Nakobe Dean
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NFL insider Greg Auman predicted linebacker Nakobe Dean to sign with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2026 NFL free agency.
In all likelihood, linebacker Nakobe Dean is on his way out with the Philadelphia Eagles this spring. The biggest question is which team will give Dean his next contract and how much will that deal be worth?
NFL insider Greg Auman made predictions for both in his 2026 NFL free agency primer on February 11. Auman projected Dean to sign with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
“Dean, 25, has been limited by injuries throughout four seasons in Philadelphia. His peak was 128 tackles in 2024 in a Super Bowl season for the Eagles, though a knee injury sidelined him for most of the playoffs and through the first month of this season,” Auman wrote. “He can get to the quarterback — seven sacks and 16 tackles for loss in the last two seasons — but his durability is a question mark.
“The Eagles used a first-round pick on Jihaad Campbell last year, so maybe they’ve already decided on Dean’s future. How much can Dean get as a free agent? There’s a wide range of projections, but he’s likely in the $8 million a year vicinity.”
As Aumen explained, there are concerns about Dean’s long-term health. He didn’t play more than 10 games in two of his first four NFL seasons.
But in his return from suffering a torn left patellar tendon in January 2025, an injury regarded as the worst for a football player, Dean posted 55 combined tackles in 10 regular season contests. He also had seven tackles for loss, six quarterback hits, four sacks, two forced fumbles and a pass defense.