Veteran All-Pro linebacker Shaquille Leonard agreed to a one-year deal with the Philadelphia Eagles. Leonard was a free agent after being released by the Indianapolis Colts in November.
Leonard received a lot of attention among contenders but narrowed down his choice between Philly and the Dallas Cowboys. Interestingly, Leonard’s debut as a member of the Eagles is expected to come this upcoming Sunday against the Cowboys.
Leonard entered the NFL in 2018 as a second-round selection by the Colts and quickly established himself as one of the best linebackers in the league. He earned All-Pro selections in each of his first four years as a pro while leading the league in forced fumbles in 2021.
However, after a pair of back surgeries limited him to just one start last season, Leonard struggled to return to form in 2023. He saw his playing time diminished as the season progressed and ended up being released after nine games in which he made 65 tackles.
Obviously, the Eagles believe that Leonard still has some gas left in the tank and can help them finish the season strong and provide depth for what they hope will be a deep playoff run. The 28-year-old has 614 career tackles to go with 15.0 sacks, 31 pass deflections, 12 interceptions, and 17 forced fumbles.
