Eagles Offseason Overview: Inside linebacker
EAGLES POSITIONAL REVIEWS
During the next two weeks, The Inquirer will preview the Eagles' offseason. Free agency begins on March 10, and the draft is April 30-May 2.
Mon. Feb. 23: Quarterback; Tues. Feb. 24: Offensive line; Wed., Feb. 25: Running back; Thurs., Feb. 26: Wide Receiver; Fri., Feb. 27: Tight end/specialists
Mon, March 2: Defensive line; Tues., March 3: Outside linebacker; Wed., March 4: Inside linebacker; Thurs., March 5: Cornerback; Fri., March 6: Safeties
INSIDE LINEBACKER
UNDER CONTRACT
Before we get to Kiko Alonso and what his addition means for the Eagles' inside linebacker corp, we must look at the pieces already in place. DeMeco Ryans is trying to return from the second ruptured Achilles tendon injury of his career. While that may seem like quite the hill to scale for the 30-year-old, Ryans recently said that he was progressing on schedule in his rehab. Last week, he was cleared by doctors to start running/jumping exercises and was already full-go in the weight room. There is no specific date for his return, but he is expected to be back practicing full sometime during training camp.
Mychal Kendricks is entering the final season of his four-year rookie contract. He missed four games last year to a calf injury, but he appeared to improve in his third season and remained an every-down linebacker for the Eagles. Najee Goode was going to have a sub-package role on defense, but tore his pectoral muscle in the season opener. He was completely healthy by the end of the season and should return for the final year of his contract and provide depth. Emmanuel Acho was signed off the practice squad when Goode went on Injured Reserve and was pressed into the lineup when Ryan was lost for the season in Week 8. He has another year left on his deal.
Travis Long was playing both outside and inside linebacker before he tore his ACL in the preseason. He will likely go back outside full-time. Rookie Marcus Smith was moved inside because of numbers, but he struggled there as well as on the outside. Where he ends up this offseason is anyone's guess, but a move back outside seems probable.
The Eagles also signed free agent Brad Jones to a two-year contract earlier this week. He'll provide some depth and contribute on special teams.
The Eagles likely needed to do something at a position they neglected last offseason, especially in light of Ryans' injury, and getting Alonso in a trade for running back LeSean McCoy should be a significant addition. The deal can't be finalized till Tuesday, but many were already writing the obituary on Ryans' Eagles career.
I'm not so sure about that. Here's what Chip Kelly had to say about Ryans, who he once called the team's Mufasa, in December:
"We need DeMeco. I'm a big DeMeco fan. As a group, he really sets the tone for everybody on the defensive side of the ball. So it's just a matter of getting DeMeco healthy again."
Kelly also said he wanted McCoy back next season, but typically when he's overemphatic in his praise he generally means it. The Eagles defense lost its leader and play-caller after Ryans went down and the unit seemed to lose its focus down the stretch as a result. It's unlikely Ryans returns at his current salary for 2015 ($6.9 million), but it wouldn't surprise if the Eagles restructured his deal and he was penciled in at his regular "MIKE" linebacker spot.
So what's that mean for Kendricks? A Ryans return could have absolutely no impact on his future with the Eagles. The 6-foot-3, 246-pound Alonso could theoretically move outside or defensive coordinator Bill Davis could try some sort of rotation. Or maybe Ryans is indeed the odd man out. But it wouldn't come as a complete surprise if Kendricks was part of another trade. He's an ascending player, but he pre-dates Kelly's arrival, doesn't fall under Kelly's big-people-beat-up-little-people preference on defense, and could be better suited to play outside linebacker in a 4-3 scheme.
It's early in the offseason, but the Eagles haven't approached Kendricks about a contract extension. Even if he stays it's unlikely the Eagles would fork over a long-term deal without seeing how Alonso performs. Kelly's plan at inside linebacker doesn't appear completely fleshed out yet.
ROSTER DECISIONS
Casey Matthews is the lone free agent inside linebacker. As it stands now, only six Eagles have been on the team longer. He stepped in for Ryans, along with Acho, and the drop off wasn't significant. But it was noticeable. Matthews was again solid on special teams when he played there. Not every player on the roster can be a star. Matthews is likely fine with being a backup and Kelly could conceivably bring him back.
FREE AGENT OPTIONS
Kelly probably looked the free agent options at inside linebacker and figured if he wanted any chance at getting a starter on the roster it had to come via trade. The New York Jets' David Harris is solid middle linebacker, but he's likely to follow Rex Ryan to the Bills and replace Alonso. Brandon Spikes is expected to stay in Buffalo. The Eagles probably didn't have any interest in mid-tier talents like Mason Foster, Rolando McClain or Rey Maualuga, and especially won't now after the Alonso acquisition.
DRAFT OPTIONS
The Eagles could add some youth via the draft, though. It probably won't happen in the early rounds, though. Shaq Thompson of Washington is an intriguing prospect because Kelly loves versatile players. Thompson is viewed by some scouts as a linebacker-safety hybrid. But he's small for an inside linebacker (6-0, 228) and didn't run a fast 40 (4.64) for a safety at the combine.
Benardrick McKinney of Mississippi State is long (6-4, 246, 33-inch arms) and could sneak into the first round. Stephone Anthony of Clemson (6-3, 243) ran the best 40 (4.56). Some have speculated that the Eagles may be interested in UCLA's Eric Kendricks – Mychal's brother – but I don't see it. Kelly didn't draft the elder Kendricks and the younger is practically a mirror copy of his brother both in size (6-0, 232) and style.
