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:
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.