NFL Draft prospect Jordyn Brooks gives Eagles an instant upgrade at ILB

Let’s start with a rather recent history lesson.

By now, you’ve heard a few times, especially if you read ITI, that the Eagles haven’t taken a linebacker in the first round of the NFL’s annual selection meeting since they added Jerry Robinson in 1979.

Ironically, they took him with the 21st-overall selection.

The last time Philly drafted an inside linebacker out of the “Lone Star State”, they took Jordan Hicks from the Texas Longhorns in the third round of 2015’s draft (84th overall). That worked out fairly well. Hicks was solid, but he was only able to finish one full season in his four-year run with Philly.

He’d wind up on the injured reserve twice in his first three seasons, and he missed four regular-season games in 2018. Then, believe it or not, he found his way to the Arizona Cardinals in 2019, and he appeared in all 16 games with 16 starts. What are the chances?

Meanwhile, Jordyn Brooks was making a name for himself at the collegiate level. From 2016 to 2019, he played in 46 games, racking up 360 total tackles, 6.5 sacks, two interceptions, six pass breakups, two forced fumbles, and three fumble recoveries.

Some have given him second-round grades. Some see him as a day-three guy. Is he totally polished? No, he isn’t. Is he potentially better than any linebacker the Eagles currently have on the roster? He absolutely is. Let’s look at Philly’s current situation at linebacker.