One of the better stories of Philadelphia Eagles training camp has been the addition of veteran ILB Zach Cunningham. The eighth-year pro signed a one-year, $1.8 million deal with just $25,000 fully guaranteed during the second week of training camp.
How Zach Cunningham Has Become an Instant Contributor for the Philadelphia Eagles
Cunningham, who was once seen by NFL personnel evaluators as one of the top players at his position in the NFL, signed a four-year, $58 million extension ($14.5 million per season) with the Texans shortly before the 2020 season started.
A former second-round pick (2017) of the Texans, Cunningham is known in personnel circles for his size (6’3”, 235 pounds) and tackling ability. He led the NFL in combined tackles (164 total — 93 solo, 53 assisted) for the 2020 season.
Nice rep by Zach Cunningham.#Eagles pic.twitter.com/vgTyhWiFQF
— Thomas R. Petersen (@thomasrp93) August 21, 2023
However, with the team changing defensive schemes from a 3-4 to a 4-3 in 2021 under then-head coach David Culley and defensive coordinator Lovie Smith, Cunningham’s role would eventually become expendable. The team then moved on from him late during the 2021 season, and he was claimed off waivers by the Tennessee Titans.
Vested veterans are subject to waivers each year after the NFL’s trade deadline.
Cunningham was limited to just six games with the Titans last season due to injury but has looked healthy so far with the Eagles and again appears headed for a starting job, but this time at weakside linebacker.
Second-year pro Nakobe Dean will start at MLB inside the team’s 3-4 defensive scheme.
Another nice story for the team’s defense has been the re-emergence of veteran S Justin Evans.
Evans, a former second-round pick of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers out of the 2017 NFL Draft, signed a one-year, $1.6 million deal ($600,000 fully guaranteed) with the Eagles.
He spent parts of three seasons on injured reserve with the Buccaneers (2017-2019), landed on reserve/PUP in 2020, and then did not play a down of football for three seasons (2019-2021).
However, to his credit, Evans was able to overcome all of those injury issues. Last season with the New Orleans Saints, he played in 15 games and started four.
With the Eagles searching for a starting safety to play next to second-year veteran Reed Blankenship, Evans saw more time with the first-team defense over the last two weeks.
Eventually, the team is expecting third-round rookie S Sydney Brown to start opposite Blankenship, but for now, Evans is making his move. And it would certainly be a surprise at this point if he isn’t on the team this season.
Elsewhere, one of the few trouble spots for Philadelphia over the past few years has been at punter.
MORE: Philadelphia Eagles 53-Man Roster Projection 2023
The Eagles already recently waived UDFA P Ty Zentner, and while third-year pro Arryn Siposs was doing well last season before suffering a serious ankle injury during a Week 14 game against the New York Giants, the team has tried to bring in competition. Not only did they bring in Zentner, but they placed a waiver claim for former Jets P Braden Mann back in April.
So should the Pittsburgh Steelers — who were the team awarded Mann — cut him, keep an eye on the Eagles potentially for his services through waivers once again.
