Tag: Avonte Maddox

Philadelphia Eagles most pressing need after the NFL Draft?

Eagles most pressing need is a CB according to Bleacher Report

The Philadelphia Eagles addressed several needs in the NFL draft but cornerback appears to still be a position of need for the Birds.

Bleacher Report recently broke team each NFL team’s most pressing need and cornerback still seems to be a position of need for the Eagles.

The Philadelphia Eagles addressed two of their biggest needs by trading for Pro Bowl cornerback Darius Slay and drafting wideout Jalen Reagor.

With weapons like Reagor, Alshon Jeffery, Zach Ertz, Dallas Goedert, and a (hopefully) healthy DeSean Jackson, the Eagles offense is moving in the right direction. However, the team’s 19th-ranked pass defense could use additional depth.

The Eagles didn’t draft a defensive back until they took Clemson safety, K’Von Wallace, in the fourth round. They didn’t add a cornerback at any point in the draft. They did sign former Baylor cornerback Grayland Arnold as an undrafted free agent, but there is most definitely room for veteran talent at the position.

Philadelphia has enough cap space—currently more than $22 million—to make a run at free-agent corners like Kirkpatrick, Carr and Aqib Talib.

The Eagles have decent cap space but are currently projected to be $51 million over the cap for the 2021 season and could choose to let that $24 million work for them.

Howie Roseman also appears fully confident in the job that Sidney Jones, Avonte Maddox, and Rasul Douglas can do opposite Darius Slay.

The Eagles could also look to add depth along the defensive line or even at running back, where Carlos Hyde has been named a player of interest. 

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Report: Eagles restructure the contract of CB Rasul Douglas

Eagles restructure the contract of CB Rasul Douglas

In a move that should keep on the roster and with the Eagles, Rasul Douglas has agreed to a restructured contract per Mike Kaye of NJ.com.

According to Over The Cap, Douglas was set to make $2.133 million on the final year of his rookie contract after earning an escalator bonus.

After playing a significant amount of snaps over the past two seasons, Douglas could be in a fight to make the roster after the Eagles acquired Darius Slay via trade and then signed cornerback Nickell Robey-Coleman in free agency.

He’ll compete with Sidney Jones and Avonte Maddox for the role opposite Sidney Jones.

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Philadelphia Eagles’ projected depth chart post 2020 NFL Draft

Philadelphia Eagles’ way-early projected depth chart after the 2020 NFL Draft

As the Philadelphia Eagles continue their retool, the overall roster and depth chart is starting to take some shape as it’s unlikely they’ll add too many more free agents unless a big name or value becomes available.

We projected the 53-55 man roster a little earlier, and now we’ll a depth chart for the Eagles heading into the virtual offseason workouts.

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Jul 26, 2019; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Nate Sudfeld (7) runs drills during training camp at Novacare Complex. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports

QB: Carson Wentz (Starter) — Nate Sudfeld — Kyle Lauletta

Went is entering his fifth year in the NFL and after getting over some humps in 2019, this will likely be his best year as a pro.

Hurts and Sudfeld will likely be active on gameday with the Eagles rookie having about 9-15 plays a game in a special package, including goal lines and short-yardage situations.

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Should Eagles fans temper their expectations over the 2020 NFL Draft class?

Philadelphia Eagles fans should temper their expectations for the Eagles’ 2020 NFL Draft. History has shown Day 3 picks are question marks.

The 2020 NFL Draft is officially over and the Philadelphia Eagles have drafted 10 new players. They also traded for former San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Marquise Goodwin, so they added 11 new players over the 3-day event.

The Eagles selected former TCU wide receiver, Jalen Reagor, with the 21st overall pick. Reagor may never be a true No. 1 receiver in the NFL, but he will certainly be a weapon for the Eagles. It will be interesting to see Reagor’s career progress and watch the No. 22 overall pick in the 2020 NFL Draft, Justin Jefferson’s career progress as well.

Regardless, the addition of Reagor will help quarterback Carson Wentz and the Eagles offense.   Reagor also is able to return punts and kicks as well, so he is versatility will pay off for the Eagles no matter what.

Day 1 of the draft may not have been a home run, but the Eagles did not strikeout.

Day 2? Well, the Eagles got hit by a pitch, if we keep the baseball talk going. They selected former Oklahoma quarterback Jalen Hurts with the 53rd overall pick. Many people thought the Eagles could add another impact player with their second-round pick, but taking Hurts instead was a huge gamble. Hurts is a solid quarterback, but the pick has sparked up controversy regarding Wentz and his backup.

The Eagles then drafted former Colorado linebacker Davion Taylor in the 3rd round. Taylor is a freak athlete. He ran a 4.49 40-yard dash at the NFL Combine, but he is extremely raw and more of a project than a starter at this moment.

After what could be deemed a disappointing Day 2, the Eagles and their General Manager Howie Roseman went to work on Day 3. They added 7 players total throughout the final three rounds, and here they are:

Round 4, Pick 127: K’Von Wallace, Safety, Clemson
Round 4, Pick 145: Jack Driscoll, OL, Auburn
Round 5, Pick 168: John Hightower, WR, Boise State
Round 6, Pick 196: Shaun Bradley, LB, Temple
Round 6, Pick 200: Quez Watkins, WR, Southern Miss
Round 6, Pick 210: Prince Tega Wanogho, OT, Auburn
Round 7, Pick 233: Casey Toohill, EDGE, Stanford

A couple quick notes from this list:

–K’Von Wallace was a pick universally loved. He was a team captain at Clemson and can play multiple positions. We had him mocked to the Eagles a couple of times this offseason and he should hopefully be a perfect fit for the Eagles secondary.

-Adding depth to the offensive line is always good and hopefully one of the players can emerge with the potential to start if needed.

-Speed! It was clear the Eagles needed speed this offseason and Roseman delivered that. John Hightower and Quez Watkins are burners for sure, so they will give the Eagles receiver group a bump in that category.

Day 3 was a much better day than Day 2, but the only problem with that is these Day 3 picks may excite fans, but they are far from a sure thing for the Eagles. Since Roseman took over again for the 2016 NFL Draft, here is a list of his Day 3 picks and their impact on the Eagles throughout their careers:

The chart is color-coded, with green being good and red obviously being bad. As you can see, there is a lot more red than green. 2016 was probably the best year for the Eagles’ Day 3 picks, as Halapoulivaati Vaitai and Jalen Mills played significant roles in their Super Bowl victory. Wendell Smallwood deserves some love too, as he put up solid numbers as an Eagle.

2017 featured Nathan Gerry, who isn’t great, but he has had good value for a 5th round pick. 2018 was the second-best year since Roseman took back over. Avonte Maddox is a solid piece on defense, but he needs to stay healthy. Josh Sweat isn’t an elite pass rusher, but he has made plays when called upon.

2019 was a complete flop. Yes, we do not know if Shareef Miller will help or not, but they traded for Genard Avery last year, so that doesn’t bode well for Miller. And I think we can all agree that Clayton Thorson was a horrendous pick.

Out of these 17 Day 3 picks since 2016, six of them could be chalked up as solid Day 3 picks. However, only 4 of them made any sort of real impact in their rookie season. Smallwood started 3 games and had 367 total yards and a score in 2016. Big V started 6 games in 2016. Mills played in all 16 games and had 62 tackles in 2016. Maddox started 9 games and had 35 tackles and 2 interceptions. None of these contributions is ‘needle-moving’ either in their rookie season, but they did play a part of the team in their rookie season.

It is also worth noting that every Day 3 receiver (Mack Hollins and Shelton Gibson) the Eagles have drafted since 2016 has been horrible. Gibson has 3 career receptions and Hollins was cut this year after being one of the worst receivers in the NFL. Two receivers are a small sample size, but it should not be overlooked.

What does this all mean? Well, it means that as nice as it was that Roseman had a solid Day 3 on paper, you can’t put too much weight into thinking that Day 3 players will be able to contribute in their rookie season or become impact starters for the Eagles.

So, while many will say Roseman saved the draft by having a great Day 3 after a solid Day 1 and a terrible Day 2, the facts show you that you should temper your expectations for the Philadelphia Eagles 2020 NFL Draft class.

Eagles building a hybrid secondary centered around versatility and Darius Slay

Philadelphia Eagles are set to have a versatile secondary in 2020

The Philadelphia Eagles delivered Jim Schwartz his most dominant toy yet, prying Darius Slay away from the Detroit Lions, and doing it without having to part with his 2021 first-round pick.

In Slay, Schwartz gets a cornerback in the thick of his prime, fully capable of taking away the oppositions No. 1 wide receiver.

For the first time since he became the Eagles defensive coordinator, Schwartz has options and versatile defenders capable of shifting and morphing into several different roles.

The NFL has entered the phase of the hybrid-defender and the Eagles have several on their roster that they likely build around Darius Slay.

Philadelphia entered the 2020 offseason with the idea of reshaping the secondary and Howie Roseman made it clear that the status quo was no longer acceptable.

“The first part is it’s hard when you’re watching games and the ball is getting thrown over your head, and you’re also not getting an opportunity to get the ball back, and that hurts the offense and that hurts the defense,” Roseman said.

Slay and Rodney McLeod are your obvious starters at cornerback and safety, with the remainder of the secondary capable of being used in hybrids roles while navigating different spots based on the matchup or the opponent.

Roseman has emphasized the term “positionless” several times this offseason when discussing his secondary.

That’s the term that’ll be used for Mills, Avonte Maddox and Will Parks, with all three players capable of flourishing roles that include the nickel, three-safety nickel, a traditional dime, and a three-safety dime.

Roseman made it clear that he wants his defensive backs to be able to not only match up with the twitchier receivers in the slot but also the bigger receivers outside. His hybrid defenders will be responsible for the new age of tight ends like Travis Kelce and George Kittles.

Don’t be shocked if Roseman targets a bigger safety in the draft that he’s capable of translating to a hybrid linebacker in the mold of Clemson’s Tanner Muse, who’ll be able to match up with running backs, tight ends, and other matchup problems.

“The game has just changed. It has gotten a lot faster, and we have to be able to adjust some of our evaluations,” Roseman said. “And also try to figure out where the next wave is coming where maybe something is undervalued right now, and two or three years from now we’ll be ahead of it because this is a trendsetting league and you want to be out in front of the trends. So those are the things that make our jobs interesting and also challenge us.”

The Eagles are set to transition to a phase where there’s no longer a concern about whether a player is a cornerback or safety — a safety or a linebacker — or vice versa.

The secondary will consist of Rodney McLeod at free safety, Jalen Mills at strong safety/corner, Will Parks as the third safety/slot and Darius Slay as cornerback No. 1.

You now have an Eagles team additionally with Cre’Von LeBlanc Rasul Douglas and Sidney Jones, that will have the depth and personnel to adjust their gameplan on a week to week basis.

No longer will a player designated as a healthy scratch be frowned upon, because on this team, matchups will dictate playing time.

Darius Slay says he “played fantastic” last year despite the numbers and critics suggesting otherwise

Darius Slay says he “played frickin’ fantastic” last year despite the numbers and critics suggesting otherwise

Darius Slay made his third straight Pro Bowl last season for the Detroit Lions and despite his peers acknowledging his greatness, critics and analysts felt otherwise.

Slay has taken some heat all offseason for what some deemed a “down year” in 2019, despite the talented cornerback once again being one of the best at his position in a crowded pool of elite guys.

Following his trade to Philadelphia, Slay signed a three-year extension worth $50 million, giving him an annual average value of $16.67 million.

The debate over Slay’s greatness has prompted the Eagles cornerback to scoff at the notion that he’s not elite.

Last season, Pro Football Focus gave Slay a grade of 56.4.

That grade placed him 83rd among cornerbacks in the NFL. Unless you’ve been under a rock, common sense allows you to know that Darius Slay isn’t the 83rd best cornerback in football.

Still, Pro Football Focus attempted to explain the grade.

Slay had an all-around bad year in 2019, one that was somewhat uncharacteristic for the eighth-year cornerback. In every season from 2014 to 2018, Slay produced a PFF coverage grade above 70.0, ranking among the 20 best corners in the NFL in four of those five seasons. In 2019, he managed a coverage grade of just 56.9, which ranked 92nd in the NFL and was barely better than his 2013 rookie season.

On Thursday, Slay once again answered his critics, stating that he believes he played “frickin fantastic” last season.

“I had a great year.”

“I think I played freaking fantastic, not going to say an excellent level, but it was dang sure good enough to make a pro bowl three years in row.”

Last season Slay had 36 total tackles, 13 pass deflections, two interceptions, 0 forced fumbles in 14 games played.

Slay allowed 346 yards on 162 press coverage snaps, and 177 yards on 214 off-man coverage snaps, per PFF.

The Lions also had one of the NFL’s worst passing defenses and pass-rushing units, so Slay was essentially a man on an island alone, and still came away highly respected by fans and most importantly, his peers.

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Eagles projected depth chart after the first wave of free agency

2020 NFL Free Agency: Eagles depth chart after first wave of signings

The first wave of the NFL’s free agency period has past and the Eagles roster looks a lot different than it did when the team walked off Lincoln Financial Field after a Wild Card loss.

Howie Roseman has stayed true to his retooling efforts and the Eagles have landed a few big fish like Javon Hargrave and Darius Slay.

With the draft upcoming and moves still to be made, here’s the Eagles project depth chart after the first wave of NFL free agency.

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Offense

QB: Carson Wentz — Nate Sudfeld
RB: Miles Sanders — Boston Scott
WR: DeSean Jackson — Shelton Gibson
WR: Alshon Jeffery — JJ Arcega-Whiteside
WR: Greg Ward — Deontay Burnett
TE: Zach Ertz — Dallas Goedert
LT: Andre Dillard — Jordan Mailata
LG: Isaac Seumalo — Sua Opeta
C: Jason Kelce — Nate Herbig
RG: Brandon Brooks — Matt Pryor
RT: Lane Johnson

Changes from the 2019 season

As of now, Jason Peters will find employment elsewhere, as the Eagles transition to Andre Dillard at the left tackle spot.

Until the Eagles make a move in the NFL draft, Greg Ward will assume the role in the slot after Nelson Agholor moved on to the Las Vegas Raiders in free agency. JJ Arcega-Whiteside could be an option if the Eagles move on from Alshon Jeffery in the coming weeks.

At running back, Miles Sanders is now the goto guy, with Jordan Howard moving on to the Miami Dolphins. Boston Scott will assume the role of change of pace and third-down back until the Eagles add another running back.

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Avonte Maddox could transition to the role of starting CB opposite Darius Slay

Avonte Maddox the favorite to start at CB opposite Darius Slay

The Philadelphia Eagles are making big moves in free agency and the versatility allotted from the signings could translate to a promotion for Avonte Maddox.

According to Derrick Gunn of NBC Sports Philadelphia, Avonte Maddox may be the favorite among Eagles brass to start at cornerback opposite Darius Slay.

“I was also told that the job starting opposite of Darius Slay is Avonte Maddox’s to win or lose.”

Maddox has split his time between slot, outside cornerback and some safety, but he’s performed well when asked to play on the outside.

Nickell Robey-Coleman and Cre’Von LeBlanc will likely compete for the slot cornerback spot, while Jalen Mills could split times with at three different spots as a hybrid, while Will Parks should establish himself at safety opposite Rodney McLeod.

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Eagles to host Lousiana Tech CB Amik Robertson on predraft visit

The Philadelphia Eagles will host cornerback Amik Robertson on a top-30 visit.

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Free agency is just one week away but NFL draft talk is all the rage around the league and teams have started their official predraft meetings or ‘Top-30 visits’ as it’s commonly referred to.

With starters, Jalen Mills and Ronald Darby set to be free agents, the Eagles could be looking for cornerback help via the open market and the draft process.

Mike Kaye of NJ.com is reporting that Eagles brass is set to meet with talented playmaking cornerback Amik Robertson of Louisiana Tech.

The Eagles have the opportunity to invite 30 prospects to the NovaCare Complex for designated pre-draft visits.

Robertson, a physical, ball-hawking cornerback, figures to play the slot in the NFL and is the type of player that could be on the Eagles radar.

Here’s an official scouting report on Robertson via NFL.com:

Smallish, outside corner with tremendous intensity, swagger, and toughness. Needs to handle the athletic challenges as a slot corner in the NFL. He gives rough rides to receivers trying to get away from his press before following it with route recognition and footwork to continue hounding his man. Physicality overtakes technique at times and he could struggle to mirror the release of savvy NFL slot receivers. The instincts and ball skills are rare and should translate to this level of competition in zone and man as long as he can shadow routes. Teams may worry about his size, but run support will not be a concern and Robertson could become a starting nickel as a Day 3 selection.

There have been hints of Avante Maddox moving from the slot to safety and Robertson could be the perfect replacement in the same mold as a player.

Robertson finished his collegiate career with 184 total tackles, 34 passes defended, 23 tackles for loss and 14 interceptions. He also accounted for four sacks, three defensive scores, and two forced fumbles.

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Why CB is a bigger need than WR in the 2020 NFL Draft

The biggest need for the Eagles in the 2020 NFL Draft is a cornerback, not a wide receiver.

The biggest need on the Philadelphia Eagles is cornerback, and it really isn’t an argument in my opinion.

Eagles wide receivers were not great this season. The Eagles will not re-sign Nelson Agholor, and for good reason.    The Eagles could also part ways with Alshon Jeffery, even with the cap hit they will take. However, DeSean Jackson is under contract in 2020 and he was awesome for that Week 1 game against the Washington Redskins. He is the greatest deep threat of all-time and he will be back and ready to go for 2020. Greg Ward, who isn’t a No. 1 or No. 2 wide receiver, showed some promise and there is no way he isn’t on the roster to start 2020. J.J. Arcega-Whiteside was one of the biggest letdowns of the season, but the Eagles used a 2019 second-round pick on him, so he will obviously be part of the Eagles next season. Robert Davis is under contract next season as well, but he is not a guy the Eagles are counting on to produce.

So, the Eagles receiver room will look as follows:

Jackson

Arcgea-Whiteside

Ward

Davis

It is clear that wide receiver will surely be addressed this off-season, but do not forget that Carson Wentz threw for 4,000 yards without a wide receiver going over 500 yards, which is an amazing stat. But outside of Wentz’s elite ability, why was he able to do that? The Eagles have two elite tight ends, Zach Ertz and Dallas Goedert. They also have an extremely creative head coach and play-caller in Doug Pederson, who utilizes his running backs well in the passing game too.

A first-round receiver is not a bigger need than a cornerback. It just isn’t. Is getting Wentz more pass-catching help from the receiver position a priority? Absolutely. But getting Jackson back will be huge for Wentz and having the two elite tight ends needs to factor into this decision as well.

If you think the wide receiver room is lacking in 2020, picture this; the Eagles cornerback room is somehow worse.

The cornerbacks under contract in 2020 are as follows:

Cre’von LeBlanc

Avonte Maddox

Rasul Douglas

Sidney Jones

Jalen Mills and Ronald Darby will be free agents. The Eagles could bring one of them back, but it would be a huge mistake. Both players have shown more than enough times they are not the answer at cornerback. Darby is unable to stay healthy and when he is on the field, he is giving up big plays. Mills brings a ton of energy to the field and likes to tackle, but the main thing you want from your outside cornerback is coverage and he is a below-average cover corner.

LeBlanc will, and should, start as the slot corner in 2020. He has shown enough of a spark at the end of the last two seasons to get the start there. However, there is not one legitimate starter on the outside. That is a really, really scary thought.

Maddox is a good player, but I do not think outside cornerback is his best fit. I think the Eagles should work him more as a safety in 2020. Douglas has proven he is not a starter and I do not see how he is back in 2020. The Eagles will save almost $800,000 by releasing him, which is more than worth it at this point. And then there is Jones, who has underachieved his entire career but made a couple big-time plays to end 2019. The Eagles can save a little over $1 million by releasing him, but will they give up on him? I do not think so, but regardless, even if they keep Jones, they need a No. 1 and a No. 2 cornerback. Or, if they believe Jones or Maddox can be the No. 2 cornerback, they still do not have a No. 1 cornerback, which is why it needs to be the priority in the first round of the 2020 NFL Draft.

After losing to the Seattle Seahawks, the Eagles will officially pick 21st in the 2020 NFL Draft. Howie Roseman is always making moves, so they may not pick 21st on draft day, but no matter when they pick in the first round; That pick should be a cornerback, as it is the biggest need for the Eagles next season.