In White, Eagles add proven LB
Pivoting again from roster building of years past, the Eagles on Friday added a quality linebacker to the mix by signing veteran Devin White to a one-year contract.
ESPN reported the deal that could be worth up to $7.5 million for the 26-yearold White, the product of LSU the Tampa Bay Buccaneers took off the board with the fifth overall pick in the 2019 draft.
White has averaged 113 tackles and 4.5 sacks in five seasons with the Bucs, ranking among the league leaders in stops in two of those seasons. He made the Pro Bowl team in 2021 and was second team All-Pro in the club’s 2020 Super Bowl championship season.
White had 38 tackles and two interceptions in four 2020 playoff games.
The flipside is he lost his starting job to K.J. Britt last season and despite intercepting two passes and recording 2.5 sacks, wasn’t as mistake free as earlier in his career.
White (6-0, 237) recorded a career-low 83 tackles in 14 games last season.
All that said, White on paper figures to be an interesting piece to the puzzle Eagles defensive coordinator Vic Fangio is putting together. The ability to blitz and drop into coverage is a critical component in Fangio defenses.
The Eagles shocked their fan base, signing running back Saquon Barkley to a three-year, $37.7 million contract early in free agency. Previously the Eagles had not spent much on running backs since signing LeSean McCoy to a five-year, $45 million extension in 2012.
The Eagles also signed pass rusher Bryce Huff, formerly of the New York Jets, to a three-year, $51.5 million contract. Huff is coming off a season with 10.0 sacks.