With free agency approaching, the Philadelphia Eagles appear to be opening the door for a familiar face. Linebacker Nakobe Dean is expected to test the market, but that doesn’t mean his time in the City of Brotherly Love is necessarily over. According to Jeff McLean of the Philadelphia Inquirer, during a recent episode of his Birds Uncovering the Birds with Jeff McLean podcast, Dean and his representatives were essentially told to “circle back” if free agency didn’t turn out the type they expected – fast forward to 21 minutes and 51 seconds and hear for yourselves.
In other words, the Eagles haven’t closed the door, in a sense. They may just let the process continue. Or, there’s another way of saying it. They may have accepted his exit. This may be their way of expressing “no hard feelings.”
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Dean has been plagued by injuries early in his career, but he should find suitors on the open market. Philadelphia appears to have a succession plan in place, with Jihad Campbell, Jeremiah Trotter Jr. and Smyr Munden all waiting in the wings. However, anything can happen. We’ve seen Philly use this tactic before, as recently as last season’s woes with Dallas Goedert. Howie Roseman and the Eagles’ front office have built a reputation for allowing players to explore their value before renegotiating. It enables organizations to gain a clearer understanding of the market while avoiding the risk of overpaying too early in the process.
If Dean attracts significant interest elsewhere, the Eagles may wish him well. But if market temperatures turn colder than expected, restructuring could soon return to the spotlight. This seems more final than Godet’s scene, though. It feels like the last time we see Dean in an Eagles jersey.
However, this theory may prove to be inaccurate. No one knows what will happen until it happens. One thing is certain. Philadelphia doesn’t want to bet against itself. For now, there is nothing urgent.
Dean will test the free agent market and see what opportunities arise around the league. The Eagles, meanwhile, are happy to take a step back and let the market define his value. If things are aligned in the right way, both parties may end up finding themselves right back where they started. Neither side seems ready to abandon the partnership entirely.
This article originally appeared on Eagles Wire: Report: Eagles told Nakobe Dean to return in free agency
