Eagles fan favorite is quietly setting up a massive offseason decision

We’re a long way from 2026 free agency. Philadelphia Eagles fans are hoping to celebrate back-to-back Super Bowl titles well before we get there. But the Eagles are quietly holding one of the NFL’s top pending free agents, and his role appears to be rising as we hit the second half of the 2025 season. Eagles linebacker Nakobe Dean is officially back. Slowed at the start of the year by surgery to repair a torn patellar tendon in his left knee, his instincts and physicality were impossible to ignore — especially against the run—in Philly’s Week 8 win over the New York Giants. After adding some reinforcements at cornerback and edge defender before the trade deadline, the Eagles are left with few problem areas on the roster. They do have one problem, and it's a good one — juggling Dean’s reps at middle linebacker with versatile first-round rookie Jihaad Campbell. Dean has been an easy fan favorite throughout his Eagles tenure. He’s battled back from multiple major injuries now, and just continues to get better a