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The Philadelphia Eagles enter the 2020 NFL season with a revamped secondary after watching opposing teams scorch Jim Schwartz’s secondary at will over the past two seasons.
Ronald Darby moved on and Jalen Mills switched positions, allowing the Eagles to acquire Darius Slay and sign Nickell Robey-Coleman in free agency.
Both players should allow Schwartz to gameplan accordingly and both players enter the 2020 NFL season with the respect of their peers and analysts alike. Pro Football Focus just released their list of the top-25 cornerbacks ahead of this season, with both Darius Slay (#11) and Robey-Coleman (#18) among the list.
11. DARIUS SLAY, PHILADELPHIA EAGLES
Darius Slay is primed for a bounceback season in 2020. No team played more man coverage than the Detroit Lions, which matched Slay up against some of the best receivers in the game on a regular basis. Slay wasn’t torched by that group, but he consistently found himself coming up on the losing side of targets over the season. In a more protective system, Slay can get back to just being a playmaker in coverage. Over the past three seasons, only Gilmore has more than the 50 forced incompletions that Slay has tallied, and last year marked the first season in five that he didn’t have double-digit pass breakups.18. NICKELL ROBEY-COLEMAN, PHILADELPHIA EAGLES
Nickell Robey-Coleman has been one of the best slot corners in the league since he arrived in the NFL, and that has never been more valuable. Only Desmond King has a higher PFF grade than him over the past three seasons, and Robey-Coleman has slightly better coverage numbers. He has allowed the fewest yards per catch of any cornerback playing primarily in the slot over the past three seasons and has surrendered one of the lowest completion percentages. He should be a huge boost to the Philadelphia Eagles this season.
Robey-Coleman is the game-changer in the secondary and his versatility should allow the Eagles to move both him and Slay around based on matchups.
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