Eagles Agree to Terms With LB Mychal Kendricks

The Philadelphia Eagles announced they have agreed to terms with second-round draft selection LB Mychal Kendricks on a four-year deal.

The 2011 Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Year, Kendricks played in all 51 games (29 starts) during his four-year career at California, amassing 258 tackles, 36.5 tackles for a loss, 13.5 sacks, seven fumble recoveries, four interceptions, one touchdown return, and a blocked punt. Kendricks was recognized as an All-America selection by several outlets as a senior in 2011 after leading the team with 106 total tackles while collecting three sacks and two interceptions. He earned second team All-Pac-10 honors as a junior in 2010, ranking among the conference and national leaders with 8.5 sacks. As a sophomore in 2009, Kendricks finished second on team with 71 tackles, adding one sack and one interception that he returned 68 yards for a touchdown against UCLA.

One of the draft's fastest linebackers, Kendricks is believed to be ticketed to start on the strong side in Philly after playing inside in Cal's 3-4 scheme last year.  ESPN's Bill Polian called Kendricks "the best 4-3 attacking linebacker in the draft except for Luke Kuechly."

Sporting News draft analyst Russ Lande rates Cal LB Mychal Kendricks as a top-25 overall player in the draft and considers Kendricks "likely" to be a first-round pick.

The Eagles are high on his pass-rushing potential in addition to his ability to cover tight ends, making him a candidate to start on the strong-side right away.  At first glace the starting line backing core looks like DeMeco Ryans in the middle, Jamar Chaney on the weak-side and Kendricks on the strong-side.

Kendricks, a Fresno, CA native, starred at Hoover High School as both a linebacker and running back. He led the team with 175 tackles and four sacks as a senior, while also compiling 1,035 all purpose yards and six touchdowns. His father, Marvin Kendricks, was in training camp as a running back with the Eagles in 1976 after playing in the CFL and WFL following his graduation from UCLA in 1972.