Eagles 2019 Training Camp Battles: Replacing Jordan Hicks at Linebacker

As we near the start of the Eagles' 2019 training camp, we're taking a closer look at some key position battles to watch this summer. We already looked at cornerback and running back.            

Up today: Linebacker 

Names to know 

Nigel Bradham, Kamu Grugier-Hill, Zach Brown, Nate Gerry, L.J. Fort, Paul Worrilow, T.J. Edwards, Alex Singleton, Joey Alfieri 

What to watch 

While he struggled to stay healthy over his four years in Philadelphia, Jordan Hicks was an effective player when he was on the field. After Hicks bolted in free agency, taking a big deal from the Arizona Cardinals, the Eagles will need to replace him. 

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That starts with Bradham, who will be the linebacker who never leaves the field in 2019. He'll be out there in the Eagles' base defense, nickel defense and dime defense. It's a role he took over in Hicks' absence anyway. Bradham is recovering from injury, but he expects to be ready for training camp. 

The front-runners to be the other two starting linebackers should be Grugier-Hill and free-agent pickup Brown. Grugier-Hill started the first 10 games of his career last season and did a nice job. I think there's probably even more untapped potential. Brown, meanwhile, is a former Pro Bowler and spent the last two years in Washington. He's a seven-year vet with 74 starts under his belt. He fell out of favor in Washington some and was released this offseason, a move that saved Washington a bunch of cap money. Brown has been a good player, but KGH is probably better in coverage. 

We'll see which of those two stays on the field more. One of them will be a part-time player in the team's base package. While there are technically three starting linebackers in their base package, the Eagles spend around 75 percent of their time in nickel. 

After those three, it's a competition to make the roster. Gerry seems to be an often-forgotten player, but he knows the defense (he's been here since 2017) and is the type of hybrid player the Eagles like in this NFL. Fort was brought in as a special teamer with upside; he'll be on the roster for teams and likely as a backup. 

Worrilow came back from an ACL tear, but missed some time this spring. Edwards and Alfieri are two talented UDFAs and Singleton was a star in the CFL. One of those rookies could be a practice squad fit. 

One of the players from the paragraph above could make the team, but it depends on how many linebackers the Eagles keep. They kept five on their initial 53-man last year, but Bradham didn't count because he was suspended. They kept six to start 2017 and kept just four after 2016's training camp. 

Prediction 

Bradham doesn't leave the field this year; that's not much of a shocker. But I think Grugier-Hill ends up playing more than Brown. I think he's better suited for playing nickel downs. The Eagles will keep five or six linebackers: Bradham, KGH, Brown, Fort, Gerry and maybe either Worrilow or Edwards. 

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