The Philadelphia Eagles' 2018 season is over, and there will be a lot of interesting decisions made on the players currently on the roster, perhaps more so than in most years. Let's take a position-by-position look at who will likely be back with the team in 2019, and who won't.
Previous stay or go positional analysis
Quarterback | Running back | Wide receiver | Tight end
Offensive tackle | Interior offensive line | Defensive end | Defensive tackle
Today we'll look at the linebackers.
Nigel Bradham
Bradham was quiet during the first half of the season, but he came alive down the stretch and looked more like the player he was in 2017, even while playing through a broken thumb. He is a Schwartz favorite for his demeanor, instincts, and versatility. While his cap number is maybe a little pricey at $9 million in 2019, Bradham isn't going anywhere.
#JimmyVerdict: Stay.
Your verdict:
Jordan Hicks
Hicks will be a free agent this offseason, and it will be interesting to see if a market develops for him. Early in his career, Hicks looked like he was going to be a playmaking beast. In his first 24 career games (21 starts) in the NFL in 2015 and 2016, Hicks had 135 tackles, 2 sacks, 7 interceptions, 1 forced fumble, 4 fumble recoveries, and 14 pass breakups. Those are outstanding numbers.
However, after a lackluster start to the 2017 season, Hicks tore his Achilles and was lost for the season. In 2018, playing in 12 games, Hicks had 91 tackles, 3 sacks, 1 fumble recovery, and 5 pass breakups. He did not force any fumbles or intercept any passes.
Going back to his days in college at Texas, Hicks has missed at least four games in five of the last seven seasons, and suffered season-ending injuries in four of his last seven seasons:
• 2012 (Texas): Hip flexor, missed final 10 games.
• 2013: (Texas): Ruptured Achilles, missed final 9 games.
• 2015 (Eagles): Torn pectoral, missed final 8 games.
• 2017 (Eagles): Ruptured Achilles, missed final 9 games, plus the playoffs.
• 2018 (Eagles): Calf injury, missed four games.
Because of his durability concerns, as well as production that has has fallen off considerably over the last two seasons, Hicks is unlikely to find any teams backing up the Brinks truck for him.
However, I still believe Hicks is a good player, particularly in coverage, which is what Schwartz prioritizes in his linebackers. He's also well-liked and well-respected in the locker room. I believe the Eagles will try to bring him back on a one-year deal, as long as some other team out there doesn't make a big bet on what Hicks was his first season and a half in the league.
#JimmyVerdict: Stay.
Your verdict:
Kamu Grugier-Hill
While I do not yet think Grugier-Hill should be counted on as a starting (top two) linebacker yet, he is a special teams captain and a third linebacker with intriguing athleticism who should only continue to get better.
#JimmyVerdict: Stay.
Your verdict:
Nate Gerry
Gerry plays on special teams and is a competent reserve linebacker when asked to do certain things (like coverage), but his run defense needs significant improvement. He'll be back on a $645K cap charge next season.
#JimmyVerdict: Stay.
Your verdict:
LaRoy Reynolds
Reynolds was a core special teamer in 2018, and he'll be a free agent this offseason. This is the exact type of player you hope to replace in the draft with youth, even if in the later rounds or the undrafted market.
#JimmyVerdict: Go.
Your verdict:
D.J. Alexander
The Eagles claimed Alexander off of waivers after 53-man cutdowns. He played 237 special teams snaps in 2018 and only had 4 tackles.
#JimmyVerdict: Go.
Your verdict:
B.J. Bello
Bello was picked up by the Birds in-season, and appeared in three games as a special teamer. He had 2 tackles. He's under contract in 2019, so he'll get a look in training camp.
#JimmyVerdict: Long shot to make the 2019 roster.
Your verdict:
Paul Worrilow
During OTAs, Worrilow tore his ACL on the same day that the team released Mychal Kendricks. Worrilow served as a quasi-starter for five years with the Falcons and Lions before joining the Eagles last offseason on a one-year deal. If they want, the Eagles could probably bring Worrilow back on a non-guaranteed veteran-minimum deal, and see how he looks in camp. That wouldn't be surprising. He certainly has a better résumé than Gerry, Reynolds, Alexander, and Bello.
#JimmyVerdict: I think the Eagles do indeed get Worrilow to come back on a veteran-minimum deal, and give him the opportunity to win a roster spot in camp.
Your verdict:
#JimmyVerdict Stay or Go Results
Green = Stay
Red = Go
Orange = Will be back in camp in 2019, but a roster spot is not guaranteed
(Note: Some mobile versions will not display colors.)
| Position | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 |
| QB | Carson Wentz | Nick Foles | Nate Sudfeld | |
| RB | Jay Ajayi | Corey Clement | Darren Sproles | Wendell Smallwood |
| RB (cont.) | Josh Adams | |||
| WR | Alshon Jeffery | Mike Wallace | Nelson Agholor | Golden Tate |
| WR (cont.) | Mack Hollins | Shelton Gibson | Jordan Matthews | |
| TE | Zach Ertz | Dallas Goedert | Richard Rodgers | Josh Perkins |
| OT | Jason Peters | Lane Johnson | Halapoulivaati Vaitai | Jordan Mailata |
| OG | Brandon Brooks | Isaac Seumalo | Chance Warmack | Matt Pryor |
| C | Jason Kelce | Stefen Wisniewski | ||
| DE | Brandon Graham | Derek Barnett | Michael Bennett | Chris Long |
| DE (cont.) | Josh Sweat | Daeshon Hall | ||
| DT | Fletcher Cox | Timmy Jernigan | Haloti Ngata | Treyvon Hester |
| DT (cont.) | Bruce Hector | |||
| LB | Nigel Bradham | Jordan Hicks | Kamu Grugier-Hill | Nate Gerry |
| LB (cont.) | LaRoy Reynolds | D.J. Alexander | B.J. Bello | Paul Worrilow |
| CB | ||||
| S | ||||
| K/P/LS | ||||
| Head coach | ||||
| Offensive coordinator | ||||
| Defensive coordinator | ||||
| GM |
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