Eagles cut DeMeco Ryans, so expect more Jordan Hicks in 2016

The Philadelphia Eagles have released linebacker DeMeco Ryans, according to the team’s website. The Eagles will save $3.5 million by releasing Ryans.

Ryans signed a two-year, $7.5 million contract with the Eagles last offseason, when former head coach Chip Kelly was still in control of the team’s personnel. He has all the attributes of a middle linebacker and should be able to succeed in Jim Schwartz’s new 4-3 base defense. Ryans played four seasons with the Eagles after being acquired in a trade from Houston.

Ryans finishes his time with the Eagles with five sacks and five interceptions to go along with 334 tackles.

In his 55 games with the Eagles, he finished with double digit tackles in 21 of them. Kiko Alonso and Mychal Kendricks will likely start at outside linebacker, although Alonso could slide inside if asked to do that during games. He tore his right Achilles tendon halfway through the 2014 season and missed two games in 2015 due to a hamstring injury.

The 31-year-old will likely find a home with a team looking to bolster its linebacker corps, however. It’s a move that has been rumored for some time and was largely expected by both sides, but it’s significant to now have it officially done, giving Ryans a jump on the free agent market if he wants to keep playing.