Does Jordan Hicks have a long-term future with the Philadelphia Eagles?
By Matt Giraldi
Jordan Hicks is one hell of a linebacker when he’s healthy.
When he’s healthy. Of course, that hasn’t happened over a sustained time period. On the field there’s no question about his abilities. Jordan Hicks has been a playmaker in every capacity of the word.
When Hicks went down in Week 7, Nigel Bradham seamlessly slid into Hicks’ role as the leader of the Philadelphia Eagles‘ defense. Actually…Bradham did more than that. He played nearly 97% of the snaps for the rest of the regular season. In case you haven’t heard, Bradham is a potentially expensive free agent this upcoming offseason.
When Hicks wasn’t dealing with an ankle injury though, he was playing large amounts of snaps. That is what the Eagles want. When Hicks is on the field, he produces. Since 1920, the only inside linebackers to have seven or more interceptions, two or more sacks and five or more fumble recoveries in 50 or fewer career starts are Kiko Alonso and Hicks.
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Sadly, Hicks isn’t healthy often.
Heading into a contract year, Hicks needs to show he can be a reliant force in the middle of the defense. Including this year’s run in the playoffs, Hicks has missed a total of 20 games in his career. For the mathematicians, that’s 39.2% of the Eagles’ games over the last three seasons.
Even worse, there’s going to be a crowded of talented, and young, inside linebackers coming in 2019. Guys that also haven’t been bitten by the injury bug as bad as Hicks thus far.
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are all going to look to reshape the market. Hicks, based on his limited play, could make a case for himself in a contract year if he stays healthy.
The other issue for Hicks is that Brandon Graham will also be an unrestricted free agent in 2019. It’s imperative that if the Eagles are going to get something done that they sign Hicks early in the process. Philadelphia sports trusts the process in basketball, and in football, Howie Roseman has earned trust. Given the potential hole in the middle of the defense (yet again), the Eagles hopefully will be able to finagle the salary cap to keep that linebacking corps relevant. For Hicks, lets hope he forces the Eagles hand by keeping all his hands, knees, fingers and toes healthy for the next 12 months.