Last year, the Philadelphia Eagles, under the direction of Chip Kelly, loaded up on linebackers in order to bolster the middle of their defense. Despite having the group of DeMeco Ryans, Kiko Alonso, Jordan Hicks and Mychal Kendricks, the team still suffered from depth issues at the position thanks to Alonso's knee, Hicks's pectoral and Ryans's ankle.
But in 2016, Doug Pederson and Howie Roseman have taken the team in a new direction. Gone are Alonso and Ryans. Left are Hicks, coming off an injury and Kendricks, coming off the worst season of his NFL career. Add in Jim Schwartz's veteran Nigel Bradham and the Eagles starters are pretty much set for week one. However, after that trio, things get pretty hairy as no one other than Najee Goode has ever gotten significant snaps on an NFL field during the regular season.
Which brings us to Stephen Tulloch.
Despite being the leading tackler on the Detroit Lions a season ago, the team handed the 10-year vet his walking papers earlier in the week. Tulloch was informed by the team that he was no longer in their future plans earlier in the offseason, but they waiting to officially remove him from the roster until he was able to pass a physical. However, the linebacker was able to play all 16 games last year, but stayed away from voluntary workouts while recovering from ankle surgery. Tulloch has indicated that he was ready to participate in mandatory mini camp, but stayed away for the better of the team.
Still effective, healthy, team player and we still haven't got to the biggest thing Tulloch has going for him: he has played most of his career for Eagles defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz. Tulloch broke into the league with the Tennessee Titans when Schwartz was their defensive coordinator, then Schwartz signed him two years after he was named head coach in Detroit. It's clear that Schwartz is a fan of Tulloch's and the linebacker's experience in Schwartz's scheme could help the him mentor the younger players.
Schwartz obviously values familiarity, the Eagles have already signed three players who project to have a role on his defense who played under him in Buffalo. Adding Tulloch would be the ultimate insurance policy should one of the starters go down. However, Tulloch's consistent production could lead to him entertaining more attractive offers from teams who need starters at the linebacker position. The Dallas Cowboys especially are in need of linebackers since Rolando McClain is suspended for the first 10 games of 2016.
But the relationship between Tulloch and Schwartz could be the Eagles saving grace, should they covet the linebacker. With where the Eagles are, they don't need a long-term starter at linebacker, they just need a potential stopgap and someone who could can off the bench in a pinch and give the team productive snaps. At this point of the NFL calendar, no team is handing out long-term contracts, especially to an older player coming off a surgery like Tulloch. The Eagles could offer him a one-year deal in a system that he knows he can be successful in. In turn, he can earn a bigger contract next offseason and ride off into the sunset while being paid handsomely to do so.
Normally, signing a 31-year-old linebacker just one year removed from a torn ACL that he suffered while celebrating a sack. But the Eagles dire need of linebacking experience and depth and Tulloch's experience in Schwartz's system makes the match virtually perfect on paper.
Tucker Bagley is a columnist for Eagledelphia. Follow him on Twitter @tbagley515.
