Unless you're living in a cave, you know the Eagles have traded LeSean McCoy to Buffalo for Kiko Alonso. Most people's first reaction was, Huh? McCoy is one of the league's best running backs and the No. 1 fantasy pick in most leagues last season, while Alonso tore his ACL in the preseason and didn't play a down.
But don't underestimate the player Philadelphia got in return. Alonso's 2013 rookie season was one of the top seasons by any linebacker over the last five years, one of only 10 different players in those years with over 150 tackles. Assuming Alonso returns to full health, the Eagles will be getting a 24-year-old franchise linebacker who could anchor their defense for years to come.
McCoy's a great back, but Alonso's a great young linebacker. It remains to be seen which team will be better off with the player it acquired.
TOP TACKLERS, LINEBACKER, 2010-2014 | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Year | Player | Solo | Ast | Comb |
2010 | Jerod Mayo, N.E. | 114 | 61 | 175 |
2013 | Vontaze Burfict, Cin. | 114 | 57 | 171 |
2011 | London Fletcher, Was. | 96 | 70 | 166 |
2012 | Luke Kuechly, Car. | 103 | 61 | 164 |
2013 | Paul Posluszny, Jac. | 122 | 40 | 162 |
2010 | Stephen Tulloch, Det. | 111 | 49 | 160 |
2013 | Kiko Alonso, Buff. | 87 | 72 | 159 |
2011 | D'Qwell Jackson, Clev. | 116 | 42 | 158 |
2013 | Luke Kuechly, Car. | 93 | 63 | 156 |
2011 | Chad Greenway, Minn. | 89 | 65 | 154 |
2014 | Luke Kuechly, Car. | 99 | 54 | 153 |
2010 | Paul Posluszny, Buf. | 103 | 48 | 151 |
2014 | DeAndre Levy, T.B. | 117 | 34 | 151 |
2012 | Chad Greenway, Minn. | 98 | 50 | 148 |
2011 | Pat Angerer, Ind. | 78 | 70 | 148 |
2012 | NaVorro Bowman, S.F. | 96 | 52 | 148 |
2012 | Jerod Mayo, N.E. | 88 | 59 | 147 |
2011 | Curtis Lofton, Atl. | 87 | 60 | 147 |
2014 | Lavonte David, T.B. | 101 | 45 | 146 |
2011 | James Anderson, Car. | 98 | 47 | 145 |
2012 | Jerrell Freeman, Ind. | 90 | 55 | 145 |
2013 | Lavonte David, T.B. | 107 | 38 | 145 |
2013 | NaVorro Bowman, S.F. | 120 | 25 | 145 |
2010 | Chad Greenway, Minn. | 109 | 35 | 144 |
2014 | Curtis Lofton, N.O. | 99 | 45 | 144 |
2011 | NaVorro Bowman, S.F. | 111 | 32 | 143 |
2012 | James Laurinaitis, St.L. | 117 | 25 | 142 |
2011 | James Laurinaitis, St.L. | 105 | 37 | 142 |
2014 | Paul Worrilow, Atl. | 84 | 58 | 142 |
2013 | D'Qwell Jackson, Clev. | 75 | 66 | 141 |
2012 | Bobby Wagner, Ariz. | 87 | 53 | 140 |
2012 | Lavonte David, T.B. | 112 | 27 | 139 |
2012 | Paul Posluszny, Jac. | 106 | 33 | 139 |
2010 | Ray Lewis, Balt. | 102 | 37 | 139 |
2012 | London Fletcher, Was. | 78 | 61 | 139 |
2014 | D'Qwell Jackson, Ind. | 81 | 57 | 138 |
2010 | London Fletcher, Was. | 87 | 49 | 136 |
2010 | Lawrence Timmons, Pitt. | 96 | 39 | 135 |
2013 | Stephen Tulloch, Det. | 93 | 42 | 135 |
2012 | Karlos Dansby, Mia. | 101 | 33 | 134 |
2012 | Daryl Washington, Ariz. | 108 | 26 | 134 |
2013 | Chad Greenway, Minn. | 83 | 51 | 134 |
--Andy Richardson