Philadelphia Eagles going for Willie Gay in free agency.
There aren’t many places on the Philadelphia Eagles roster where more talent is needed than linebacker.
Although injuries have restricted Dean’s availability and contributed to his total 43 tackles during his first 22 games, Philadelphia is still looking on him to make significant progress in his third season. Dean was a standout player at the University of Georgia.
In contrast, Dean is the only member of the Eagles’ roster from the previous campaign who will be available for free agency when the new league year starts on March 13. Noah Ellis, on the other hand, has never played an NFL snap.
Here comes defensive playmaker Willie Gay of the Kansas City Chiefs.
The Eagles are Gay’s best free agent fit, according to Pro Football Focus.
According to Brad Spielberger of PFF, “Philadelphia’s modus operandi is buying low on a recent early draft pick who works best as the member of a committee at linebacker.”
Gay really broke through in 2023, playing a pivotal role on a defense that propelled the Chiefs to their third Super Bowl triumph under Patrick Mahomes and Andy Reid.
233 total tackles, five sacks, 17 tackles for loss, two forced fumbles, and four fumble recoveries have been accumulated by Gay through his first 57 games.
Why Gay Is a logical choice for the EaglesÂ
After one of his greatest seasons ever, Gay might be just the kind of player Vic Fangio, the new defensive coordinator for the Eagles, looks for to assemble a team that has longevity.
After recording a career-high 88 tackles in 2024, Gay added 58 tackles, one sack, and one interception in the next year. Gay also contributed three tackles to Kansas City’s overtime triumph over the San Francisco 49ers in the Super Bowl.
Gay missed eight tackles and had a 103.7 passer rating against opposing quarterbacks, but Pro Football Focus rates the 26-year-old’s run-stopping ability at 71.3.
Linebackers in Fangio’s scheme are frequently given the option to work independently, particularly while playing downhill against the run or pressuring the quarterback.
Gay might profit from the double-teams produced by a space-eater like Davis, especially considering the Eagles’ recent defensive line investment, which included the selection of Jordan Davis and Jalen Carter in consecutive first rounds.
Gay, who already has two Super Bowl rings on his fingertips, would give a position group that is in upheaval leading up to the 2024 season consistent experienced leadership and expertise right away.
Worth of Gay in Free AgencyÂ
Even though general manager Howie Roseman is unlikely to face cap space constraints, the Eagles might not have to spend a fortune to acquire Gay.
Although Spotrac predicts that Gay will likely receive a sizable salary increase in his first free agent contract, the Eagles’ cap situation won’t be much impacted by his possible agreement.
Gay was the 31st-highest paid running back in the league during his first four seasons of play, but Spotrac reports that he may be in line for a new, four-year contract worth as much as $28.2 million. With that deal, Gay would rank as the 15th best paid inside linebacker in the NFL with an average salary of $7.07 million per year.
Roseman and the Eagles released seasoned safety Kevin Byard, giving them a head start on generating spending freedom.
The Eagles presently have over $39.6 million in cap space following the release of Byard. Roseman and the Eagles may choose to shop at the top of the free agent market, or they may see Gay as an ascending piece that could be acquired for a relative steal at a position where the team has not been a major spender in the past.
