Nakobe Dean
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The Philadelphia Eagles reportedly told linebacker Nakobe Dean to "come back" to them if his free agency market isn't as robust as expected.
The Philadelphia Eagles are very likely going to lose linebacker Nakobe Dean in 2026 NFL free agency. That’s what pundits have predicted to happen for several weeks.
The Eagles, though, haven’t completely closed the book on re-signing the linebacker just yet.
If Dean’s free agency market doesn’t materialize as expected, the Eagles asked the linebacker to allow them to return to the negotiating table.
“Nakobe Dean and his agency were told to ‘come back’ to the Eagles if the market isn’t as expected, per Jeff McLane,” wrote NFL writer Thomas R. Petersen on X.
“They want him back but he will test free agency.”
Thomas R. Petersen
Nakobe Dean and his agency were told to “come back” to the Eagles if the market isn’t as expected, per Jeff McLane.
They want him back but he will test free agency.
#Eagles
Most pundits don’t expect Dean to have any issues signing a free agency contract with another team. Some analysts see the linebacker landing a big deal this spring.
But because of his injury past, pundits have left open the possibility Dean might need to sign a prove-it deal.
Should that happen, the Eagles might be back in play.
In 2025, Dean posted 55 combined tackles, including seven tackles for loss. He also had six quarterback hits, two forced fumbles and one pass defense.
Projecting Free Agency Value for LB Nakobe Dean
Injuries have followed Dean since he entered the league in the 2022 NFL Draft.
The linebacker dealt with a pectoral injury during his draft process. The ailment caused him to slide to the third round in the 2022 class.
Dean suffered a Lisfranc injury during Week 1 of his second season in 2023. Because of the injury, he only played in five games that season.
Dean returned mostly healthy for 2024. But in the NFC wild card round during January 2025, he sustained a patellar tendon tear in his left knee.
A patellar tendon tear used to be career threatening for football players. Dean, though, returned in October and played in 11 of Philadelphia’s final 13 games, including the playoffs.
Dean still has tremendous upside and is only 25 years old. The question is how much risk will teams be willing to accept with his resume of injuries.
“Dean is one of the best blitzing linebackers in the league, and he appears to be shot out of a cannon on those reps. He is a matchup advantage against running backs as a pass rusher, with a 35.7 percent pressure rate on 28 pass-rushing snaps,” wrote The Athletic’s Daniel Popper. “Dean is small and a limited athlete. His size prevents him from being an impactful run defender. He relies on instinct and anticipation as a zone-coverage defender.”
Popper projected his market value to be $40 million on a 4-year deal. Spotrac set the linebacker’s market value at $31.5 million over four years.
Could Eagles Still Re-Sign Dean?
As recently as Friday, ESPN’s staff referred to Dean as Philadelphia’s most-likely free agent to sign elsewhere. McLane himself said on his podcast during late February that Dean was “as good as gone.”
With that in mind, it’s likely a long shot Dean returns. Still, the chance isn’t at zero, which is where it’s appeared to be for weeks.
Teams typically overspend on free agents and take risks to try and improve their rosters. That’s why it’s more likely than not that Dean will land a bigger deal than the Eagles are willing to even match.
But the last ditch effort from the Eagles to get Dean back to the negotiating table could pay significant dividends if the linebacker doesn’t get the big-time offer on the market he desires.