The Philadelphia Eagles had their 2025 season cut short with a home wild-card loss to the San Francisco 49ers. After winning it all in 2024, they fell well short of defending their Super Bowl title. However, Nick Sirianni did lead the team to an 11-6 record and a fifth straight playoff appearance.
While the team struggled in several areas, the defense was solid. Through the regular season, the unit ranked fifth in points per game allowed (19.1) and 13th in total yards per game allowed (314.2). Now into the offseason, though, the defensive side of the ball is set to undergo several changes.
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Nakobe Dean, a former Georgia Bulldog, was selected with the No. 83 pick in the 2022 NFL draft by Philadelphia. Since joining the Eagles, he's had his ups and downs, appearing in just 10 games last season. He was still effective, with 55 tackles, four sacks, seven tackles for loss and two forced fumbles.
Although he was unable to play in the Eagles' Super Bowl win over the Kansas City Chiefs, his regular-season production was a major reason for the team's success. 2024 was his best year with 128 tackles, nine tackles for loss, and four pass deflections, all of which are still career highs.
Despite not seeing the field, Dean will still forever remain a Super Bowl champion. However, with an expiring rookie contract, the linebacker is set to hit free agency on March 11. The Sporting News' Vinnie Iyer predicts he will sign with the Dallas Cowboys.
"[Christian] Parker is bound to steal a few former Vic Fangio Eagles for his rebuild of the Cowboys' entire defense," Iyer wrote. "Dean would be the ideal rangy leader post Micah Parsons."
The 25-year-old is expected to command a four-year, $31.5 million contract, according to Spotrac. The move would have the linebacker following Parker, the Eagles' former passing game coordinator/defensive backs coach, who is now the Cowboys' defensive coordinator.
Meanwhile, the Eagles would likely be searching for a replacement for Dean, who in four years has appeared in 47 games and made 27 starts.