Eagles waive LB after 49ers loss. Where Shaq Leonard ranks among top in-season pickups

PHILADELPHIA − It's no secret that the Eagles desperately need newly signed linebacker Shaquille Leonard to shore up a linebacking unit that was exposed against the 49ers, not to mention the last four games.

Leonard, the three-time Pro Bowl selection who was released by the Colts two weeks ago, is going through his first practices with the Eagles in preparation for their game Sunday against the Dallas Cowboys.

Leonard is expected to play a significant role right away, in large part because the Eagles waived Christian Elliss, who started in the 42-19 debacle against the 49ers on Sunday. The Eagles defense has given up a total of 76 points and 961 yards in the last two games − a 37-34 overtime win against the Buffalo Bills on Nov. 26.

Against the 49ers, linebackers Nicholas Morrow and Elliss replaced the injured Nakobe Dean (on injured reserve with a foot injury) and Zach Cunningham (hamstring), and they were often left chasing 49ers receivers.

Elliss' release could mean that Cunningham is returning, too.

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But Eagles defensive coordinator Sean Desai said he had to do a "better job" and put his players in "better positions" 22 times during his 15-minute press conference Tuesday.

As a whole, the Eagles rank 22nd on defense, allowing 351 yards per game. They're 29th in pass defense (260 yards per game), 32nd and last in third-down defense (47.3% conversions) and 28th in red zone defense (touchdowns on 68.3% of trips inside the Eagles' 20).

"It's a high focus, and it's going to get even higher," Desai said about the red zone and third-down defense. "We've got to do a better job as a staff and coaches ... and we will. We will do a better job there."

Leonard is not the star player he was from his rookie season in 2018 through 2021 after two back surgeries. Still, Leonard was a full-time starter for the Colts this season, with 65 tackles in nine games before he was released.

"Shaq's been an all-down, all-pro linebacker in this league," Desai said. "We're excited to get him in here and get working with him."

Leonard is the latest of many in-season pickups, either by trade or through free agency, by general manager Howie Roseman since 2017 to improve the Eagles for a playoff run.

Not all of them have worked out. Still, if Leonard can give the Eagles anything, he'll be one of Roseman's better pickups (and yes, he's in the top 10 already).

Here is a look at Roseman's 10 best pickups − and five worst − since 2017:

Howie Roseman's 10 best pickups

10. Zach Cunningham, linebacker, 2023

The Eagles were already having linebacker issues when they signed veterans Cunningham and Myles Jack on the same day last August. Jack retired before signing with Pittsburgh in October. Cunningham won a starting job and was playing fairly well until his injury against Kansas City on Nov. 20.

9. Jordan Howard, running back, 2021

Howard helped key the Eagles' 7-3 finish to the 2021 regular season, taking over after Miles Sanders went on IR with a sprained ankle after the Eagles had fallen to 2-5. Howard had 406 yards in seven games.

8. Braden Mann, punter, 2023

Mann was signed to replace Arryn Siposs after Week 1. He ranks third in the NFL in gross punting average since Week 7 at 51.7 yards per punt, and sixth in net average (44.7 yards per punt) since then.

7. Shaq Leonard, linebacker, 2023

Leonard has yet to play a game for the Eagles, but he's already in the top 10 because he picked the Eagles over the Cowboys. So he'll be playing for the Eagles on Sunday instead of against them.

6. Marcus Epps, safety, 2019

The Eagles signed Epps off the Vikings' practice squad in November 2019. He gradually worked his way up to becoming a full-time starter last season. Epps turned that into a two-year, $12 million contract with the Raiders.

5. Kevin Byard, S, 2023

Roseman traded with the Titans to get Byard in October to shore up the injury-ravaged safety spot. Byard has played every single snap in his five games with the Eagles. He has 42 tackles and an interception.

4. Linval Joseph, Ndamukong Suh, DT, 2022

They were signed by the Eagles one day apart last November to provide depth at defensive tackle after Jordan Davis went on IR. Each was in their mid-30s, and each bought into the rotation.

3. Chauncey Gardner-Johnson, safety, 2022

Gardner-Johnson, acquired just before the 2022 season began, tied for the NFL lead with six interceptions despite missing five games with a lacerated kidney. He was a key component in the Super Bowl run.

2. Jay Ajayi, running back, 2017

The Eagles traded for Ajayi that October after he had the reputation as a malcontent with Miami. Ajayi, however, shared the load with LeGarrette Blount, and had 408 yards, averaging 5.8 yards per carry, in seven games.

1. Jake Elliott, kicker, 2017

Elliott is well on his way to becoming the best kicker in team history after he was signed off the Bengals' practice squad in September 2017. He had already kicked a 61-yard field goal this season before hitting a game-tying 59-yarder with 20 seconds left against Buffalo in the rain and wind. The Eagles won in overtime.

Howie Roseman's 5 worst pickups since 2017

5. Tay Gowan, defensive back, 2021

Acquired in the October 2021 trade for franchise icon Zach Ertz, Gowan never found a niche. He played in two games in 2021, then was waived the following summer. He's on the Titans' practice squad.

4. Golden Tate, WR, 2018

Tate's best moment with the Eagles came in the playoffs that year when he had the game-winning touchdown catch that ultimately beat the Bears. The Eagles gave up a third-round pick for him and didn't get much production.

3. Robert Quinn, DE, 2022

The Eagles traded a fourth-round pick for Quinn, who had 18 sacks in 2021, but none for the Eagles in six games in 2022.

2. Genard Avery, DE, 2019

The Eagles saw him as a building block when they traded a fourth-round pick to Cleveland to get him in October 2019. In 35 games for the Eagles, Avery had three sacks.

1. Jamon Brown, offensive line, 2020

Brown had started 47 NFL games before the Eagles signed him off the Bears' practice squad in September 2020. Unlike Quinn, Brown did have a sack − of his own quarterback, Carson Wentz, in a game against the Ravens by running into Wentz and knocking him down. He was kicked off the team that December.

Contact Martin Frank at mfrank@delawareonline.com. Follow on X @Mfranknfl.

This article originally appeared on Delaware News Journal: Ranking Shaq Leonard among Eagles best, worst in-season pickups since 2017