“I like Nicholas Morrow. I can’t believe Philly got him for a minimum contract,” PFF’s salary cap guru, Brad Spielberger, told Sports Illustrated’s Eagles Today. “I didn’t think he was going to sign a huge contract, but I thought he would be similar to Kyzir White, one-year, $3 million, some incentives, that type of contract.”
Morrow, who started all 17 games for the Chicago Bears in 2022, is a lottery ticket, a veteran player with huge upside and an affordable contract. His $1.15 million (with $75,000 in bonuses) in non-guaranteed, SI’s John McCullen wrote in his June 24 story. Morrow, who went undrafted in 2017, is coming off a dominant 2022 campaign in which he led the Bears in tackles (116).
The 27-year-old has seen his numbers increase every year as he gets set to enter a linebackers room where he’ll be the elder statesman. Morrow had been predicted to garner $3.8 million on the open market. Nope. Howie Roseman secured him on a minimum contract.
I saw an Eagles Facebook post saying trade a 2024 2nd for Patrick Queen and I need this to stop. I’m for trading for him, but he’s not even close to being worth that lol
Nicholas Morrow: Three-Down Linebacker
Morrow projects to be the successor to Kyzir White as the “Will” linebacker in Philly. He might have to hold off a charge from Christian Elliss at camp if spring workouts were any indication — especially after Elliss, a perennial practice squad player, saw some first-team reps at OTAs.
After losing Kyzir White and TJ Edwards the Eagles LB unit is ranked as the 31st best unit in the NFL.
Nakobe Dean and Nicholas Morrow look to be the two starters. Philly are you worried about these LB’s? 👀 #Eagles #PhiladelphiaEagles #FlyEaglesFly
However, Morrow remains the odds-on favorite to start alongside Nakobe Dean in Week 1. He proved he could be a three-down linebacker in 2022 after playing every single snap (1,086 in total) last season in Chicago.
Morrow said during a June 1 press conference: “I think I showed I’m someone who is durable, right? That was a big question, can I finish a whole season? Can I be a three-down player? I was a three-down player so I’m excited about those things but also there are things to work on but the biggest thing is getting in here and working as hard as I possibly can and showing I love the game of football.”
#Eagles signed LB Nicholas Morrow
Started 17 games, 116tkls, 1int #FlyEaglesFly
Nakobe Dean Makes ‘2023 NFL All-Breakout Team’
Nakobe Dean was forced to red-shirt last year behind starter T.J. Edwards and humbly accepted his fate without complaint. Now the job belongs to the second-year linebacker out of Georgia who was wearing the green dot at OTAs. Big expectations surround Dean, too, as he continues to earn offseason accolades before he has even taken a single starting snap.
NFL Media’s Bucky Brooks recently gave the former third-round pick a lofty spot on his 2023 NFL All-Breakout Team:
The Eagles’ new green-dot defender could make his mark immediately as a first-time starter. The second-year pro was regarded as a high-IQ defender with excellent communication and playmaking skills at Georgia, but the league did not get a real chance to see him in action last season, as he served an apprenticeship behind veteran LBs Kyzir White and T.J. Edwards.
After the free agent departures of White and Edwards, Dean has assumed signal-calling duties. The undersized linebacker will get a chance to show out as a tackling machine playing behind a monstrous group of defensive tackles (including fellow Georgia products Jordan Davis and Jalen Carter) that will allow him to flow freely to the ball.
Nakobe Dean is an absolute Georgia legend.
And he’s working hard to make sure he’s a Georgia graduate as well: t.co/zvrZO6CRp9
