Philadelphia Eagles: Stock Up, Stock Down On Defense

Dec 7, 2014; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Philadelphia Eagles inside linebacker Mychal Kendricks (95) celebrates a tackle against the Seattle Seahawks during the first half at Lincoln Financial Field. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports

Stock Down: Mychal Kendricks, Inside Linebacker

When the Eagles traded for Alonso, everyone believed it meant Ryans would be leaving the City of Brotherly Love. But as the offseason has progressed, it looks like rising star inside linebacker Mychal Kendricks will be the odd man out. At just 24 years old, Kendricks has become one of the best young linebackers in the game so why in the world do Kelly and the Eagles want to get rid of him? To be honest, nobody really knows.

Some believe it’s Kendricks’ size but that wouldn’t make sense considering he’s an outstanding athlete and listed at almost the same size as Ryans. The only thing that could make sense is the fact that Kendricks isn’t one of “Kelly’s guys” that he’s personally signed or drafted. Maybe it’s some behind scenes and Kelly doesn’t view him as a player that’s good for the locker room and culture he is trying to build. There were rumors that Kendricks was close to former Eagles wide receiver DeSean Jackson but he’s not nearly the distraction that Jackson was.

In terms of pure production, it doesn’t make sense to get rid of Kendricks at all. But it’s clear he’s on his way out of Philadelphia, even if the exact reason remains unclear. Kendricks was on the trading block during the 2015 NFL Draft and he has just one year left on his rookie contract. With the trade for Alonso, extension for Ryans, signing of Jones and drafting of Jordan Hicks, it’s clear that Kendricks’ stock in Philadelphia is on the decline and he may not be in midnight green for the beginning of the 2015 season.

Next: Stock Up: Jaylen Watkins, Defensive Back