Brooks Reed, LB
Age: 28
Height: 6-3
Weight: 255
Last team: Houston Texans
Scouting report
The Texans drafted Reed 42nd overall out of Arizona in 2011. Reed has spent all four seasons with Houston, compiling very modest numbers -- 14.5 sacks, one interception and two forced fumbles in 60 games, 52 of which he started. He showed pass-rush promise with six sacks his rookie season but hasn’t recorded more than three in a season since.
Geoff’s take
Reed, who’s better against the run than in pass rush, would be a really nice addition as a swing linebacker if he’s willing to come to Philadelphia and be a backup at outside and inside linebacker. He’s been an outside linebacker for his career in Houston but 3-4 teams have very little use for an OLB who’s only getting three or four sacks a year, at best. The hunch here is that he’ll look for a starting job first and might even find one. If not, the Eagles should make a run at him to improve their LB depth. Reed made $1.016 million last year in the final year of his four-year rookie deal.
Roob’s take
There’s nothing in Reed’s resume to indicate he’d be an upgrade over what the Eagles currently have at linebacker. Over the last three years, the former high second-round pick has 8½ sacks in 41 starts. That ranks him 47th among NFL linebackers during that stretch. No thanks. The Eagles need playmakers on defense, and Brooks doesn’t fit the bill.