February 19, 2018

Eagles stay or go: Outside linebacker

By Jimmy Kempski
PhillyVoice Staff

Now that the Philadelphia Eagles' offseason is (finally) underway, let's take a look at each position and figure out which players will be back in 2018, and which ones will be playing elsewhere. Here we'll look at outside linebacker.

Nigel Bradham

Earlier this morning we broke down in detail what it might cost to retain Bradham in free agency this offseason. The guess here is that he'll get a deal somewhere in the ballpark of $5-6 million per season, and that he'll stay with the Eagles, where he is valued by Jim Schwartz.

#JimmyVerdict: Stay.

Your verdict:

Mychal Kendricks

If Bradham leaves in free agency, expect the Eagles to retain Kendricks. However, if the team feels good about Jordan Hicks' recovery from a ruptured Achilles, and Bradham re-signs with the team, Kendricks is simply going to be too costly to keep around at $7.6 million as a third linebacker.

MORE ON THE EAGLES: Howie's choice: Do the Eagles keep Nigel Bradham or Mychal Kendricks? | Mailbag: What could the Eagles reasonably expect in return if they traded Nick Foles? | Brandon Graham wants a new contract, and the Eagles should give him one | Patriots fans are crybabies, and it's hilarious

#JimmyVerdict: We project that Bradham will indeed re-sign with the Eagles, and Kendricks will likely be on the trade block once again this offseason. After a quality season in 2017, Kendricks should attract better offers than what the Eagles received last offseason.

Your verdict:

Kamu Grugier-Hill

Grugier-Hill is one of the best special teams players on the roster, and he has some upside at linebacker because of his impressive athleticism. He'll be a near lock to make the roster in 2018.

#JimmyVerdict: Stay.

Your verdict:

Nate Gerry

Gerry, like Grugier-Hill above, was a safety in college who converted to linebacker in the pros. Also like Grugier-Hill, Gerry wasn't much more than a special teams player in 2017.

Gerry did not make the initial 53-man roster in 2017. He was cut, came back to the practice squad, and was later added to the active roster. He was active on game day from Week 7 through the Super Bowl.

#JimmyVerdict: Gerry will have to earn a spot on the roster again, though I'd lean strongly toward him doing so in 2018.

Your verdict:

#JimmyVerdict Stay or Go Results

Green = Stay

Red = Go

Orange = They'll make it to camp, and will have to prove they belong on the roster.

(Note: Some mobile versions will not display colors.)

Position	1	2	3	4
QB	Carson Wentz	Nick Foles	Nate Sudfeld
RB	Jay Ajayi	LeGarrette Blount	Corey Clement	Darren Sproles
RB (cont)	Wendell Smallwood	Donnel Pumphrey	Kenjon Barner
WR	Alshon Jeffery	Torrey Smith	Nelson Agholor	Mack Hollins
WR (cont)	Shelton Gibson	Marcus Johnson
TE	Zach Ertz	Brent Celek	Trey Burton
OT	Jason Peters	Lane Johnson	Halapoulivaati Vaitai	Will Beatty
OG	Brandon Brooks	Stefen Wisniewski	Chance Warmack
C	Jason Kelce	Isaac Seumalo
DE	Brandon Graham	Vinny Curry	Derek Barnett	Chris Long
DE (cont)	Steven Means
DT	Fletcher Cox	Tim Jernigan	Beau Allen	Destiny Vaeao
DT (cont)	Elijah Qualls
ILB	Jordan Hicks	Dannell Ellerbe	Najee Goode	Joe Walker
OLB	Nigel Bradham	Mychal Kendricks	Kamu Grugier-Hill	Nate Gerry
CB
S
K/P/LS
Head coach
Defensive coordinator
GM