Eagles: Nakobe Dean set to do and be more in 2023
The second-year Philadelphia Eagle’s linebacker is prepared to take on a bigger role in 2023.
Nakobe Dean will be the point man on the Philadelphia Eagles defense.
The second-year linebacker is wearing a green dot on his helmet, signifying as much as first reported by NBC Sports.
With the elevated role, Dean has impressed teammates through offseason team activities. After a 2022 campaign that saw him collect 13 tackles, his current leadership role is turning heads around the team.
“I’m proud of him,” second-year safety Reed Blankenship said. “Me and him, we’re pretty close friends. Just knowing him and knowing his work ethic and knowing his leadership role that he’s going to have to take, it feels really good to see him out there working.
“He looks comfortable. He loves doing what he’s doing. He communicates all over the field and I feel strong about him.”
But Blankenship isn't the only player signing praises of what Dean has done to this point in the offseason.
Nicholas Morrow, the linebacker Philadelphia brought in to help replace the two starting linebackers that walked after the 2022 season, has also spoken highly of Dean.
“We started in the weight room obviously, right?” Morrow said. “He’s very explosive and strong. Then we got into the meetings rooms, he’s smart. He knows his stuff, he knows what’s going on. Good communicator. So he’s doing a great job."
And then there was Jordan Davis, who sees Dean as a player that possesses the chip on his shoulder that will make him a great asset to the defense in 2023.
“He has a chip on his shoulder,” Davis said. “He always talks about it. And that’s what drives him. And just seeing him get his opportunity and for us to have an opportunity to play together, to be on the field at the same time, that’s amazing.”
The Eagles used a third-round pick — No. 83 overall — on Dean last year out of Georgia. They are hoping he continues to impress throughout the rest of the offseason.
Feature image via Maria Lysaker-USA TODAY Sports.
