When the Philadelphia Eagles lost linebacker Jordan Hicks this offseason to free agency, pundits and skeptics were unsure of how the Birds would replace the talented veteran. Howie Roseman did one better, replacing Hicks with one of the top tackling linebackers in all of football.
The Eagles signed Zach Brown, who was released by the Washington Redskins for salary cap purposes, and the feeling was mutual, with the linebacker ending his free agent process once Philadelphia got involved. USA Today’s NFL writer Doug Farrar has ranked the 11 best linebackers in the league for 2019 and Brown landed at No. 6 on the list.
One of the most assignment-correct linebackers in the NFL, Brown has a great ability to tear off to either sideline and still keep his body under control to make the tackle. There are few wasted steps and movements in anything he’s doing, whether he’s blitzing up the middle or taking a receiver down in slant/flat coverage.
Last season for the Redskins, Brown had 96 total tackles in 16 games.
Selected by the Tennessee Titans in the second round of the 2012 NFL Draft, Brown started 25 games for the Redskins over the past two seasons, totaling 223 tackles, while being pretty productive in passing situations as well.
Brown was released in a move that saved the Redskins $3.88 million.
The 29-year-old Brown was ranked No. 29 on NFL.com’s top free agent’s list and was the NFL’s third-ranked middle linebacker, per Pro Football Focus.
