4 Potential Eagles free agents we will miss (if they aren’t retained)

Eagles safety Rodney McLeod, ‘The Enforcer’

Whenever anyone mentions their favorite or the most important moments of Super Bowl LII, you’ll most certainly hear about plays like Malcolm Jenkins’ knockout shot on Brandin Cooks, the ‘Philly Special’, Zach Ertz diving into the end zone, and Brandon Graham’s strip-sack of Tom Brady late in the fourth quarter.

You won’t often hear about a huge third-down stop made by Rodney McLeod to begin the third quarter, but boy, was it huge! On 3rd and two. the New England Patriots tried a reverse. It didn’t work thanks to Number 23.

That stop was key, not only because it halted some early Pats momentum but also because it was followed by a missed field goal by New England on fourth down. Again, no one talks about that moment, but that play is a microcosm of McLeod’s run in Philly.

He makes big plays. Often they’re forgotten, but even though this Eagles defense can often be criticized, it’s hard to find moments when Rodney is out of place or doesn’t make a play when the ball comes his way.

Throughout his Eagles career, he’s battled through injury. He turns 32 years old on June 23rd, so it will be interesting to see if he’s given an extension. He’s earned his wings though.

Rodney McLeod may never be an Eagles Hall-of-Famer, but he’s in the class of guys like Trent Cole, Jason Avant, and fellow safeties Quintin Mikell and Michael Lewis. They’re great Eagles who played their behinds off and, for whatever reason, never get the amount of credit they truly deserve.