Does Reuben Foster Make Sense for Eagles?
Most of the players projected to the Eagles this mock draft season have been skill position players: running backs, receivers, etc. None of the draft experts yet have had the Eagles connected to any linebackers at the top of the draft in this year’s class. Though the Eagles have bigger needs elsewhere, one linebacker that would make a lot of sense for the Birds is Alabama LB Reuben Foster.
The Auburn, Alabama native is 6’1 245 pounds and has bounced around in mock drafts throughout the early stages of the draft process, mocked from as high as 5th overall to as low as 18th. But today, according to ESPN’s Adam Caplan, Foster had rotator cuff surgery which will keep him out of the NFL Combine. Depending on the severity of the injury, it remains to be seen if this will affect Foster’s draft stock.
Whether it is in the 1st round or the beginning of the 2nd, the Eagles should take a good look at trying to bring in Foster. In three years of action at the University of Alabama, Foster tallied 120 tackles and 7 sacks, off of just 39 games played in that time. He is a very physical linebacker who is known for his distribution of a handful of bone chilling hits.
Another reason why Reuben Foster may interest the Eagles is that, according to Jimmy Kempski of the Philly Voice, the Eagles are willing to move on from LB Mychal Kendricks this offseason and that a trade is likely. While trading Kendricks does free up $1.8 million in cap room, it also leaves the Birds very thin at the linebacker position behind the two starters Jordan Hicks and Nigel Bradham. Foster could instantly fill the role of the third linebacker spot at a much cheaper price tag—and with a higher ceiling—than Kendricks.
Foster is a hard-nosed, old school type of linebacker who lays vicious hits on ball carriers, boasting the type of physicality that the Eagles have lacked on their defense since the Brian Dawkins days. With Kendricks likely on the move, it would be smart for the Eagles to look into Foster to add to a potentially suspect linebacker core.
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Categorized:Eagles