Go birds! What's going on everybody? Let's go. Let's get into it. Let's get on the clock with another edition of the Go Birds On The Clock 2026 NFL Draft Preview looking at every position in the draft before. The draft happens one week from today, which is crazy. We're only one week away and one week. We will get a new player potentially that will become one of the most important people in our lives and we will say their name a ton over the next few years. So it's only natural on a week before the draft to talk about a position that is without question the least likely to be drafted early on by this team. You can talk yourself into them taking almost any position in the first three rounds. Quarterback, definitely safety, receiver, running back, running back probably low, but you can talk yourself into it. Linebacker, I think is a position where not only are they set for the starters with Zach Bond and Jahad Campbell, but have two excellent backups as well. To have two excellent backups as well. Wow, I really butchered that. Have two excellent backups in Jeremiah Trotter and Smile Monde and Junior as well. So they are pretty set at this position. But when I tell you I'm going to preview every position in the draft, I'm going to preview every position in the draft. So today we are going to look at the linebacker position in this draft class, but obviously through different lenses and we've looked at other positions. If you look at when we talk about running back, right, looked at a little more of the lower late round picks, receiver, offensive line, quarterback, although it's like we looked at all of them for this one, we have one thing in mind and that is can this linebacker play special teams? Now obviously they could draft somebody if someone amazing falls to them in the third round, like just as a football player, obviously you want the player to be able to play defense. But I think if you're talking about someone the Eagles could draft at linebacker, I think it's crucial that they're able to play special teams. And why is that? Well, if you look at the team's linebacker core, Zach Bond and Jahad Campbell are going to start the backups. As I talked about Jeremiah Trotter, Junior and Smile Monde and Junior both played big time special teams last year. Jeremiah Trotter, Junior was on the field for 75% of the special team snaps. And that could potentially only go up this year. So when I'm looking at rookies in this draft class that could come in and be on the Eagles, they're going to have to be able to play special teams because maybe they could eventually get on the field as a defensive player. If there's injuries, if they trade Trotter or Smile Monde, which I think is probably a possibility. But even if they become the number three linebacker, which is the ceiling on a healthy team with any rookie they draft this year, they're going to be able to play special teams. So what I'm looking for in a linebacker is one, A, that has played special teams. B is projected to be a great special teams player. C is athletic enough to play special teams. And D, young, because I'm not drafting a 24 year old to be a backup for two years. And that's really kind of what it is. Now, an interesting part of all this though is the Zach Bond situation, right? Like, so while I'm looking at the team, I'm looking at the team's linebacker core. So while as much as special teams are absolutely key and I focused on those guys, I also think there is the reality, much like with Saquon Barkley, like Saquon is the undisputed starter for 2027 or 2026. And Zach Bond is the undisputed starter at linebacker in 2026. But Zach Bond could be gone after this year. So let's look at Zach Bond's contract and talk about why that's a possibility. So Zach Bond signed a three year, $51 million deal with the Eagles the year after the Super Bowl, much like Saquon Barkley signed a new deal with the Eagles after the Super Bowl, right? And both of them played in 2025 and both of them will play in 2026, but also both of them might not be here in 2027. So Zach Bond, three year, $51 million deal, got 34 million guaranteed. He's already played in one year of that deal. This year, we'll talk about the money, but he's going to be here. He is a six and a half million dollar cap hit, a six and a half million dollar cap hit. If for some reason they did trade him at this point, it would be after June 1st. They lose $5 million in, they lose between $4 to $5 million in cap space. Now they're not going to trade Zach Bond. Zach Bond is going to be on the team, but after this season, it becomes a real possibility. He could be gone. So after 2026, Zach Bond has an 11.8 million dollar cap hit. If they cut him before June 1st, they save $2 million in cap space and it's the same if traded. So if they move on from him after this year, they will do it before the start of free agency or trade him like right around there. You're almost definitely not going to be a position where you cut Zach Bond. Zach Bond will have value after this season. Even if he suffers a big injury, I still think you could trade him for something. Now the world worth Eagles would trade him is if, A, he has a down year, right? B, Jihad Campbell seems potentially like the guy that's ready to become the main linebacker in play in the position Bond plays in. Now it's worth noting they move their linebackers around quite a bit. Or C, Trotter or Smile Monde and Junior just are so good and so cheap that they move on from Zach Bond. So, well, I think there's a decent chance. Saquon's not on the team in 2027. It's probably lower for Zach Bond, but just contractually, they would be in a position where they also might have to decide. Zach Bond after this season could ask for a new deal. If Zach Bond is awesome this season, right? Let's say he has an unbelievable 2026, the team rebounds and Zach Bond has a great year. Well, he could go to his agent and say, I want a new deal. I only have one year left. So Zach Bond is 29 years old. He will be 30 in December. So that means you would be getting his year 30 season in 2027. So they have a decision to make about Zach Bond after this year. So, while I do think that the key is special teams with linebackers, they're also in the back of their mind, could be thinking, what's our plan for 2027? Trotter and Smile Monde, I think are good players. I think could start on teams, but obviously they are unproven at this point. Trotter, not the athlete that either Zach Bond or Jihad is. And then Smile Monde, much more athletic, but clearly has played one last year in the NFL than Trotter and has never played defensive snaps. Trotter has at least been out on the field in some defensive snaps. As we enter this draft, that's kind of how I view the prism of the linebacker position. There's the potential to at least in the back of your mind, look for Zach Bond replacement. There is the reality that Jihad Campbell will get this year to show if he can play linebacker for a full season and do everything that Vic Fangio asks of him. Is there a potential they decide Jihad Campbell might move to edge? And if that's the possibility, how does that impact the linebacker position? Because they're losing that player from the linebacker core and they'd be moving him to edge. So I think 2027 should be on the team's mind, but I also think they're not using a first, second, or third round pick on a linebacker. So when you look at late round picks, you're looking for, again, like key physical attributes, has played special teams, ultra athletic, young, and maybe does have some upside. So with all that being said, let's talk about this year's linebacker core. So the guys I'm not going to talk about, because I don't think the Eagles will draft them early enough and it seems like they will be drafted early. Sunny Styles of Ohio State looks like he's going to be a top 10 pick. And then after that, there's a huge gap, at least according to most mock drafts, between where Sunny Styles go and the rest of the linebackers go. Guys that are viewed in that second round, third round-ish, like early third round, second round, Jacob Rodriguez out of Texas Tech, Jake Gallade out of Cincinnati, Anthony Hill Jr. out of Texas, and CJ Allen out of Georgia. Could one of them fall all the way to the Eagles who do have third round picks? Maybe, but most mock drafts predict that they'll go before the Eagles. And I don't even think they'll use a third round pick on a linebacker to be clear. But two third round linebackers I did want to talk about are Josiah Trotter out of Missouri and Kishan Elliott out of Arizona. And not just because of their names, Trotter, Elliott, but I picked them for other reasons. Both, I would be lying if I said I couldn't picture Hallie Roseman loving the idea of drafting Josiah Trotter. We saw how excited he was when they drafted Jeremiah Trotter Jr. How much it meant to get Jeremiah Trotter Sr.'s kid on the team, the emotional phone call, like it's all there in terms of how he just loving that moment. So let's talk about Josiah Trotter out of Missouri. So he just turned 21 years old. He is 6'2", 237 pounds, 176 tackles, 17 tackles for a loss, 2 1⁄2 sacks, 0 force fumbles, 4 pass deflections, and 1 interception in 24 games. So that's impressive numbers. Like 24 games, 17 tackles for a loss, almost every game he's getting behind the line of scrimmage and making a play. Interception and pass deflections not huge. No force, no force fumbles is a little concerning. But 176 tackles in 24 games tells you he is all over the field. So the scouting report, according to NFL.com, quote, ascending inside linebacker with NFL bloodlines and alpha energy. Trotter's heavy hands allow him to fit and choke off gaps, but he's inconsistent in doing so. Block collisions need to be balanced with efficient playarounds to create more tackle tries. Pursuit speed to the flanks is average, but he is quick to cut and accelerate, so he stays close to runs bouncing wide. He stacks backfill production with well time run blitzes and crafty rush work. Coverage is the concern with spotty zone awareness spacing and the risk of being mismatched in man. Trotter's wiring and disruptive qualities make him easy to project as a productive, long term starter in the middle, but a defense might need to protect him in coverage. End quote. So that's kind of a lot like Jeremiah Trotter and Jeremiah Trotter Jr. I should say. Going into it's different is like his spotty awareness in zone. I would think that's something he could work on. He comes from an incredibly bright football family. He has great resources to learn in terms of his brother and his dad both played the position. You know, Jeremiah Trotter Jr. played special team, so I would assume Josiah Trotter could, but obviously he's not like the smile, moned in ultra athlete at the position. So talk about him because I just wouldn't put it past how he to draft him. But the funny thing is if they draft Josiah, you're maybe talking about then trading Jeremiah because it'd be a little redundant on the roster. Josiah Trotter Jr. would almost be like restarting the clock on Jeremiah Trotter Jr. You would have him on the first year of a rookie deal. Jeremiah Trotter Jr. is entering the third year of his rookie deal. Two years left, obviously he's not played. So, you know, he's not going to have much leverage after this season barring him playing in terms of getting a new deal. But you would have Josiah Trotter on a rookie contract for four years fresh as opposed to already half of it being used like Jeremiah Trotter Jr. So, wouldn't put it past how he, how he at his core is a bit man. He loves doing things that get attention. And I don't blame him like you're how he roseman. So I just wouldn't put it past him, but that would be the only thing if you draft Josiah, maybe you're trading his brother. All right, the next one, Kishan Elliott out of Arizona. Just over 22 years old, six, two, 233 pounds, 301 tackles, 28 and a half tackles for a loss, 11 and a half sacks, 11 pass deflections, one force fumble, one interception in 52 games. So don't love the one interception of one force fumble. That's a small amount of force turnovers and a lot of game action, but a ton of tackles, a ton of tackles behind the line and 11 and a half sacks is definitely something that's noteworthy. So the scouting report on Elliott is, and not me, because the first two words certainly don't describe me, on Kishan Elliott, quote, viannefell.com, big productive inside linebacker lacking the athletic traits to make enough plays on the next level. Elliott has earned praise for his exceptional work ethic, maybe that's me, and football character, a football guy. His instincts and reaction time are average though. He can be heavy handed when taking on blocks and his execution is inconsistent. His pursuit speed to the sideline is too heavy-footed and past coverage. And as an open field tackler, his pathway will need to be as a physical thumper who can star on special teams, end quote. So that's obviously the hope that he would star on special teams. But if the Eagles are going to take a linebacker early than expected, Kishan Elliott just turned 22, big guy at six, two, not huge, like not like jihad Campbell ish, right? I don't know how off top my head how tall jihad is, but jihad certainly feels bigger than six, two. And I love the tackles for a loss. I love the sacks. Looks like you can move them all around the field. Love the work ethic. That probably means he's going to be a good special teams player. When you read that in a scouting report, if you're someone in college that was viewed as a hard worker and having football character, then I feel confident you will embrace a special team, a special teams role. In terms of fixing his reaction time, that's coaching, that's getting him out there, that's training camp reps, that's OTA reps. But hopefully Kishan Elliott could be a good special teams player for them. All right. So some fourth round options, fourth, fifth round options. Let's start with Jimmy Rolder out of Michigan. Just over 22 years old. So checks the box as a young guy. You're not drafting an older player here. Six, two, 238 pounds, 43 games in college, 118 tackles, nine tackles for a loss, two sacks, three pass deflections, one interception and no force fumbles. The scouting report on him, quote, Rolder's instincts and run game consistency make it hard to believe he was only a one-year starter in college. Wow. He plays low in leverage with violent hands to shock and slip off blocks. He finds the best routes to the run gap and maneuvers around traffic with efficiency to tighten angles to the ball carrier. He plays with good awareness and change of direction in space, but as average for pursuit speed and coverage talent. Few linebackers in this draft finish tackles with the technique and consistency he displays. If you trust the tape and ignore his lack of experience, Rolder profiles as a future starting inside linebacker. End quote. So I liked about him is again, young, productive and, you know, limited time snap and starting, but the fact he's a great tackler, like to play special teams, ultimately, you got to be a great tackler. We've seen how many games where the guy gets there, but he misses and all of a sudden the returner is off and running, right? So I liked that he's a really good tackler. I liked that he's young. I like the athletic makeup. And we'll see if he can play special teams for the Eagles, but a lot to like there. All right. On the other side, we're going to talk about a few more linebackers here, including one that I also think screams Howie Roseman. And by that, I mean screams Nick Siriani and seems like someone Nick and Vic Fangio would pound the table for. So that's on the other side, but first, a word from our sponsors. Indeed presents. Highers, you can't afford to get wrong. Like a warehouse operations manager. Uh, where are the forklifts? I sold them. They were too expensive. I got a great deal on these scooters, though. You expect us to move a two-ton pallet on a scooter? It'll be fun. Just think of the core strength you'll build. This is a job for sponsored jobs. This is what happens when you don't sponsor your job on Indeed. So the next time you need someone to get the job done right, get matched with quality candidates with an Indeed sponsored job. Visit Indeed.com slash next hire and sponsor your job today. Okay. So when Nick Siriani, uh, spoke to the media earlier this week at his, uh, pre-draft press conference, which was mostly Howie Roseman, let's be honest. Uh, I thought Nick was asked a good question. And it is basically like how with everything going on with players switching colleges all the time with players staying in college longer, just like, how do you still assess who has, you haven't actually said this phrase in a while? Like that dog mentality, like who is a Nick Siriani player? Who is coming in and is being competitive? Who has that dog mentality Nick Siriani looks for? Because as much as Howie looks for athletic traits, and I think Nick has rubbed off from on Howie in the way that they really value the person a lot more than they used to, I still think ultimately one reason Nick Siriani is successful as a head coach is I think he's really good at identifying people to bring onto the team in terms of their work ethic and the culture and like the hard attitude that they play with. So without being said, one thing I'm looking for when I'm looking at players, I think would interest the Eagles are players that have like that dog mentality and are viewed as team captains, hard worker, that type of thing. And I also think that checks Vic Fangio's box. Like Vic Fangio is an old school guy. He loves players that try hard. He loves players that, you know, uh, like come to work with the right attitude, right? So I think that when looking for guys that would interest the Eagles and Nick Siriani, I'm looking for team captains and those type of things. So this guy jumped out to me when reading the scouting reports on him. And again, I don't know him. So, you know, this is just what the scouting report says, but Jack Kelly had a BYU. Now I'm surprised I'm this into him because he is already 23. So he sits all next year more than likely. He's 24 before even gets a shot to get on the field at defense. I don't love that, but I love the scouting report. So Jack Kelly is six, two, 240 pounds, played 53 games in college out of BYU, 191 tackles, 43 tackles for a loss, 31 and a half sacks and 53 games. I mean, that's wild. Two force fumbles, 10 pass deflections and two interceptions. So just all over the field, pass deflections, interceptions, force fumbles, sacks, tackles for loss. I mean, he checks every single box statistically. And then the scouting report just screams like a Vic Fangio, Nick Siriani player. And that is quote, via NFL.com. Two-time team captain with four productive seasons between Weber state and BYU. Kelly is a blurry linebacker with adequate play speed and desired aggression. His reaction time is average, but his struggles to find his leverage and fit as a run defender pop up far too often on tape. He has strong punch, but short arms and can get stuck to blockers who sink their hands. And he's adequate in coverage, but above average as a blitzer and has some juice when he rushes off the edge. Kelly might need to star on special teams to find a role as an even front linebacker with third down value. So that's NFL.com. But then reading other scouting reports about him, the beast called him a net positive in the locker room and a force on special teams. End quote. So obviously I love hearing force on special teams, right? Because I think right away he can contribute on special teams. I love the two-time captain. I love the net positive in the locker room. I also really, really like the sack production. You know, I did not watch all of Jack Kelly's tape, but that, you know, clearly he is good as a blitzer. Now, one thing they are losing with Nicoby Dean leaving is losing him as a blitzer. He was really, really good at getting to the quarterback. Now, part of this is Jack Kelly plays off the edge a little bit and at six, two, he's a little undersized for that in the NFL. I think very undersized for that in the NFL. But Nicoby was good at getting to the quarterback because he had really good instincts on how to blitz, like dip through blocks, like all that stuff, right? And I think you see and read some of that in Jack Kelly. So I like that he'll attack special teams. I like that he can be a positive in the locker room. At least I know he's a rookie, so I'm not going to act like he's going to come in there and be a leader. But it seems like a good guy to add a locker room, force on special teams. And the 31 and a half sacks in 53 games is not something you can ignore as a linebacker in terms of his ability to get to the quarterback. So Jack Kelly, again, a little early because he's kind of projected in that like third, maybe fifth round, but he's someone I think that, you know, they should keep their eye on. All right, next up, and now we're getting to the fifth round here, Justin Jefferson at Alabama. No, not that Justin Jefferson. So six foot, 215 pounds, already 23 years old. Don't love that. 149 tackles in 41 games, 13 tackles for a loss, five sacks, three force fumbles, seven pass deflections and one interception. So he's all over the field in that regard. Five sacks, 13 tackles for a loss, pass deflections, force fumbles, one interception is not a ton, but he clearly is around the football. The scouting report on Jefferson, quote, nfl.com. Jefferson is a smallish will linebacker whose game is centered around his quickness and instincts. He plays with adequate field vision and good speed for long haul pursuit. He's athletic with above average change of direction quickness to stay engaged with the play. Jefferson lacks functional size to take on blocks and leverage his gap. So becoming a better block slipper or run and chase option is essential. He can cover Blitz and spy mobile quarterbacks. So a nickel linebacker slash special teams role could be his best fit. So I like that a lot of the linebackers we've talked about today so far is like an instinctual thing, right? This guy is mobile. He can blitz and he can play special teams. So I like the athleticism definitely undersized at six foot, but someone that can cover he could be a nickel linebacker. Right now, if you look at the Eagles in coverage, Jeremiah Trotter Jr. has not proven to be great at that yet. Smallmont Jr. is unproven. Jihad Campbell, I think can do it. And Jihad and Zach Bonner are a different level of athlete. But I liked it. Justin Jefferson could come to the NFL in coverage. Unfortunately, it's not the Justin Jefferson everybody else wanted. All right. Next up, Aiden Fisher out of Oregon. Just over 22 years old, six foot one, 230 pounds, 328 tackles, 22 tackles for a loss, seven and a half sacks, one force fumble, 13 pass deflections and three interceptions in 51 games. So the 22 tackles for a loss in 51 games, he's getting into backfield roughly every other game. Seven and a half sacks is a good number. The scouting report quote, Fisher is a Mike linebacker who can run the defense as an extension of his coordinator. He's well built with leadership and football character that are praised by teammates and coaches. Fisher has the instincts and feel of an NFL player, but lacks the needed quickness and athletic ability. He reads play design and gets to the action at a high rate, but a lack of range, cover talent, and plus open field tackling will make the NFL jump challenging. So this feels like a Jeremiah Trotter, Jr. replacement. Like I feel like I'm reading to Jeremiah Trotter, Jr. Scouting report. Now Trotter, Jr. was, I think a little underrated as an athlete, like, again, not a great athlete by any stretch compared to NFL linebackers, clearly in grand scheme of things. He's a great athlete, but that feels like a Jeremiah Trotter, Jr. replacement. And I do think the possibility of trading Jeremiah Trotter, Jr. is out there. Like if he has an awesome, if he has an awesome preseason, I think teams will call about him because there's a clear blocked him getting on the field. Now he would be a valued backup. So I think the Eagles wouldn't trade him like for a fifth, but I think you could potentially trade Jeremiah Trotter, Jr. for another player expected to contribute more or a more clear path to the field. And Aiden Fisher seems to check some of those boxes. You know, I love that he's an extension of his coordinator, according to that Scouting report. That's very encouraging. All right. A few late round options here. Now we're getting into like six round UDFA. Owen Heinecke out of Oklahoma, just over 23 years old, 6'2", 227 pounds, 85 tackles, 12 tackles for a loss, three sacks, four past deflections, one force fumble, and no interceptions. I like this from out of The Beast by Dane Bruegler, quote, overall Heinecke is undersized and still developing key areas, but he hasn't lost his walk on mentality and has what it takes to become an NFL linebacker and special teamer. He's yet to play his best football and in the right situation could reach his potential. So I like that there's upside. I like that, you know, the walk on mentality. I like that everyone seems to project to be able to play special teams, which I've certainly highlighted a lot in this pod, but I've seemed, I love the attitude here. Under size a little bit. The Scouting report from NFL.com. He's a former lacrosse athlete. He brings agility and I'll just read it at this point, quote, pursue speeds and an appetite for striking, wrapping as a tackler. He has the ability to slip blocks without compromising his fits, but will be engulfed by big bodies when directly taking on blocks. Limited game experience shows up with delayed play recognition, but that should improve with time. Heinecke's motor mindset and versatility give him a legitimate chance as a nickel linebacker in a core special teams contributor. So unproven upside special teams guy. I like it. Final two here, Jaden Duggar out of Louisiana, just over 22 years old, just turned 22, 65, 242 pounds, 225 tackles, 21 tackles for a loss, 16 past deflections, and eight sacks at six, five. I'll take a chance on someone that big. And then Taran York out of Texas A&M, not even 21 yet, 511, which is not great, but 228 tackles in 39 games, six and a half sacks, 25 tackles for a loss and projects as a really good special team that you can develop. So that'll do it for the linebacker pod. As I said, I think you have an eye on 2027. You have an eye on potentially replacing Jeremiah Trotter Jr. as a trade candidate. And you have a big time eye on special teams because that's what backup linebackers are going to play on this team. And how nice is it to do a pod for you all? We're not talking about they need linebackers, but won't draft one. They've certainly have done a good job at that, of adding to the linebacker position over the past few years. So that'll do it for today's NFL Draft Pod. Go out, enjoy your day. Enjoy the sunny week. We're about a week away, one week away from the NFL Draft. Till next time, he's Elliott. I'm James. Talk to you guys later.
