Free agency is on the horizon and there's no questioning that the Eagles will be surveying the field for potential help at numerous positions. Over the next few weeks, we'll be taking a deep dive to bring you realistic targets at each spot.
It's easy to write an article and ramble off the top-five players set to enter free agency at each position, but the reality is that the Eagles have specific needs within each spot, and go after a very specific type of free agent.
The free-agent prototype
+ Between 28-30 years old+ Could be lured into a prove-it contract while young talent develops behind+ Ideally has familiarity in a similar scheme/ or members of coaching staff+Coming off a down year/under-appreciated season (Cc: Patrick Robinson)
The cornerback free agent prototype
+ 'Breakfast' corner. Someone who thrives wrapping up ball-carriers, keeps play ahead of him and can win at the line of scrimmage.+ A firm tackler+ Has great recovery speed + Can handle zone responsibilities and position well.
The problem
If we're to assume that the Eagles are going to let either/both of Ronald Darby and Jalen Mills go, the need for an outside corner is pressing. The issue is that the players they're left with don't scream long-term options just yet.
Rasul Douglas: Has struggled to get on the field under Jim SchwartzSidney Jones: Has been inconsistent but flashed elite potentialAvonte Maddox: Nickel CB but could move to safety (?)Cre'Von LeBlanc: Nickel CB
It really doesn't help then, that the majority of free agents who fit the Eagles mold are prominent nickel corners. There are exceptions to the rule, but here are five names who fit what the Eagles are looking for this upcoming offseason.
Byron Jones
27-year old Byron Jones is easily this year’s most attractive free-agent cornerback and he’ll likely want to be paid like it. This is something Dallas probably won’t have the cap room to do, allowing their CB 1 to test free agent waters. But is he worth the price-tag?
A former first-round pick, Jones is built like the prototypical modern-day cornerback at 6'1, 200 lbs. He's fast, rangy, and is an extremely secure tackler.
The one hole in his game has always been interceptions. Despite 44 passes defensed throughout his career, he’s only held on to two of them. The Eagles defense ranked 22nd in interceptions last year and has been terrible at forcing turnovers in the secondary. But should this deter them from paying big bucks at corner?
Per Pro Football Focus, Byron Jones allowed just 0.64 yards per coverage snap. Only Richard Sherman, Brian Poole (make a note of that name), and DJ Hayden allowed less…and they all saw more action.
Jones was fourth in the league in snaps per reception allowed, averaging 17.9. He allowed a 90.1 passer rating, 5.1 yards per target, and 10.6 yards per reception. Those are very, very respectable numbers and obviously a huge upgrade over the atrocity we’ve seen in Philadelphia.
Former Cowboys Defensive Coordinator Rod Marinelli was committed to a 4-3 zone defense, similar to the Eagles, that focused on the defensive line’s ability to one gap. Jones, theoretically at least, fits what Schwartz wants in a cornerback and he’s undoubtedly among the best at the position right now. If there is ever a cornerback who is going to be paid handsomely and worth every penny, it's Byron Jones.
Brian Poole
At 27-years old, Poole enters the free agent market in the hopes of securing a slightly bigger bag than the $3M one the Jets gave him. Atlanta released him at the end of 2018 following his best season yet and it was arguably a big mistake.
Poole joined the Jets and had it not been for a late injury setback, would've ended the year as one of the defenses most important players. Poole is physical at the line of scrimmage and a willing run-defender, as well as garnering a 79 PFF grade in 2019, the seventh-highest of all CB's.
Sticky in coverage, Poole only allowed a rating of 71.6 when targeted in 2019, thanks to his fluid hips and click-and-close ability.
It's important to note that he is a nickel corner and it would mean having to push someone like Avonte Maddox to Safety in order to avoid congestion, but this move makes a tone of sense. Mainly because the defensive back coach who orchestrated that 2018 breakout, Marquand Manuel, would be coaching him again in Philadelphia.
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Levi Wallace
Wallace spent the 2019 season lining up across from Tre’Davious White as the Bills No. 2 cornerback. He split reps with Kevin Johnson in that role, but outplayed him on the majority of occasions and would often see more snaps. This comes on the back of exploding onto the field as a UDFA in 2018, playing in each of the Bills' last seven games.
He's everything the Eagles could want in a cornerback. At 6'0, 179 lbs, he brings that undrafted chip on his shoulder to every snap and plays with a real intensity at the position.
Wallace is really instinctive when it comes to read-and-react situations. When left with Curl/flat responsibilities or simple zone looks, he hangs so perfectly and comes blazing downhill to snuff out the pass. He has a tendency to open his hips immediately with the intent of funneling the play inside, allowing him to see the QB in his peripheral vision.
It can work against him on double-moves etc, especially against crisper route-runners who will want to easily gain a step, but he's got the range to get back into plays and knock balls loose. His backpedal is a little tall and stiff, which may be why he favors running with his hips turned instead, but it's becoming a bigger element to his game, showing growth.
Not to mention, but Wallace was a key cog in a defense that allowed an average depth of target of a stunning 7.3 yards, second-lowest in the league, and only allowed 15 total passing touchdowns.
He is an exclusive-rights free agent, making the signing unlikely, but should he slip through the cracks, paying the man is a no brainer.
Mike Hilton
Another former undrafted free agent, Hilton is only 25-years old and has expressed an interest to stay in Pittsburgh. Luring him to a short trip across PA may not be as difficult as it appears if the Steelers let him walk.
At 5'9, 184 lbs, Hilton played a career-high 62.5% of the Steelers defensive snaps in 2019. Interestingly though, he split his time in the nickel with some Safety reps (Cc: Jimmer). He ended the year with 63 tackles, 6 TFL, 5 QB hits and 1.5 sacks. His value on CB blitzes is evident and he's a player that could potentially help negate the loss of Malcolm Jenkins if the Eagles do decide to move on from the veteran, who spends most of his time inside the box.
Hilton's smooth hips and aggressive hands at the line helped earn him a PFF grade that ranked him the 18th-best in the league, giving up a rating of 84.1 when targeted. You'll notice a trend with these names...
He's another corner that bursts to the ball with great instincts and flies downfield to blow up plays. Hilton really does play with tenacity when hitting and in coverage, he does a fantastic job of feeling his way down the route while keeping. his eyes pinned in the backfield.
If it's a multi-year deal he wants, Pittsburgh army of first-round picks may make that problematic. The Eagles should jump at the chance if he becomes available.
James Bradberry
Ready to get paid, Bradberry is a perfect zone corner to pick up this offseason if the Eagles want room to develop a younger name. Maybe drafting a future CB1 and having Bradberry hold the fort is the perfect formula, maybe it isn't. But at least it would be fun.
Bradberry, at 6'1, 212 lbs, is the rangiest corner on this list and it shows. He's had 10+ passes defensed every season he's been in the league and had 3 interceptions this year. He may actually be the only 'dinner' cornerback on this entire list, but I'm a sucker for DB's who make plays around the ball and Bradberry is lethal.
What I really like though is that Bradberry has a very solid track record against dominant wideouts. In a division where Mike Evans and Michael Thomas co-exist, Bradberry entered year four having held Thomas to under 100 yards with no more than 7 catches in six regular-season games.
In 2019 alone:
DeAndre Hopkins got clamped to just 41 receiving yards and 0 TDMike Evans was held to 157 yards and 0 TD across two gamesAJ Brown was held to 81 yards and 0 TDJulio Jones was held to 56 yards and 0 TD
You get the point.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HcKGGFzVYGk
Bradberry should be affordable for the Eagles and if they want someone to compliment the perfect draft pick, Bradberry is that guy. His click-and-close is enough to make anyone flustered and the swagger he has at the line of scrimmage is something that has been missing from Phialdelphia for way too long.
Who do you want the team to sign? Let us know in the comments!
