NFL insider links Panthers' linebacker to Eagles
This offseason, one NFL expert predicts the Philadelphia Eagles will sign a talented free agent from the Carolina Panthers, just not the one most people think of.
With 46 sacks, eight forced fumbles and two Pro Bowl nominations, linebacker Brian Burns is widely considered the Panthers’ best player. But while Burns gets most of the attention, teammate Frankie Luvu gets most of the tackles.
Luvu led the team with 125 tackles last season. In fact, the 27-year-old linebacker has 279 tackles (168) solo since joining the team in 2021, 116 more than Burns. To be fair, Burns is used more as an edge defender in Carolina’s system, with 26 more career sacks than Luvu. According to ESPN’s Aaron Shatz, it's the latter that the Eagles could pursue in the offseason.
Will the Eagles finally spend some money at the linebacker position by offering a big contract to Luvu? He can play off the ball or off the edge, giving flexibility to whoever is calling the defensive plays in Philadelphia next season.
Philadelphia’s piecemeal approach to the linebacker position went terribly wrong in 2023. Nakobe Dean, the team’s third-round pick in 2022, underwhelmed in five games as a starter before being put on the IR with a Lisfranc injury. Meanwhile, Shaquille Leonard failed to impress as a midseason addition to the roster.
Unfortunately for Eagles fans, the Panthers front office knows what they have in Luvu. Carolina tried to extend him last offseason, and according to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler and Dan Graziano, new general manager (and former Panthers linebacker) Dan Morgan wants Luvu back for 2024.
According to spotrac.com, Luvu should expect a four-year contract with $11.2M in annual salary. No Eagles linebacker carried more than a $6.9M cap hit in 2023, but with a projected $20.8M in cap space for 2024 and a glaring need at the position, Luvu could be the Eagles’ top priority when free agency begins on March 13.
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