Eagles Draft: Eagles Select Jordan Hicks

then defensive back Eric Rowe from Utah. And as we sit here now your thoughts on what the Eagles might do with pick number eighty four, Well, you would think offensive lineman. But if they do not feel there is an offensive lineman who was value with the spot, they will go on another direction. It could be it could be an edge rushier, it could be an inside linebacker, it could be another dB or another wide receiver. You go with your best players on the board. Let's bring

in from the fan cave bow Wolf and Greg co Sell. Guys, what are you thinking about as the Eagles get set to make this pick. Well, I think Merril's right. I think if there were an offensive lineman here. That's the direction they would go, But there's been so many offensive lineman taken in the last two rounds that there may not be a guy there the positions Meryll talked about. At linebacker, I think it would be Jordan Hicks. He

would be the top layer on the board. And he's spent a lot of time with the Eagles throughout this draft process. At safety, we know this. They've spent a lot of time with Adrian Amos at penn State, and Amos is very interesting because he's the right Let's get to the Chicago back selection. Please welcome Eagle fans. Frank Arnold from Coachsville, Pennsylvania. Thank you Troy. With the four pick in the twenty fifteen NFL Draft, my Philadelphi Eagles

select Jordan Hicks, linebacker, University of Texas. All right, strong, coach Strong. Jordan Hicks just went off the board of Philadelphia. You know, the thing about Jordan is just one of those players is he's a coach Michael in the field, a young man who's battled through a lot of injuries and I'm just so happy for him for him to come back and have the senior year that he had. I was talking telling them players. You know, like you go through a season and there's some guys you wish

that you could out back. Yeah, he's one of those guys. I told big Mouth him he can go ahead home, but I love to because then he just said very like I said, very physical or smart player and a guy who could play his space when you talk about Sprandie Mouth, he could play in space. Did the did the Eagles reach out to you at any point to kick the tires on him a little bit? No? No, I just I thought maybe he would go round earlier.

But that's to me not to be talking. Hey, I'll tell you it was interesting because I think a lot of people liked his physical traits. I think they were worried about the durability. Yes, yes, because he had battled some injuries. Yep. And this is the first shion that's really been healthy because he you know, and he said it to me because I think last year were touring Achilles and then but he didn't go through spring practice. All got him into ball camp and then he was

ready to go. Well, who's gonna be the next Texas player? Taking out of the last So that is the selection. Jordan Hicks from Texas and Merrill. No question that this is a very talented player, and that's not the question Eagles fans are going to have. It's a question is going to be why an inside linebacker here when you've acquired Keiko Alonso, extended Damiko Ryans and you have Michael Kendricks still here and Nausey good as healthy. Those players who were healthy or who were hurt last year are

now healthy. Well, it seems like a low gym at one position. However, you said it, I've said it. You do not reach just to fill a need, and they were able to fill two needs with the wide receiver in round one, with the defensive back slice safety in round two. I also was rooting for an offensive lineman, and there were some names out there like Terry Pool from San Diego State. Trey Jackson was out there, Corey Robinson from South Carolina was out there. Mark Lewinsky from

West Virginia was out there. But they felt that the value of Jordan Hicks University of Texas, a guy who grew up in the Cincinnati, Ohio area, was a much greater value at this spot than any of those four offensive lineman and the Eagles met with Hicks at the combine. He also came to an overcare complex for a visit.

We take a look at his numbers the second team All Big Twelve player and obviously is you we heard Mike MAYOCKX say very very talented player who previously had some injury history, healthy senior season at Texas, in a very fine season. But I think when Chip Kelly meets the media, let's be honest, the obvious question is why an inside linebacker and what happens next at that position. Clearly, with all the reports, rumors, innuendo out there, speculation about

potential trades, it's an obvious question. Yeah, and we've heard names mentioned in potential trades like Avon Mathis. We've heard Michael Kendricks, We've heard Brandon Boykin. These are names that have been bandied about. And maybe they're going to trade for a more experienced offensive lineman and we'll see what happens to the offensive line. Not addressed in the first of this draft, let's go to the fan cave, Bo and Greg your reaction to Jordan Hicks and what it

means for the Eagles depth chart. Well. As Greg pointed out here while we were talking Obviously, despite the extension for Damiko Ryans, he's no certainty to play early in the season coming off that Achilles injury. Hicks is a player who can sort of do it all for the linebacker position. Physical, can defend the pass, really can do it all in there. Yeah, and I think he checks

all the boxes. The reason I think he's a third round pick and not, let's say, a second or a first is because he's not quite as explosive as you might like as a mover, and the injury history and the injury history correct. But I think he plays the run very well. He's got a feel for working through traffic and finding the ball. The thing that really stood out to me and now you have to think about your sub packages, and that's the way defensive coordinators think

is he was a very good pass defender. He played a lot of zone at Texas, but he's got the skill set to play man to man, which the Eagles play a lot of. But I think he's a complete linebacker who checks pretty much most of the boxes in terms of this Eagles defense. The way that he fits in. He can do everything that the Eagles will want him

to do. You know, I made the note when I was done watching him that he's either a four three stacked backer or a three four stax backer, and we know the Eagles play it three four, so that's how he transitions to the NFL. While we have you talking about the inside linebackers, what do you think of Kiko Alonzo? I loved Kiko Alonso was a rookie. He was another guy. I mean, he's about two hundred and forty three pounds, he can run, He's a terrific blitzer. He's a guy

who really checks all the boxes. All right, guys, Well, the selection of Jordan Hicks, I think confirms what we've expected throughout the draft process. The Eagles are going to take the guys who they've had in for visits here. Jordan Hicks was one of those all three players who they've selected so far on that list. Back to you guys, thanks very much both, Thanks very much. Greg. We've got more to talk about here, and we expect Chip Kelly

along in an overcare complex auditorious storage. So we will come back the Eagle drafts up once at four moments. We will hear from Chip Kelly momentarily. The Eagles have made their third selection in this two thousand and fifteen draft, and his name is Jordan Hicks, an inside linebackers. Now have seven inside linebackers. They are making sure that injuries will not play a part in this twenty fifteen season. We'll find out though obviously a lot of speculation about

the position the depth chart. What happens next here is Chip Kelly in the auditorium address that there was important all season is that this is about this was he was our highest rated guy by far. You know, we had him rated in the second round. UM. We had great exposure to Jordan. I think he was the I think the individual that we saw the most in the in this offseason, whether it was exposure at the Senior Bowl to him, his Pro day, individual workouts, UH, top

thirty visits, all those other things. I think when we calculate all our exposures to a player who's a Player of the week, had seen the most and just felt like, um got a great skill set. He's a three down linebacker, UM can cover. It's an outstanding special teams player and be able to bring him in here and learn from Demiko and Michael and Kiko. I just thought it was there's great value in that pick so is one of those when you're just looking at the board. He was.

There was no one else around him that we had at that point in time, since Michael Kendricks inside linebacker position getting as some crowded as it is the courts, that he could be had for a certain price. What do you where do you see Kendricks fitting in And do you think he's going to be a part of your draws? Yeah, I really do, and we're excited to get him back around. I know he spent the draft with his brother, which we understand, and I said he

should be back here next week. But you know, I think you're always gonna draft players and when you bring him in here, there's going to be the one thing you want is you want competition at positions. And I we knew going in at the end of last year with just Michael and uh In Demiko that we really had to show up the inside linebacker spot. And we felt like we've got two quality guys in Kiko. We got a swing player and Brad Jones. You know, we

can play both inside and outside. There's some versatility with him and then being able to add Jordan to the mix. We feel like we you know, it was a big prod, big thought process of us going into the offseason what we could do with the side linebacker spot, and that's what we felt that we'd done, especially with this pick injury. Disagree. I think he's been solid the last couple of years.

So you know, he did have an achilles um in a hip, but he's he's played, he's been one hundred percent clearer and everything going through the all them all the stuff they do at the combine and medical had a great medical grade coming out of the Combine, and our doctors and trainers had no issues with him. Some of those reports being out there teams called about kends. No, not at all. The Alba Wile goal two thousand twelve.

What information that you get on is on the suspension talk talked to all their coaches and talked to Jordan and everybody involved in it, and um, you know, he gave his version of the story and we understand what happened and that he gets suspended and missed the missed the game and that was the punishment that he had to. Character Wise, we're very comfortable with him. What is your understanding of what happened and why he was that's a question for Jordan, So that's not a question for me.

How much of research did you have to do in that area? We do it with all of our players, so it doesn't matter what the area is. We're just gonna you know, we we hope we leave no stone unturned. But as I said, he we had the most exposure to this players than any player we got in the draft, so in terms of our contact with him. So Charlie Strong's defense, did you see a change in him when they want the defense change? Yeah, that's the one thing that's unique about him because he's played for so many

different defensive coordinators in his time at Texas. You know, he's came in, got recruited by Mac and they had a couple of defensive coordinates. I know he played for Greg Robinson, manny D has a couple of different other guys and then Charlie coming in. So you've seen him playing a four three defense, You've seen him playing in the three down defense. That's really lend you to show you what his versatility is. And again we think he's a three down linebacker and for us, that's what we're

looking for. It separated us from some of the other linebackers. So we're pretty good in this draft, but their first and second down guys, you gotta take him off the field on third downe He's a type of player like a Michael Kendricks and like Akiko Lenza that you don't have to take off the field and third down. You mealy, it was much higher than anybody reported this point where

you tempted to go up and get him somewhere. Now we felt we felt good and where we were, especially because we've made some maneuvers, you know, to get Eric. We didn't want to sacrifice, you know, any more picks. We still want to accumulate picks, and that's always and

part of the goal. We felt like moving for Eric was the right thing to do, and then just hoping as it fell this time that that we could get we could get him, but we were just going to let them when you get to this point, we're looking at it. Just let the board express itself. And when we're going to opportunities select, you're looking at the board, who's the highest ranked player there? And then we're gonna go from there. Speed. How does he compared to um

he's there? You know, he's over six, he's six one six O one three, two hundred thirty six pounds, runs four six I think he jumped vertical thirty nine inches. His short shuttle is outstanding. His ten yard is outstanding, his twenty yards outstanding, his three cones outstanding. You know, that's what we're looking for a linebackers. We want guys that are three down linebackers, and especially when you look

at those guys can really contribute on teams. And we think we've got a huge upgrade at the inside linebacker position from a team standpoint because of how fast and how athletic he is. So so, I think Keiko can be an udged. I think Kiko can do a lot of things. So yeah, I think that's one of the things that's that's part of his repertoire. Yeahsition, Do you feel better? Yeah, you know, And again we said we

needed to address it, you know. Um, you know, we lost Casey and then with Demiko coming off an injury, Michael missed four games last year. Um, we've that that was a real priority for us after the offseasons. We need to upgrade the inside linebacker position. We felt like we've done that so far. Like guys, I don't think you can have too many. I mean, that's that's kind of what you're looking for. And you're also not gonna

just draft for need. And I said it earlier. If the if the need part of it crosses the talent line, I think that's when you get in trouble because you start reaching. So um, there was a clear cut no one remotely close on our board to where Jordan was at the point in time. We picked them so that it makes it a really easy discussion. There's no discussion when you're staring at the board and one guy's up here and then the rest of the group is clumped

down here. So um, anytime you start to go, hey, what we'd like to address this position, let's go over here, and then you pass on that player, you know, I don't think that's a that's not the formula we're working with. And what we're gonna do is we move forwards. So um, we don't want just two down linebackers in our system. We want three down linebackers, and that's what we're you know, we'll continue to build as we continue to move forward here, So press needs, But how did you looking at that

position coming in? Did you ever think that, Yeah, there's some guys that we were very that that we were very uh excited about, but obviously there were other guys in the league that were very excited about them too. So you know, some of the guys that went off the board there in the second we had targeted in the second, but we just we couldn't get to them,

you know, And that's just kind of the process. You only get you only really you know, get one pick per round unless you're trying to really move up in stockpile. And just didn't work out for us. But again, we're not going to reach at any individual position. Um, if we have to go play today, we'll go play today. You know, the only guy that's not here from last year is Todd Herriman's So you know, I still think, um,

do we want to add to that position. Yeah, we certainly do, but we feel like we still have another day left in the draft. In this draft, I think it was there was three or four guys at the top um that we were really excited about, and then I think then I think there's ah, it drops off a little bit after that. You mentioned it need the talent. I'm crossing what if it's the reverse where somebody's great talent, you really don't have any need of that position at all.

I don't I would say, I don't think there's any position that we don't have needs or talent. I mean, you're always going to take good football players, um, and then figure it out after that. You also can say, hey, we're we feel great about this thing, and then you go out of the first practice, first training session we have next week and the kid kid goes down and

then you're like, well, wish we had that guy. So, UM, I don't think there's any team in the league that we'll say, hey, we're one percent set at this position, and we're not gonna look, We're gonna look a blind eye and just say hey, we're not going to take anybody that position. So we're gonna look at them, look

at them all. If it's even you know, when you look at two guys that are even in terms of how you've addressed them, then obviously you're going to lean towards we need this position more than we need that position. But UM, I think you hurt yourself and you just say, hey, you know, we're just taking this guy because is it's a need at that position, and you pass up some really good players inside back. Or Kiko and Demigo. Where are they in their recovery? Um, they're both running around now.

I mean I know they've been out with the conditioning coaches. I don't know exactly how clear they'll be when we get out there um on Monday, so that you know, that's a little bit to be answered. But I from my understanding, I know they're both one percent by August, so I'm not concerned about that. But I think um, Kiko is probably a little bit ahead just because of when his surgery was. The then Demko Sami, you know,

anticipating Kiko will go through OTAs and all that. I don't know exactly what Demko will be in terms of when we get going against each other, but when we're working on air, those guys have been running around right now. So you don't expect to trade that where you don't pay, they'll be traded. No, I mean, we haven't talked to anybody about trading those guys during this draft. Yeah, okay, well, I'm not going to protect the future, but I haven't

talked to anybody. I think a lot of those reports about us offering all these players is kind of faults, and I did have to make some fun calls the guys on our team saying that that's not the case. But we haven't offered any of our players in any packages for anybody for anything. And you know, I think what and I know what people do. They look at you and say, hey, Fletcher Cox is really good player.

Michael Kendricks is a really good player. I would throw them in if we were trying to go somewhere, but we didn't throw any players in. So but that name gets out there. But we haven't had discussions about nothing bothers me. You guys are gonna write whatever you want to write. I mean, it don't bother me. It bothers some of our players, though, but I'll talk to those guys about it. But it don't bother me. I mean, it happens all the time. So it makes sports great.

I mean, you have nothing to talk about in sports radio. Let's say, hey, let's talk trades, and then everybody comes up with the trade. It's great, that's what sports are all about. I think it's fun. But if the guy getting talked about in the trade gets a little nervous, my point is I got to tell him just not to listen to that stuff. But I mean, everybody can trade trade me. I don't care, I know, and everybody is tradeable, and coaches included. Rights didn't have to be here.

And you said he wanted to help with his brother, But yeah, did it bother you? Now? Nothing? And I tell our guys, it's one voluntary that's what the league set up and that's the way it is. So if you want to be here, then I think you're gonna get outstanding teaching, coaching and all those other things. But I'm not going to make you come here. And you know that's that's that's your decision. But I understand where

Michael's coming from. You know, it's only one time her brother gets drafted, you know, And I think it's a special time for his family. And he told us he was going to be with his brother Eric, and we anticipate him coming in next week. So, I mean, the one thing I know about Michael, he always works. So I don't think Michael's gonna show up here and be twenty five pounds overweight. I think He's gonna come running through the front door and running around like he can

always do. So we're excited to see when we gets back in here on Monday. So all right, So that is Chip Kelly and Chip Kelly talking about the need for three down linebacker in this defensive scheme and Jordan Hicks is that kind of a player, an inside linebacker who will be on the field for three downs as well as special teams. And by far, George Hicks the highest rated player on the Eagles board with pick number

eighty four. Yeah, and Chip wasn't getting involved in any discussion about whether or not Michael Kendricks is going to be traded. He said he was with his brother during this week of the draft and he expects him in this week and spoke as if Michael Kendricks is not on the block, and he said, but that's what makes talk radio. And if you want to write that, go ahead. That's the fun of sports. But he said it doesn't

bother me. He said, it may bother some players. It is time now to introduce Eagles fans to the newest Philadelphia Eagle here on Eagles Drafts Central, presented by Deeton Watson, Dave Spidero with Merrill Reese, and we welcome in Texas linebacker Jordan Hicks, who has the Eagles third pick of this two thousand and fifteen drafts. Who joins us on the telephone, Jordan, Congratulations, How does it feel to be a Philadelphia Eagle? Man? Oh, my goodness, best best filling ever.

I'll tell you it's been. It's been a long roag get to this point. And um, obviously I couldn't have do it by myself, but you know, I just feel blessed. I feel, um, just so proud to be an Eagle. I know the Eagles spent a lot of time with you, including a visit to an overcare complex and I remember seeing you in the cafeteria. Can you take us back to that day and what it was like the vibe that you got from walking around the halls here, meeting

the coaches, meeting some of the people on the staff. Absolutely, and you could you could just tell it was a special organization from the beginning, you know, walking into the facility, Um, you know how prepared everybody was, how um, you know, just organized everything was and wanted to show you the best and make sure that you were a good fit. And uh, you know, for me, it was it was it was right away. I felt comfortable, um, with the

whole coaching staff. Um, you know, all the personnel, and you know, met some players and you know, just felt comfortable and uh, you know, I I'm, like I said, I'm so excited, so blessed just to just to be a part of the organization. Jordan, what does it feel like to be joining an inside linebacker corp that includes people like Damco Ryans and Michael ken Rooks and the

newly acquired Kiko Alonso. Yeah, something special, um and some special I you know, I'm obviously I'm I'm a competitive person. I want to come in and complete, but you know, I respect it and I can't wait to get in there and just learn. I enjoy learning this game. I love this game, and that's what I'm excited to do to get around these these people who have been there and done that and and just take as much and

absorb as much from them as possible. What do you think specifically you have to learn to make the transition from Texas to the NFL. Yeah, you know, and that's that's something I've I've asked myself quite a bit, and I think most people say if the transition, you know, the transition UM coming from college being learning to be a pro Um, you know, you never know until you're

in that situation. And uh, you know, I think getting under somebody's wing and getting into a linebacker core like that, um will make that ensition that much better and that much easier. Jordan, for those of us who aren't familiar with your game, we haven't watched a lot of you in college, Can you talk about yourself? What kind of linebacker are you? What do you love about the game

and in this defense? Where do you see yourself fitting in? Yeah? Um, to me, is the biggest thing, UM that I that I pride myself on is it is uh, you know, my my inspectual um play and the ability to understand, um what offenses and defenses, you know what the chess game between the offense and the defense. You know. I pride myself and my mentality the way I prepare, um,

you know, going into a game. So the one thing you know you see with me is is somebody who doesn't make very many mistakes and gets people around him lined up. I try to be a leader out there on the field as much as possible, and UM, you know I take that that role head on, and UM you know I see, UM, I enjoy playing in the box. I enjoy um, you know, defending the run. I enjoyed defending the past. I like the way everything comes together

as a whole. So you know, for me, I'm willing to play wherever they put me, you know, at this point, but I think primarily they've seen you as a will lineback. Sure you are playing, You've played at the University of Texas, but you grew up in Cincinnati, Ohio. Are you familiar with any of the Eagles who not only grew up in Ohio but played at the University of Cincinnati, like Jason Kelsey or Brent Sellick. Yeah. Actually I had a

teammate who who is who? High school teammate who went to the University of Cincinnati and was an old lineman. There was also teammates with with Jason Kelsey, so you know, I'm familiar with them. Don't know him personally, but but definitely a unfamiliar with Jordan. As far as the injuries go, it must been very frustrating for you early in your career in Texas to have to battle through those injuries. The achilles, the hip and things have kept you off

the field. How how much about patienced you learned during those times. Oh man, Um, everything you know, I you you put so many eggs in one basket, and you define yourself as as as a certain type of person. You realize that when when that all gets taken away from you, who you really are. And for me, it was huge. Um two years in a row. Um, you know, had to deal with injury and then and had to

get it out of my system and I did. And um, obviously it was a tough time, and it was hard not being out there with everybody and the teammates and coaches after putting that in, putting in all that work. But you know, it all paid off in the end, and you learn a lot about yourself. You learn a lot about um, who you want to be and and both on the field and off the field. So it was it was huge for me. Can't you tell us

something about the off the field shortened? Hicks? Your interests, your hobbies, your major at the University of Texas, Yeah, major with sport management, graduated in three and a half years. Um, I h you know, I'm I'm pretty normal guy. Enjoy hanging out with friends, Um, you know, being my family, playing Xbox, you know, just being a guy. You know what I'm saying, just just a just an old person.

Jordan's final question, what was the whole process like from the time your senior season ended and all the prep to get to this point. Um. They say that this is the best moment in the young man's life. Hearing his name called, having the phone call come from an NFL team put it in perspective at that at this moment, wow. Um. Yeah, just looking back, it seems like so long ago, you know that we had played in our bowl game and

what I was preparing for the senior Bowl. Um. But but then again, it also feels like it went by self fast. You know, it's finally here. You never think

this moment is gonna actually be here. I'm gonna tear and uh, you know, you're you're excited, you you prep yourself for the moment, but you know, it's it's one of those things you don't you don't really understand it until you're you know, you hear your name on that on the teeth and you get that phone call that the excitement really really really starts to settle in and then you realize it's here, and you know, it becomes surreal.

So you know, like I began saying, I'm just just blessed to be in this situation, blessed to be a part of the Eagles organization. Manau, I'm so excited to get started. Well, Jordan Hicks, congratulations to you. Thank you so much for joining us, and we'll see in Philadelphia tomorrow. Awesome, thank you, thank you. Jordan Nicks, the Eagles third round selection in the twenty fifteen NFL Draft. We're back with

Eagles Draft Central, presented by Deeton Watson. In just one moment, It's Eagles Drafts Central presented by Deetson Watson, Dave Spidero, Merril Reese. We're live with an overcare complex and Merrill, Eagles have made three selections and you have something to say. Yeah, Well, for those of you who wonder why the Eagles took an inside linebacker, you know they satisfied a need with a wide receiver at the offensive back and you obviously knew that the other big area of need was the

offensive line. But Chip Kelly explained it by saying, we selected the guy who was our highest braided player by far. When he said by far, he is telling you that Jordan Hicks is up there and any offensive lineman available at this point is down here. So he did the wise thing, right, Okay, then that's Merrol Reese's statement and that's what he's sticking to. Let's bring in from the fan cave, Bo Wolf and Greg co Sell a little film breakdown. How does Jordan Hicks potentially fit into this

Eagles defensive scheme? All right, Greg, let's take a look now at what the inside linebackers are asked to do in this Eagles defense. What Jordan Hicks will be asked to do. Sideline to sideline responsibilities getting after the quarterback, playing the pass game, and getting upfield, shooting gaps in the run game. Will start with pressuring one of the toughest quarterbacks to pressure Russell Wilson. Right. And this is an interesting play because this is a spy situation. And

the last year they played Russell Wilson Cam Newton. This year the Eagles will play Kim and again. So situations where you may want to spy the quarterback. You're going to look at Michael Kendricks here, number ninety five, and you're going to see him. Bo Is, the play starts, he's clearly spying on Russell Wilson and then what he sees. And this is where speed is so important, and that's something that is critical in any defense, but certainly the

Eagles want that. Look at Kendricks and then he sees it and he goes and you can see it if you just play it, look at him, go look at that kind of speed. Jordan Hicks will be able to do that kind of thing within the context of the Eagles defense. And as Chip Kelly talked about, Jordan Hicks did test very well to combine has those that athletic ability that he's going to be able to do those things. If we take a look at this play and you get a chance to go back here, we're going to

look at Demiko Ryans, who's number fifty nine. And the key thing you're looking at right here is this is a classic case and it's critical for inside stacked linebackers and this is the three four defense to be able to read what's in front of them and be able to shoot gaps in the run game. And Demiko, of course, is very good at that. He's been very good at that his whole career. There's a play recognition element to that,

there's a quick reaction time element to that. That's what you're looking for with the ability to shoot gaps, because you can't be wrong when you shoot a gap, and Damiko Ryan's did that very well. Then obviously that incorporates football knowledge, being able to recognize plays very quickly. It certainly sounds like Jordan Hicks is a smart young man who should be able to transition. Tell you from watching Texas on tape that Jordan Hicks had very good play recognition.

So that's something that will be a strong suit to his game. And again, now we're gonna look again at Michael Kendricks right here, and again this is a play that deals with play recognition because this will be what we call a gap scheme run where this guard's gonna pall and you have to be able to recognize that. You see this guard poll you know the run is going to this side, so you have to recognize that.

And then again you're going to see Michael Kendricks react with speed and so if you let this play run, you'll see that the guard poles, there goes Kendricks. He's gonna go and boom he can chase down. And speed is a critical element to play the weak side inside linebacker position in the Eagles three four. That's the position Jordan Hicks will ultimately be groomed to play the weak

side inside linebacker. And in this defense, the idea behind the two gapping defensive line up front is to free the linebackers to be able to roam freely sideline to sidelines. That's the critical part. You want your defensive linement, and the Eagles defensive line last year played terrific football. You want them to be able to occupy and control the defensive line. So those two stacked inside linebackers have a chance to read what's in front of them and then

move freely to the football. All right, guys, So a position that was beset by injuries last season, inside linebacker, all of a sudden stacked now for the Eagles defense with a selection of Jordan Hicks. Back to you, guys and the Xfinity Studio, Bo and Greg. Great breakdown there and we see just how Jordan Hicks potentially fits into this defense. It has been a very very interesting and relatively long Day two of the two thousand and fifteen

NFL Draft. Checkout the way it looked at Lincoln Financial Field earlier today. A little time lapse for you from the Friday mid the early morning to the afternoon. It's been all football here and Lincoln Financial Field as we take a look at it, de sends into nighttime. Meryland. We're already at eleven fifteen and ready to wrap things up as we get ready for a very very busy day three. The Eagles with four draft selections on Saturday. We spend a month here one Friday night. That's exactly right.

The Eagles making two selections today, two defensive selections. Eric wrote the defensive back from the University of Utah, trading up in round number two to select him, and then in the third round staying put with that eighty fourth overall selection and taking Jordan Hicks, an inside linebacker from the University of Texas, one that I picked that I think caught a lot of people by surprise, but as Chip Kelly explained, someone who was a no brainer in

the Eagles draft room, far better rating than anyone else on the Eagles board. Makes sense. So tomorrow we are back with Eagles Draft Central presented by Diets and Watson, Merrill and I and crew at eleven thirty Prior to the twelve o'clock start of the third day, of the twenty fifteen NFL Draft, Eagles with four picks, one in round four, two in round six, and one in the seventh round. They've traded both of the fifth round picks to Miami in the deal that netted them Eric Row

and Merrill. As we close tonight, some positions you're interested in for tomorrow offensive line, but not if there is a quality offensive linement out there, right, and there appears to be nobody to get excited about, So we'll see what happens. There have been people who believe that maybe a quarterback could be taken someplace in the seventh rounds.

I'm starting to doubt that because I don't know that there is a worthy quarterback out there, somebody who could be even thought of as a backup in the future of the remaining quarterbacks. But we'll see, right, We'll see again. We can get into a situation at some point where somebody at a position you're not even thinking of is their highest rate of bat rate. You go with the highest on the board. We'll find out just how that board stacks up on Saturday, with the third and final

day of this NFL draft. For Merrill reason, I'm Dave Spidero, thanks so much for joining us on Eagles Draft Central, presented by Diets and Watson. Have a great Eagles night everyone,