Less-mentioned 2022 NFL free agents the Eagles must consider

De’Vondre Campbell gives the Eagles a game-wrecker at linebacker.

Here’s our chance to make the obligatory ‘the Eagles haven’t taken a linebacker in the first round of any NFL Draft since 1979′ statement. Cool… Now, that we’ve gotten that out of the way, here’s a bit of heartbreaking information. They may not take one in the first round of this draft either, not even with three first-round selections.

The Birds have rolled the dice on linebackers in free agency before. They’ve won by finding Nigel Bradham and, before that, reacquiring Jeremiah Trotter after allowing the latter to get away to a rival for two seasons. They swung and missed on Eric Wilson a season ago.

What’s comical is the argument can be made that the best two backers they have on the current roster are two guys none of the 32 NFL franchises felt good enough about to spend a draft pick on when they were entering the league to carve out names for themselves (T.J. Edwards and Alex Singleton).

T.J. has come into his own, and it’s been fun to watch. Singleton is one of the Eagles’ impending free agents. Regardless of what they decide to do with him, they have some guys that they’re excited about, like Davion Taylor and Shaun Bradley.

No one knows what this team’s plans are or how they will address upgrading the linebacker position, but here’s a wild scenario. If they do buck history and go with a guy like Devin Lloyd in Round 1 after putting pen to paper to add De’Vondre Campbell, in a flash, the second level of the Eagles’ defense goes from being a question mark to one of their biggest strengths.

Give Campbell a look if you haven’t already. You’re sure to like what you see when you do.