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Nakobe Dean

Eagles Sign Rookie LB Nakobe Dean

May 16th, 2022 at 12:27pm CST by Adam La Rose

One of the prospects who fell much farther down the board than expected in last month’s draft has signed his rookie contract. The Eagles announced on Monday that they have inked third round linebacker Nakobe Dean to his first NFL deal. 

[RELATED: Eagles Select Dean At No. 83]

Dean enjoyed a highly productive three-year career at Georgia. His sophomore campaign saw him make 71 tackles, as he grew into an integral role on the team’s defense. That was followed up by an improved performance in 2021; he posted 72 tackles, including 10.5 for a loss. He also added six sacks and a pair of interceptions.

Seen by many as the engine driving the Bulldogs’ lights-out defense, Dean was one of many members of the unit to receive notable accolades. He won the Dick Butkus Award as the nation’s top linebacker, in addition to being named a consensus First-Team All-American in 2021. That had him pegged as no worse than the second-best inside ‘backer in the class, and led to him being widely projected as a first round pick.

However, teams were hesitant to draft Dean for two main reasons. The first was related to health concerns; many believed that pectoral surgery would cost him his rookie season, though there are early indications that may not be the case. The second had to do with his measurables – a five-foot-eleven, 220-pound frame coupled with an underwhelming 40-yard dash time led to concerns about his potential at the NFL level.

While Dean therefore had to wait much longer the rest of his college teammates to hear his name called, the Eagles were able to acquire a potential steal in the third round. He will have the chance to continue playing behind defensive tackle Jordan Davis, whom Philadelphia selected with their top pick, while playing a role in a re-vamped Eagles LB room.

NFC Rumors: Gronkowski, Bears, Dean, Graham, Lions, Patterson

May 8th, 2022 at 7:34pm CST by Ely Allen

In an interview with Sports Illustrated last weekend, free agent tight end Rob Gronkowski was asked about the potential for his return. In reality, the question and answer were played off a bit as a joke.

The reporter specifically asked Gronkowski if he would return should Tampa Bay sign retired wide receiver Julian Edelman. Gronkowski didn’t hesitate to commit to returning for a full season alongside Edelman were that to occur. Realistically, if Gronkowski is to return for another season with the Buccaneers, CBS Sports’ Jonathan Jones expects that decision to be made after minicamps.

Here are a few more rumors from around the NFC, starting with a rumor out of the Windy City:

  • In the 2022 NFL Draft, the Bears heavily addressed their offensive line, drafting four offensive linemen and signing one more undrafted free agent lineman. Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune expects the team to continue trying to add to the group, saying that they should be on the lookout specifically for “an experienced option to compete for the right guard job.” Biggs also expects Chicago to target veterans at defensive line and wide receiver over the next few weeks.
  • New Eagles linebacker Nakobe Dean was expected to be a first round pick during last month’s Draft. Dean was the victim of one of the least predictable slides of all time, falling down to the third round of the Draft due to concerns over his health. Well, according to EJ Smith of the Philadelphia Inquirer, Dean has been a full participant in the team’s rookie minicamp, making an effort to disprove the notion many teams held that he would potentially miss his entire rookie season with a pectoral injury.
  • Two games into the 2021 NFL season, Eagles defensive end Brandon Graham suffered a season-ending tear of his Achilles tendon. Well, according to Eliot Shorr-Parks of 94WIP.com, Graham says he feels like the injury never even happened. He will return to the field with no restrictions this preseason. This wouldn’t be the first time Graham has made a full recovery from a long-term injury. He tore his ACL 13 games into his rookie season. Despite the serious injury, Graham has become the impact player he is today, the same player he is expecting to be this upcoming season.
  • Two Thursdays ago, the Lions were more than happy to walk away from the 2022 Draft with the hometown defensive end from Michigan, Aidan Hutchinson. If things had not worked out so perfectly for Detroit, though, and Hutchinson had been told to pack his bags for Duval, Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated reports that the Lions would have selected the player Jacksonville actually did select, Georgia defensive lineman Travon Walker.
  • Falcons wide receiver Cordarrelle Patterson has always been a bit of a swiss army knife. He has made impressive plays in the kick and punt return games and, while performing mainly as a wide receiver for most of his career, Patterson has displayed the ability to run the ball when required, as well. After signing to join the Falcons last year, Patterson was asked to run the ball more than ever before, serving as Atlanta’s top rusher in terms of both attempts and yards. Well, Michael Fabiano of Sports Illustrated quoted ESPN’s Michael Rothstein stating his belief that Patterson will return to his primary position, expecting the 31-year old to spend more time at wide receiver than running back next year. Whether this would be a result of offseason additions like free agent signing Damien Williams or newly drafted Keaontay Ingram or if Patterson just requested a return to his natural role, Patterson is expected to take fewer snaps at running back next season.

Nakobe Dean’s Slide Ends At No. 83 Overall

April 29th, 2022 at 9:42pm CST by Ely Allen

Georgia linebacker Nakobe Dean was far and away considered on the two best linebacker prospects in the 2022 NFL Draft, behind only Utah’s Devin Lloyd. After a mysterious tumble through the first and second rounds, Dean finally heard his name called midway through the third round at No. 83 overall.

Dean led the National Champion Bulldogs in tackles for loss and was second on the team in both tackles and sacks this past season. Dean watched plenty of his teammates fly past him in the past two days due to multiple rumored medical issues. Many teams looked into his medical history and believed surgery would be on the horizon for the 21-year-old.

Dean will join a linebackers room in Philadelphia that lost leading tackler Alex Singleton, Genard Avery, and Eric Wilson. The Eagles return T.J. Edwards, Davion Taylor, and Shaun Bradley while also bringing in Haason Reddick and Kyzir White. This should give Philadelphia enough depth to allow Dean to get healthy while still giving him ample opportunity to earn a starting job once he’s ready.

Draft Rumors: Jets, Dean, Walker, Hill, Hamilton

April 24th, 2022 at 4:23pm CST by Ely Allen

Both New York teams are in the enviable position of having two top-ten picks in Thursday’s first-round of the 2022 NFL Draft. The Jets have made it clear that they are prepared to use their No. 10 overall pick in order to acquire 49ers wide receiver Deebo Samuel, who requested a trade this week.

According to Tony Pauline of Pro Football Network, league sources believe the Jets will use the No. 4 overall pick to address their defense, despite recent chatter that they may be targeting NC State offensive lineman Ikem Ekwonu. Pauline reports that he has heard that “the coaches love Kayvon Thibodeaux, but front office personnel have a lot of concerns.”

Thibodeuax has seen his stock drop since the tail end of the college football season with questionable concerns over his motor and effort. Coaches, though, see his ability and potential and, understandably, want him on their defense.

Here are a few more Draft rumors from Pauline’s article concerning some risers and fallers:

  • Pauline claims there’s a 50/50 chance that Georgia linebacker Nakobe Dean goes in the first round. Dean led the National Champion Bulldogs in tackles for loss and was second on the team in both total tackles and sacks. He’s a talented prospect, but teams desire to have the fifth-year option at their disposal for other positions such as cornerback, receiver, or quarterback.
  • Dean’s teammate, fellow Georgia linebacker Quay Walker, has been soaring up the boards lately. Like Dean, it’s unlikely Walker hears his name called on Day 1, but it’s looking more and more likely that he won’t last long in the second round of the Draft.
  • Michigan safety Daxton Hill has been the consensus second-best safety prospect for all of the offseason. While he’s been rising up boards as teams begin to realize his versatility and ability to play as a free safety, in the box safety, or even over a slot receiver, he’s still unlikely to be selected in the first round. Hill is another player expected to be drafted early into Day 2.
  • The top consensus safety prospect on the board, Notre Dame’s Kyle Hamilton, has been dropping in popularity in the days leading up to the Draft. It won’t be enough for him to lose his title as the top-ranked safety over Hill or even enough to drop him out of the first round, but for a player that is consistently considered a top-ten or even top-five prospect in the Draft, this fall is potentially costing him top money. Pauline reports that league sources see Hamilton going around picks 15 to 20.