Seattle Seahawks: Wagner, Wright, and Kendricks, a power trio

Mychael Kendricks

Mychal Kendricks the Seattle Seahawks signed as a free agent last week. He started his first game for Seattle on Monday Night in Chicago. He made three solo tackles against Chicago Bears well as a sack in the loss 24-17.

He played his whole pro career with the Philadelphia Eagles after they selected him in the 2012 draft with their second-round pick. He was let go by Philly on May 22, 2018, because he wanted to be traded. The Cleveland Browns signed him to a one-year contract on June 5, however they released him on August 28 because federal government charged him with inside treading, for which he pleaded guilty on September 6. He is scheduled for sentencing on January 24, 2019, so his future after 2018 is in doubt after that. It’s why the Seahawks only signed him to a one year deal.

Kendricks began his NFL career as a strongside linebacker for the Eagles in 2012. That year the Eagles had a 4-12 record and head coach Andy Reid was fired. Kendricks finished with 75 combined tackles his rookie season.

In January of 2013 the Eagles hired University of Oregon head coach Chip Kelly. Under defensive coordinator Billy Davis the Eagles installed 3-4 defense so Kendricks was moved to one of the two inside linebacker spots. It turned out to be a good move for him. Kendricks had 106 combined tackles along with four pass deflections, four sacks, four fumble recoveries, three interceptions, and two forced fumbles.

A calf injury limited Kendricks to 12 games in 2014. Despite missing four games he had a total of 83 combined tackles. The Eagles had another 10-6 record but didn’t make the playoffs this time.

He a similar 2015 season. He ended the season with 86 combined tackles in 12 games. The Eagles had a second losing season and Kelly was canned. In January of 2016, Philadelphia hired Doug Peterson from Kansas City to be the head coach. Jim Schwartz became defensive coordinator and the Eagles went back to the 4-3 moving Kendricks to the outside.

This time he was moved over to the weakside linebacker position. 2016 saw his lowest career totals in combined tackles with 32. The reason is that Schwartz decided to take out Kendricks on passing downs. After the season, Kendricks asked to be traded because the decrease in playing time which the Eagles declined.

Last year he did return to playing on passing downs. Kendricks had a combined 77 tackles for the season. The Eagles had a 13-3 record then went on to beat the New England Patriots 41-33 in the Super Bowl.

Later this season when Bobby Wagner and K.J. Wright will both return to the lineup. The Seattle Seahawks recent addition of Kendricks makes their linebacker corps into a formidable threesome. The trio can not only make many of the tackles, but they can also help out the defensive line on running downs and the defensive backs on passing downs.

With the retirements of Cliff Avril and Kam Chancellor, the trade of Michael Bennett to the Philadelphia and the release of Richard Sherman; those three can help out a younger, less experienced defense.