Eric Wilson, Eagles agree to 1-year contract

It’s been a minute since the Philadelphia Eagles made a free agency addition (see: Joe Flacco signing over two weeks ago) but they broke their silence with a mini-splash on Wednesday evening.

The Eagles are signing free agent linebacker Eric Wilson to a one-year contract worth up to $3.25 million, according to NFL insider Mike Garafolo. The team has since officially confirmed the news.

We previously profiled Wilson as an Eagles free agent target. Here’s what we wrote at the time:

“[Eagles linebackers coach Nick Rallis] spent time as Wilson’s assistant position coach for the last three seasons in Minny. It wasn’t until last year when Wilson, who turns 27 in September, became a full-time starter for the Vikings. He filled the stat sheet with 122 tackles, 8 passes defensed, three interceptions, and one forced fumble. Wilson might command more money than the Eagles will be able to afford but he should be on their radar given their need for linebacker help.”

Wilson also notably overlapped with new Eagles defensive coordinator Jonathan Gannon in Minnesota during the 2017 season.

More reaction and analysis to come but the quick take here is that this seems like a solid pickup for the Birds. The Eagles had a huge need at linebacker and Wilson helps to fill that hole. He’s expected to start at middle linebacker.

Wilson joins a linebacking corps that also “features” Alex Singleton, T.J. Edwards, Davion Taylor, Shaun Bradley, Rashad Smith, and Joe Bachie. The Eagles could also look to add to that group in the 2021 NFL Draft. For now, Wilson and Singleton are the best bets to see the most playing time this season.

That is, unless Wilson goes the way of previous Eagles free agent linebacker signings such as Corey Nelson and L.J. Fort.