The Philadelphia Eagles are set to be very active with personnel over the next several weeks and they have a conundrum at the cornerback position.
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.
The Eagles have been linked to Lions star Darius Slay, who’s looking to get paid, traded or both, but they could also have their eyes set on the prize of free agency.
Byron Jones has gone from former unknown cornerback out of Connecticut, to on the brink of possibly being the NFL’s highest-paid cornerback.
Jones is about to reset the cornerback market and with every team in the NFC East looking to secure his services, the Eagles could be preparing to jump into sweepstakes that could end up netting the talented defensive back around $16 million per season according to CBS Sports via Joel Corry?
Dolphins cornerback Xavien Howard currently owns the highest average per year at $15 million.
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).
Jones for his part, has been targeted 125 times over the past two years, only allowing 65 receptions (52%) and 806 yards (6.4 YPA), with 5 scores allowed and 19 passes broken up.
The Eagles have over $43 million in cap space currently and would have to ask themselves if investing close to half in Jones makes the most sense.
Even if they traded for Slay, it would require a contract extension and possibly $14M-$15M per season on their part as well.
The Eagles could choose to address the cornerback position via the draft or a less costly free agent, but the writing on the wall suggests that Howie Roseman and company are prepared to trot out a huge name at cornerback for the team’s offseason training program.
Who that cornerback eventually becomes remains the biggest question.
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