Jordan Hicks

Phillips was productive in his first year with the Vikings in 2022, achieved career highs in tackles (59), sacks (1.5) and defensive snaps (664) for the second straight season. Regarding the last stat, he paced Minnesota's defensive line in playing time while working next to fellow veteran Dalvin Tomlinson. With Tomlinson departing in free agency this offseason, the 27-year-old Phillips may be slated for an even bigger role on the defensive interior in the fall.

Hicks was injury-prone in the first four years of his career with the Eagles (21 DNPs), but he started all 49 games the past three seasons in Arizona, achieving 100-plus tackles on each occasion. He also made other contributions, namely 5.5 sacks, four interceptions, three forced fumbles and three fumble recoveries. Upon arriving in Minnesota, Hicks will slot in next to fellow seven-year pro Eric Kendricks at inside linebacker.

Hicks could be worth ranking higher, especially early in the year, because he's been a very productive three-down player for Arizona. The issue is that the Cardinals have a lot of linebacker talent aside from him, which perhaps undercuts Hicks' job security. The first-round selection of Zaven Collins is especially concerning for Hicks — it's the second year in a row Arizona drafted a linebacker in the first round. Hicks will be a valuable IDP as long as he can hold off Collins and Isaiah Simmons long enough, it's just difficult to guess how long that might be the case.

The max-tempo, pass-happy offense in Arizona has a way of piling up a lot of snaps quickly, meaning the defense doesn't spend long on the sidelines before they're called back out for more work. That resulted in a career-high 1,160 snaps for Hicks, which brought with it a career high of 150 tackles. His previous career high was 91, though injuries had a lot to do with that. If Hicks stays healthy all year again, then he should be able to mostly replicate last year's production. The addition of eighth overall selection Isaiah Simmons shouldn't be Hicks' problem - expect Simmons to take production from De'Vondre Campbell and Devon Kennard instead.

During his four-year tenure with the Eagles, Hicks had issues with durability, missing 21 regular-season contests due to a variety of injuries. When he was on the field, though, he averaged 5.9 tackles per game while tallying seven interceptions, five sacks and one defensive TD. In the move from Philadelphia to Arizona, Hicks will have to adjust to the 3-4 alignment preferred by coordinator Vance Joseph. On a positive note, Hicks doesn't have much competition for the all-important tackle - for IDP purposes - so his first campaign with triple digits may be in the offing.

Hicks has the upside for more than 100 tackles if he could ever stay healthy. Unfortunately, though, he ruptured his Achilles in Week 7 last year and missed half a season for the second time in his three years as a pro. Now, he'll not only have to stay healthy in order to shed the "injury-prone" label, he'll also have to prove he's regained his explosiveness that this injury notoriously saps from others. If he's able to make a full recovery and play at his prior level, the former Longhorn could surprise as an impact player in IDP leagues.

Hicks somehow finished last year with just 85 tackles on 971 snaps, and his IDP utility would have been significantly lower if not for his five interceptions. There's some buylow potential here, however, because Hicks posted 50 tackles on 450 snaps the year before. At the same time, he's shown unique interception production in both of his pro seasons, giving him seven total on 1,421 snaps. He's a former top recruit and 2014 third-round selection with standout athleticism, so improvement in his third season is quite plausible.

A generally unheralded third-round pick in the 2015 draft, Hicks would begin the season as Philadelphia's fourth inside linebacker but finish the year as the team's best one. Heading into 2016, he's poised to break out. Playing 450 snaps, Hicks finished his rookie year with 50 tackles (43 solo), one sack and two interceptions in eight games, at which point a torn pectoral muscle ended his year. In addition to the easy triple-digit tackle pace Hicks displayed, one has to be encouraged by his extremely high solo tackle percentage. He was medically cleared in April.

The Eagles’ coaching staff seems to like Hicks for his size, athleticism and football acumen. The third-round pick out of Texas will likely make the roster and be worked into the linebacker rotation; but, as we saw with the team’s first-round pick Marcus Smith last season, Hicks will need to earn his playing time.