3 positions groups the Philadelphia Eagles must address in 2021 NFL draft

The Philadelphia Eagles linebacker corps could still use some talent.

The Eagles were aggressive in their efforts to reinforce their defensive line and secondary in free agency, and after adding Jatavis Brown in free agency, they added two more bodies to the second level during the selection meeting.

Philadelphia’s linebacker corps in 2019 would never be confused with the New Orleans Saints’ “Dome Patrol”. It also wasn’t surprising to see them part ways with Kamu Grugier-Hill, who finished 2019 on the team’s IR (injured reserve) and Nigel Bradham, who seems to have lost a step or two.

You can argue about whether Grugier-Hill or Bradham will be missed, and we’ll have to wait and see if the upgrades they made at the position were sufficient. Brown will surely get his shot to earn a starting spot, but nothing that he’s shown so far demonstrates that he’ll be a perennial Pro Bowler.

Nathan Gerry is entering a contract year and will keep one starting job. T.J. Edwards figures to take over at the middle linebacker position after finishing the 2019 season strong. He lacks experience as he only saw the field for 112 snaps last year.

Davion Taylor and Shaun Bradley were added in 2020’s draft, but it’s too early to tell how much they’ll be able to contribute. Gerry will need to play solidly, and again, Edwards will need to show growth. This is a unit that could develop into a solid one, but there’s also a chance that the “Birds” will be back in the market for one or two linebackers next season.