Eagles new LB Nakobe Dean: pic.twitter.com/ypzleYRfRp
— Barstool Philly (@BarstoolPhilly) April 30, 2022
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The Philadelphia Eagles needed to address a few areas during the 2022 NFL draft, and many experts were unsure if Howie Roseman would pull the trigger on a linebacker.
The Eagles selected Georgia product, Nakobe Dean, as their 83rd pick in the 3rd round.
Dean brings a kick punch to an Eagles linebacker group that can use a player like him.
Look at where Nakobe Dean starts and look at where he ends up. Show me the last Eagles LB that covered ground like this. pic.twitter.com/KMLdTGHSHG
— Victor Williams (@ThePhillyPod) April 30, 2022
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An All-American at Georgia, Dean is known for getting to ball carriers quickly by using his blazing speed and innate IQ to track running backs and wide receivers.
At Georgia, Dean logged 168 tackles, three forced fumbles, 7.5 sacks, and two interceptions.
The big elephant in the room is something that analysts have addressed on multiple occasions: his size. Dean is undersized for his position at just 5-foot-11 and weighing 229 pounds.
Dean will now join a linebacker group that includes T.J. Edwards, Davion Taylor, and newcomers Kyzir White and Hassan Reddick.
Defensive Coordinator Jonathan Gannon prefers to blitz more and his schemes will mesh well with Dean’s ability to dictate the pace and flush out screens or quick-hitting plays.
It’ll be fun to watch Dean blossom and grow within Gannon’s system, as Philadelphia ushers in a new era at linebacker.