Eagles could capitalize if Nakobe Dean's market value is underpriced

[ASFN Admin]

Once upon a time, draft pundits and respected voices around the Philadelphia Eagles believed Nakobe Dean could land with the Birds as a first-round pick. That was the 2022 NFL Draft in Las Vegas. Dean was even invited to attend, which is typically a signal that a player expects to hear his name early.

Instead, he slid to the third round in one of the event's biggest surprises. Almost four years later, he eyes free agency, and it's worth asking a question. Could lightning strike twice? Could Dean stay in Philadelphia for less than most thought he was capable of earning?

Dean has developed into a respected leader, defensive signal-caller, and productive off-ball linebacker when healthy. The debate surrounding his future has centered on competing realities. First, there's his on-field impact versus his injury history. Would another team outbid Philadelphia based on his upside? Or would durability concerns be enough to suppress his market enough to keep him within reach?

There's growing evidence that the latter could happen.

Nakobe Dean is named among potential underpriced NFL stars who are approaching free agency.​

NFL.com's Kevin Patra recently identified Dean as a potential misvalued free agent, noting that while his athleticism and playmaking pop on film, teams may hesitate to commit major money due to missed time.

"The former third-round pick owns the type of athleticism and playmaking that could get him paid this offseason. In four seasons in Philly, the off-ball linebacker proved he could get after the quarterback (7.5 sacks) and patrol the middle of the field. However, an extensive injury history could curtail his payday. The defender hasn’t played a full slate since 2017, missing 21 missed regular-season games over the past three seasons alone, and was out for most of Philly’s Super Bowl run in 2024. Teams generally shy away from spending big on players with long-term durability questions, which could put Dean on a short-term prove-it path."

That said, we repeat the question. What are the chances that lightning strikes twice and the Eagles can again score Dean for a discount? Patra doesn't take a stab at a possible price, but earlier this month, Spotrac projected a four-year deal worth $31,599,724 as being fair.

That's an annual salary of $7,899,931. If the market lands near or below that number, retaining a defensive quarterback entering his prime becomes far more appealing.

Here's the reality: players with Dean's instincts, leadership traits, and scheme familiarity don't grow on trees. If the price stays reasonable, this isn't just a sentimental reunion. It's smart roster building, and if history repeats itself with another unexpected discount, Philadelphia would be wise not to overthink it.

This article originally appeared on Eagles Wire: Eagles could capitalize if Nakobe Dean's market value is underpriced

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