Eagles Add Developmental LB Chandler Martin

The Eagles sign a young linebacker coming off an ACL tear to a two-year deal.

Mar. 31, 2026 at 12:05am

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

A fragmented, geometric painting depicting the dynamic movements of a football linebacker, with sharp planes of color and form abstracting the player's body and action.A cubist interpretation of a linebacker's explosive movements on the field, reflecting the Eagles' hope that Chandler Martin can recover and develop into a contributor.Memphis Today

The Philadelphia Eagles have agreed to terms with second-year linebacker Chandler Martin, who was previously on the Baltimore Ravens practice squad. Martin, 23, is coming off a torn ACL injury suffered late last season but the Eagles see potential in the young player and have signed him to a two-year contract.

Why it matters

The Eagles lost starting linebacker Nakobe Dean in free agency, so they are looking to add depth and developmental talent at the position. Martin could provide long-term upside if he can recover well from his ACL injury.

The details

Chandler Martin, a 23-year-old linebacker, went undrafted out of Memphis last year but caught on with the Baltimore Ravens practice squad. He was elevated to the active roster for three games and played 34 special teams snaps before suffering a torn ACL in Week 13 against the Cincinnati Bengals. The Eagles have now signed Martin to a two-year deal, indicating they want to take a long look at him once he recovers from the injury, which typically requires about 9 months of rehab.

  • Martin suffered the torn ACL on November 27, 2025.
  • If his recovery goes well, Martin will likely be cleared to play at the start of the 2026 NFL season.

The players

Chandler Martin

A 23-year-old linebacker who went undrafted out of Memphis last year but spent time on the Baltimore Ravens practice squad before suffering a torn ACL injury.

Nakobe Dean

A starting linebacker for the Eagles who left the team in free agency to sign with the Las Vegas Raiders.

Jihaad Campbell

A second-year linebacker expected to step up as a starter for the Eagles, but he recently underwent offseason surgery and will miss OTAs and minicamp.

Zack Baun

A starting linebacker for the Eagles.

Jeremiah Trotter Jr.

A top reserve linebacker for the Eagles.

Smael Mondon

A reserve linebacker for the Eagles.

Chance Campbell

A linebacker on the Eagles' scout team and practice squad.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“If everything goes well in rehab, Martin will likely be cleared for the start of the 2026 season, so it's unlikely he will have any chance to contribute early.”

— John McMullen, Author

What’s next

The Eagles will monitor Chandler Martin's recovery from the torn ACL injury and hope he can contribute in 2026 once he is fully healthy.

The takeaway

The Eagles are taking a low-risk flier on a young linebacker with potential upside in Chandler Martin. While he may not be able to contribute immediately due to the ACL injury, the two-year deal shows the team sees long-term value in developing Martin if his recovery goes well.