Philadelphia Eagles Offseason Free Agency Guide - Part 11: Outside Linebackers

The trading/free agent signing period is fast approaching, so the Eagles front office will have to decide who they plan to pursue come March 5th. Over the next few weeks at BGN, we will be taking a position-by-position look at who we could see in an Eagles uniform come training camp. Today's position? Outside linebackers.

A long string of injuries starting with Stewart Bradley's preseason ACL tear exposed the instability among the Eagles linebacker corps. The addition of Will Witherspoon midway through the season certainly helped, but the fact remains that the Eagles front office will have to take a serious look at their linebackers this offseason. None of the reserve outside linebackers: Akeem Jordan, Chris Gocong and Tracy White, have been resigned yet. Still, even if all three of them are locked up before they test the free agent market, there is no clear-cut starter at SAM. Rookie Moise Fokou might reach that level in a few years, but for now needs to work on his pass coverage skills. A free agent pickup just might be the answer. Here are a few options:

Karlos Dansby (UFA): Although he is used to playing in the Cardinals 3-4 defense, the 28 year old Dansby is enough of a weapon that he could provide value anywhere he plays. His size gives him the ability to burst through the tackles on a blitz or to swat down passes in zone coverage. He also has a nearly spotless bill of health over his six seasons, which is something that you can bet the Eagles will cherish.

Scott Fujita (UFA): At 30, Fujita would be brushing with the Eagles "youth movement" age limit, but could prove to be a stabilizing force nonetheless. Fujita's age has developed his instincts to the point where he rarely bites on fakes. He is also very good at covering tight ends, something the Eagles will need if they plan to face the likes of Jason Witten and Chris Cooley twice a season.

Pisa Tinoisamoa (UFA): Recovering from a season-ending knee injury, Tinoisamoa could be a potential steal. The 28 year old converted safety impressed the Bears nation early on in 2009, but was only able to play two games before sitting the rest of the season out. When healthy though, this starting-caliber linebacker possesses the speed and coverage ability to blanket opposing receivers. If the Eagles are confident that they will be able to solidify their linebacker depth before the start of the season, Tinoisamoa could get a serious look.

Other Available Free Agents:

• Elvis Dumervil (RFA)
• Keith Bulluck (UFA)
• Shawne Merriman (RFA)
• Thomas Howard (RFA)
• Rocky McIntosh (RFA)
• Clint Ingram (RFA)
• Tyjuan Hagler (RFA)
• Thomas Davis (RFA)
• Derrick Johnson (RFA)
• Danny Clark (UFA)
• Chike Okeafor (UFA)
• Ahmad Brooks (RFA)
• Matt Roth (RFA)
• Mike Vrabel (UFA)
• Tully Banta-Cain (UFA)
• Chris Draft (UFA)
• Pierre Woods (RFA)
• Rashad Jeanty (RFA)
• Ricky Brown (RFA)
• Freddy Keiaho (RFA)
• Jamar Williams (RFA)
• Gerris Wilkinson (RFA)
• Brandon Johnson (RFA)
• Matt McCoy (RFA)
• D.D. Lewis (UFA)
• Sam Williams (UFA)
• Jon Alston (RFA)
• Chaun Thompson (UFA)
• Keith Ellison (UFA)
• Khary Campbell (UFA)
• Rocky Boiman (UFA)
• Marques Harris (RFA)
• James Anderson (RFA)
• Antwan Barnes (RFA)

In the next installment, we will be taking a look at middle linebackers. Feel free to leave any suggestions on who to examine in the comments section. For more information on unrestricted vs. restricted free agents in a potentially uncapped year, check out this great article over at Mocking The Draft.

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