Tag: Sidney Jones

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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4 takeaways from the Eagles signing safety Will Parks to a 1-year deal

Will Parks brings versatility to the Eagles secondary

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The Eagles retooling of the secondary continues, this time the Birds and former Denver Broncos defensive back Will Parks agreed to a one-year, $1.62 million deal on Saturday the team announced.

A versatile defensive back who can play nickel corner and both safety spots, Parks just made the Eagles that more versatile as a whole.

With the Eagles undergoing wholesale changes, here are 4 takeaways from the addition.

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1. Jim Schwartz will have his most versatile secondary

With the NFL being a matchups league, the addition of Parks allows the Eagles to focus on matchups without having to go on the defensive. Rather than react to opposing offenses, Parks allows the Eagles to now go on the attack. Parks will compete with Avonte Maddox and Cre’Von LeBlanc for the nickel corner, while also making some noise in the safety drills as well.

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10 defensive backs for the Eagles to watch at the 2020 NFL Combine

NFL Combine 2020: 10 defensive backs for the Eagles to watch

The 2020 NFL Draft is fast approaching and with the Eagles looking to make changes up and down the roster, Howie Roseman and company could have a few surprises in store.

The Eagles have been linked to Henry Ruggs III and Tee Higgins for weeks now, but what if Howie Roseman believes in the depth at receiver in the draft and decides to lean another way in the first round?

The Eagles have several big needs and there’s been some discussion about a full-scale rebuild in the secondary.

Malcolm Jenkins wants a new contract, and Roseman has been transparent about both parties doing what’s best for both parties. Rodney McLeod is an unrestricted free agent along with cornerbacks Jalen Mills and Ronald Darby.

If the Eagles do choose to use a first or second-round pick on a defensive back, here are 10 defensive back options that make the most sense.

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1. Kristian Fulton — CB — LSU

With Jalen Mills set to hit free agency, the Eagles could replace the former LSU cornerback with one of the current Tiger greats.

Fulton made an immediate impact when thrown into the fire and over the past two seasons, he’s been the highest-graded cornerback in America, according to PFF.

Fulton is elite at the point of attack, as he owns the highest forced incompletion rate in the past two years, allowing just 23.7% of contested targets to be caught.

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Eagles can solve their CB problem by prying Darius Slay away from the Lions and signing him to a long-term deal

Eagles can solve the CB problem by acquiring Darius Slay from the Lions

The Philadelphia Eagles have a bevy of different positions to address this offseason, but the one consensus among experts and analysts is that changes need to come in the secondary, and in a huge way.

Both starting corners from the 2019 season, Jalen Mills and Ronald Darby are free agents, and although Mills could still return, the Eagles need an upgrade at the position.

Cowboys’ Byron Jones and the Broncos’ Chris Harris Jr. are among the top projected free-agent corners, but Howie Roseman could circle back to a player that he’s pursued for the past two years.

According to Adam Schefter, Detroit Lions star cornerback Darius Slay can be had for the right compensation.

Slay has been seething mad about the organization’s decision to trade team captain Quandre Diggs to the Seattle Seahawks and it sounds like both parties are looking for a fresh start.

Recently, ESPN’s Mike Clay suggested Slay to the Eagles in a deal that would send fourth-year cornerback Sidney Jones and a third-round pick to the Lions in exchange.

Slay wants out badly and the Eagles need him even worse.

Slay is a Pro-Bowler and All-Pro caliber cornerback who had only allowed 15 completions on 27 targets for just 189 yards and one touchdown through November and is still one of the best in the game at his position.

Slay leads NFL with 82 passes broken up since 2015 and is one of just 2 cornerbacks named to 3 straight Pro Bowls (Jalen Ramsey). Adding Slay to the Eagles secondary could finally allow players like Jalen Mills if re-signed, Avonte Maddox, Cre’Von LeBlanc and Rasul Douglas to flourish, without the pressure of assuming a shutdown role.

Slay is currently in the top-15 highest-paid cornerback in the NFL according to Over The Cap, and he’d come at a decent rate, of $10 million per season.

Slay is set to hit free agency following the 2020 season, and the Eagles could lock him up long term with the talented cornerback still only 29 years old.

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7 CB options that make sense for the Eagles in the 2020 NFL Draft

Trevon Diggs among 7 CB options for the Eagles in the 2020 NFL Draft

The 2020 NFL Draft is almost three months away, and with the deadline for underclassmen to announce whether they will enter draft having passed Monday, the business of preparing for the NFL Draft is upon us.

The Eagles have several big needs and there’s been some discussion about a full-scale rebuild in the secondary.

If the Eagles do choose to use a first or second-round pick on a cornerback, here are seven options that make the most sense.

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1. Kristian Fulton LSU

With Jalen Mills set to hit free agency, the Eagles could replace the former LSU cornerback with one of the current Tiger greats.

Fulton made an immediate impact when thrown into the fire and over the past two seasons, he’s been the highest-graded cornerback in America according to grades from PFF.

Fulton is elite at the point of attack, as he owns the highest forced incompletion rate the past two years, allowing just 23.7% of contested targets to be caught.

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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.

Secret superstars of the wild-card round

Touchdown Wire’s Doug Farrar names eight unheralded players who could make all the difference for their teams in the wild-card round.

Every NFL postseason has its share of surprise performers. Whether it’s Otto Graham in the Browns’ first year in the NFL schooling the 1950 Philadelphia Eagles in that year’s championship game, or L.C. Greenwood — perhaps the least-known member of the Steel Curtain front four — racking up four sacks against the Cowboys in Super Bowl X, or then-Bills backup quarterback and current Colts head coach Frank Reich authoring the biggest comeback in NFL history against the Houston Oilers in the 1992 wild-card round, or Washington running back Timmy Smith shocking the Broncos with 204 rushing yards in Super Bowl XXII, it’s just as likely that the most important postseason performance comes from a guy whose name you’re not familiar with just yet.

This postseason is no exception, and there are all kinds of potential stars you might not know who are mere hours away from their breakout performance. Here’s one potential secret superstar for each of the eight wild-card teams this weekend.

Buffalo Bills: WR John Brown

(AP Photo/Steven Senne)

Bills general manager Brandon Beane has made more than his share of smart personnel decisions since he took the job in 2017, and one of the most astute has to be the March, 2019 signing of former Cardinals and Ravens receiver John Brown to a three-year, $27 million contract with $11.6 million guaranteed. All he’s done this season is set career highs in receptions (72) and receiving yards (1,060), while giving second-year quarterback Josh Allen quite the security blanket — especially on deep passes, where Brown has caught 10 of his 27 targets of 20 or more air yards for 332 yards and four touchdowns. No other Bills player has more than five deep receptions, and that’s tight end Dawson Knox.

There are all kinds of plays we should show to represent Brown’s importance to Buffalo’s passing game, but this 53-yard touchdown against the Patriots in Week 16 is the most compelling example.

Out of the right slot, Brown demolishes cornerback Stephon Gilmore on a nasty out-and-up for the only touchdown Gilmore’s given up all season, and then, he smokes safety Devin McCourty for good measure. No other NFL receiver can claim to have beaten both of these defenders on the same play in 2019; 2020 could be more of the same for the defenders trying to deal with Brown. Houston’s average to below-average cornerbacks could find him to be a particularly vexing test.

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Eagles estimated injury report: Miles Sanders, Nelson Agholor DNP; 7 other players listed as limited

The Philadelphia Eagles released their first injury report of the week and seven players were limited participants, while Miles Sanders and Nelson Agholor did not participate.

The Philadelphia Eagles released their first injury report in advance of Sunday’s matchup with the Seattle Seahawks.

The Eagles held a walkthrough, so it’s an estimated injury report, but Miles Sanders and Nelson Agholor would not have participated had the team practiced.

Seven other Eagles were limited participants and they included, Derek Barnett (ankle), Fletcher Cox (triceps), Zach Ertz (ribs, back), Lane Johnson (ankle).

Sidney Jones popped up on the report with a back injury, while Avonte Maddox (abdomen) and Jalen Mills (ankle) should be good to go for Sunday.

Eagles land a Pac 12 CB in PFF 2020 NFL Mock Draft

Eagles select Pac 12 CB in PFF 2020 NFL Mock Draft

With Week 17 of the NFL season upon us, 12 teams will start playoff preparation, while 20 other teams will consider personnel changes while preparing for the 2020 NFL Draft.

The Philadelphia Eagles have been linked to cornerbacks and wide receivers since the 2019 NFL Draft ended and in the latest installment of the PFF’s Mock Draft scenarios, the Birds land a physical Pac 12 cornerback from Utah.

21. PHILADELPHIA EAGLES — CB JAYLON JOHNSON, UTAH
Johnson has been one of the biggest movers up the PFF draft board this season. He allowed only nine completions from 22 targets for 112 yards over his last seven games in Pac-12 play.

Johnson recently announced that he was entering the 2020 NFL Draft, forgoing his final year of eligibility after a season that saw him named as a repeat selection to the All-Pac-12 first team, announced this week, and he was also named to the Walter Camp All-America second team.

Eagles place CB Ronald Darby on injured reserve with strained hip flexor

Eagles place Ronald Darby on injured reserve with a hip flexor strain

The Philadelphia Eagles have made a slew of roster moves on Tuesday and cornerback Ronald Darby was among them. After re-injuring his hip, the Eagles placed the veteran defensive back on injured reserve.

According to Ian Rapoport of NFL Media, Darby suffered a grade two strain of his hip flexor and we’ll need 4-weeks to rehab.

Darby won’t need surgery and could return if the Eagles make a lengthy playoff run. Rasul Douglas and the emerging Sidney Jones will get reps in his place.