The Eagles now have two three-down linebackers on their roster after signing Nicholas Morrow to a one-year deal.
We’ve agreed to terms with LB Nicholas Morrow on a one-year deal.@toyota | #FlyEaglesFly pic.twitter.com/21WPcBLHsq
— Philadelphia Eagles (@Eagles) March 21, 2023
Morrow, an athletic and versatile linebacker, took an unconventional path to the Eagles, landing an undrafted free agent deal with the Raiders out o Division III Greenville College in Illinois.
With the move now official, here’s an instant analysis and notes about the one-year deal.
Morrow will fit the underdog mentality
The NFL is all about potential, and Morrow has improved each year since he started playing on the offensive line in high school.
By his senior year at Greenville Colege, Morrow hit weights, worked on his speed, and turned himself into an NFL-caliber linebacker.
Eagles landed an improving player
Signed as an undrafted free agent by the Raiders in 2017, Morrow played in 62 games with 29 starts for Oakland/Las Vegas in four seasons and then signed with the Bears for the 2022 season and flourished.
Morrow started all 17 games and had a team-high 116 total tackles, 83 solos, with 11 tackles for loss playing the weakside position, and he was on the field for every one of the Bears’ 1,086 defensive snaps in 2022.
Eagles are familiar with Morrow
Howie Roseman and Nick Sirianni got an up-close look at Morrow in 2022, as the linebacker may have had his best game against Philadelphia.
Against the Eagles at Soldier Field, Morrow logged 11 total tackles and nine solos, including one tackle for loss.
Eagles depth chart at linebacker
Labeling Morrow a Day 1 start at the WILL or MIKE linebacker spot opposite Nakobe Dean is safe for now, with the Eagles also having Christian Elliss, Shaun Bradley, and Davion Taylor competing for playing time.
