Hicks was a surprise pick in the third round because inside linebacker did not appear a big need for the team with Kiko Alonso, DeMeco Ryans, and Mychal Kendricks already on the roster. However, coach Chip Kelly said the 6-foot-1, 236-pound linebacker was alone on the Eagles' board and the value was too high to pass up. The team had more exposure to Hicks than any other player during the entire pre-draft process.