Philadelphia Eagles linebacker Nakobe Dean didn’t mince words ahead of the Super Bowl LX, he wants to remain in the City of Brotherly Love long-term. “I want to stay,” Dean told PHLY Sports on Radio Row. “I want to stay. But real conversations have been had. More real conversations I want will be had the closer we get into free agency. But I want to stay. And I appreciate everybody.”

Since being drafted by the Eagles in the third round (83rd overall) of the 2022 NFL Draft, Dean has shown playmaking ability when healthy. He’s appeared in 47 games with 27 starts, totaling 226 tackles, 7.5 sacks, five passes defended, one interception and three forced fumbles in his career.

However, Dean’s journey hasn’t been without setbacks. After a strong breakout in 2024 -when he started 15 games and posted a career-high 128 tackles- he suffered a torn patellar tendon in the 2025 playoffs that sidelined him and limited his availability early in this past season. He’s also dealt with prior foot injuries, including a Lisfranc sprain in 2023 that cut that season short.

Dean is set to be a free agent this offseason, and while he clearly wants to remain in Philadelphia, salary cap realities could complicate matters for the Eagles. That situation could open the door for other emerging defenders — including Jeremiah Trotter Jr. — to claim more prominent roles if the Eagles opt to allocate resources elsewhere.