Eagles LB Nakobe Dean Earns Spot on 'All-Breakout Team': 'High-IQ Defender'

Second-year Philadelphia Eagles linebacker Nakobe Dean is a candidate to have a breakout season in 2023.

Both defensive tackle Jordan Davis and linebacker Nakobe Dean were stars for Georgia's National Championship team in 2021 that were used sparingly during their rookie seasons with the Philadelphia Eagles. That's expected to change in 2023, with Davis and Dean slated to assume larger roles in their second NFL seasons. 

While Davis has been a popular name to mention as a breakout candidate, Bucky Brooks of NFL Media recently listed Dean on his "All-Breakout Team" ahead of the 2023 campaign: 

"The second-year pro was regarded as a high-IQ defender with excellent communication and playmaking skills at Georgia, but the league did not get a real chance to see him in action last season, as he served an apprenticeship behind veteran LBs Kyzir White and T.J. Edwards. After the free-agent departures of White and Edwards, Dean has assumed signal-calling duties." 

As mentioned, White and Edwards departed in free agency this offseason, signing with the Arizona Cardinals and Chicago Bears, respectively. Between the two of them, White and Edwards had 269 combined tackles in 2022, so new defensive coordinator Sean Desai will certainly be looking for someone to assume that production. 

Dean -- who, rather shockingly, fell to the Eagles in the third round of the 2022 NFL Draft -- would be an obvious candidate. In his final collegiate season at Georgia, Dean had 72 total tackles, 10.5 tackles for a loss, six sacks, two interceptions and two forced fumbles. Dean was a unanimous All-American in 2021, while also winning the prestigious Butkus Award as the top linebacker in college football. Dean had just 13 combined tackles in his rookie season in the NFL, but should see significantly more playing time in 2023. 

Of course, Dean and the aforementioned Davis are just two of the former Bulldogs that general manager Howie Roseman has added to the defense in recent years. Defensive tackle Jalen Carter, EDGE Nolan Smith and cornerback Kelee Ringo are also Georgia products that the Eagles selected in the 2023 NFL Draft. 

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