Could Rashad Jeanty help the Eagles at linebacker?


The Cincinnati Bengals decided today that they're going to use "a low tender that carries no draft pick compensation," according to Adam Schefter via Twitter. "He's basically a free agent."

He's "basically" a free agent because the Bengals will still have the right to match any offer given to Jeanty. However, if they don't want to match the offer, Jeanty will walk and they will receive nothing in return.

They used the tender on him that would give the team compensation based on where that player was drafted, but since Jeanty was an undrafted free agent, the team will not receive a draft pick.

It's no secret that the Eagles need a linebacker, and it's not exactly difficult to see that the Birds really could use a SAM linebacker to at least compete with Moise Fokou and restricted free agent Chris Gocong.

Jeanty plays on the strong side, and would certainly be a guy the Eagles would, at the very least, welcome as some competition for Gocong and Fokou.

Depending on how quickly he picks up McDermott's defense, he could beat out both guys and become the starter on the strong side. He's by no means a superstar, but he could be better than what the Eagles presently have and could come fairly cheap.

He seemed to fall out of favor with the Bengals last season, but could come in and -- if even very minimally -- improve this linebacking corps for the 2010 season.

The Eagles will likely do nothing more than kick his tires and see what kind of money he's looking for, so unless he's willing to operate on a one-year deal with some incentives, I don't see the Eagles bringing him in..

He will probably want a long-term deal and a better chance to start than the Eagles will give him, so don't hold your breath for Rashad Jeanty (if you were holding your breath to begin with).