Eagles: 3 2023 roster holes that could cost Jalen Hurts a Super Bowl

No. 1 most concerning Eagles roster hole: Lack of experience at middle linebacker

T.J. Edwards may not have been an explosive playmaker for the Eagles’ defense but he did rack up 159 combined tackles. That production earned him a three-year, $19.5 deal from the Bears in free agency.

His departure thrusts second-year player Nakobe Dean into a key starting position. He’s got more speed than Edwards does but lacks experience. He only managed to make four solo tackles during his entire 2022 campaign.

Dean will need to get up to speed quickly if the Eagles’ defense is going to take a meaningful step forward. He will be blessed with a lot of talent in front of him, but it’s up to him to read the game correctly and soak up triple-digit tackles. The coaching staff would love to see him use his speed to create additional turnovers as well, but they might need to temper their expectations to make sure Dean doesn’t get overwhelmed.

If Dean fails to step up and become a high-quality starter at middle linebacker then the Eagles will have to force someone else in their linebacking corps to play out of position. There’s a noticeable lack of size in the group on the hole. That will play well against the pass but could make the Eagles too susceptible to opponents who want to run downhill in the playoffs.