The Philadelphia Eagles have done a fairly good job of refilling their depth chart over the last few years.
The Eagles already have replacements on the roster for Jason Kelce and Fletcher Cox, if the two stalwarts on the interior opt to leave after the 2023 NFL season.
Philadelphia has struggled to replenish the linebacker position and that spot has one of its biggest weaknesses this season.
The Eagles lost a few linebackers to big-money deals in free agency last season and have not recovered from that.
Linebacker should be the No. 1 priority for the Eagles in the offseason, and they may also look for more depth at wide receiver to provide some support for A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith, who are the only two consistent targets at the position right now.
Frankie Luvu
Frankie Luvu would be a household name if he played outside of Carolina.
The linebacker will be one of the most coveted defensive players in free agency, and he should be one of the top Eagles targets in free agency..
Luvu has two straight seasons with at least 100 tackles and five sacks. He has been the standout on a Carolina Panthers defense that does not receive much time in the spotlight.
Philadelphia’s draft selection of Nakobe Dean and the free-agent signings brought in to replace T.J. Edwards and Kyzir White have been a bust so far.
The Eagles can’t solely rely on the draft to replenish that spot on the field, especially when it has been such a massive weakness all season.
Plenty of other teams will be after Luvu in free agency, but the Eagles have to swing big in order to keep their roster at a Super Bowl-caliber level.
Lavonte David
The Eagles and other teams in need of linebackers could have trouble prying Lavonte David away from the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
The 33-year-old is set to become a free agent at the end of the season, but he has only played for Tampa Bay.
David is in the middle of his 10th 100-tackle season and his 4.5 sacks gave him his highest sack total since 2016.
The Eagles could go the development route at linebacker while adding David for a year or two.
David is nowhere close to the end of his career, but the Eagles could sign him to a one-or-two-year deal to be the rock of the defense and help Dean and other young linebackers develop.
The Eagles used a similar strategy on the offensive and defensive lines and it has paid off, so they may be more willing to use a veteran and development pathway again at another position.
Curtis Samuel
Philadelphia’s top two pass catchers need a bit of help.
Brown and Smith are responsible for 2,430 of the team’s 3,680 receiving yards this season.
No other wide out has more than 150 yards and it is hard to see Olamide Zaccheaus or Quez Watkins contributing in any fashion over the final few games of the 2023 season.
Curtis Samuel could provide some relief to Brown and Smith as a No. 3 target at wide receiver for Jalen Hurts.
Samuel has had over 500 receiving yards in four of his last five seasons and he boosted his free-agent stock with a 565-yard season for the Washington Commanders.
Philadelphia saw firsthand what Samuel could do in his role since he had 11 receptions against the Eagles in two games this season.
He would be offered larger roles elsewhere, but if he would be willing to be the No. 3 wide out in Philadelphia, the offense would look even more dangerous than it already can be.
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