Zach Brown has found a new home. The linebacker is signing a one-year, $3MM deal with the Eagles, per Mike Florio of ProFootballTalk.com (Twitter link).
Brown was released by the Redskins back in March, and he’s staying in the NFC East. He’ll now get a chance at revenge against his old team twice a year. Washington tried to shop him in trade talks before cutting him, but they were unable to find a partner. Inside linebacker Jordan Hicks left Philly for Arizona this offseason, and Brown will help replace him in the middle.
Brown received extremely high grades from Pro Football Focus last year, grading out as their third best linebacker overall behind only Bobby Wagner and Luke Kuechly. NFL evaluators evidently weren’t as high on his play. In 16 games and 12 starts last year, Brown racked up 96 tackles, ten for a loss, and one sack with two forced fumbles.
Originally drafted in the second round out of North Carolina back in 2012, Brown spent the first four years of his career with Tennessee. He then signed a one-year deal with Buffalo for 2016. The Redskins re-signed him to a three-year deal worth up to $24MM last March, but he ended up making it just one year into that pact.
Other than a torn pec which cost him most of the 2014 season, Brown has managed to stay pretty healthy during his career, which is good news for the Eagles. Hicks had always been solid, but was plagued by injuries the last couple of seasons.
I was hoping my Packers would pick him up on a similar deal. I’m surprised on how a player who has been so productive struggles to find a permanent landing spot.
Agreed. He’s always been undervalued by NFL personnel. He’s a really solid LB. I wish the Bucs would’ve signed him and drafted Josh Allen instead of Devin White.
Zach Brown leaves his singing group to sign with the Eagles.