NFL Free Agency Primer: T.J. Edwards

The regular season has come to a close, and most teams have already begun the complicated process of preparing for the 2023 season. In the coming months, we'll be covering the impending free agents most capable of shifting the balance of power in the NFL.

The Player: T.J. Edwards

Inside linebacker isn't the glamorous position it once was, but that doesn't mean its elite practitioners don't have their place. Philadelphia Eagles linebacker T.J. Edwards has improved steadily since clawing his way into the league as an undrafted free agent in 2019, culminating in an excellent 2022 season that saw him log 159 tackles and an excellent 84.8 overall grade from Pro Football Focus. He may be one of the league's most underrated players.

The Fit:

Edwards excelled as an every-down linebacker for the Eagles this year and led a defense that ranked first in passing yards allowed and first in net passing yards allowed in tackles. He's not the biggest or most punishing linebacker in the world, but his skill set fits in the modern-day NFL. He'd be best suited to a team that features an offense credible enough to force opposing teams into pass-heavy game scripts.

The Cost:

Linebacker can be an unfair position in the NFL. Pro Bowls and stardom don't necessarily go hand-in-hand with truly effective play, and Edwards' draft pedigree and lack of splash plays have kept him relatively unheralded. He probably deserves a deal exceeding C.J. Mosley's five-year, $85 million pact with the New York Jets, but he may have to settle for something closer to Jacksonville Jaguars linebacker Foyesade Oluokun's three-year, $45 million contract.

 Photo Credit: © Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports