Finally! The Eagles are back on track after beating the then-undefeated Packers 34-27, giving Aaron Rodgers' his first ever loss versus the Eagles!
Speaking of losses, let's talk about the Eagles secondary.
A few days after losing Ronald Darby for an extended period of time, the team also lost Sidney Jones to a hamstring injury during the game and Avonte Maddox left on a stretcher after a scary helmet to helmet hit by his own teammate, Andrew Sendejo.
The Eagles are now left with Rasul Douglas and Craig James (the savior of the game) as the team's only healthy corners, with Malcolm Jenkins presumably taking on a larger role at corner.
The Eagles need bodies in the cornerback room. It's unfair to view Craig James as this year's Cre'Von LeBlanc after two snaps. Yes he made the game saving play, with possibly a little help from terrible referees, but the Eagles need to make a move.
They have ten days before they face the Jets, so there's hope that one of, if not both, Jones and Maddox can make a (farfetched) recovery. But even if they do recover in time, is a 60-70% player really beneficial for a team that allows 323.8 passing yards per game?
Philly Voice's Jimmy Kempski puts it in perspective for you:
https://twitter.com/JimmyKempski/status/1177461228869865472?s=20
Missing from that tweet is "No. 2 receiver" Calvin Ridley and his 105 yards. This is a trend that cannot continue to happen if the team wants to be a serious contender in the NFC.
Free Agent Options
Current free agent cornerbacks:
Orlando Scandrick
E.J Gaines
Briean Boddy-Calhoun
Kavon Webster
Brent Grimes
Yeah... no.
So the Eagles need to scour the trade market for some corner help.
Let's take a trip to the cornerback shopping mall and see what brand name corners are available and what door-buster sales could be happening soon.
Brand Name Deals
Jalen Ramsey
This is obvious. If you were just born/brought back from a month long coma, Jalen Ramsey has demanded a trade from the Jaguars. The past week has been a doozie for Ramsey. He's battles the flu, back and hamstring injuries, and will be away from the team this weekend as his girlfriend is giving birth to his second daughter! What a week!
This is the number one option for the Eagles. According to ProFootballFocus, coming into this season Ramsey is one of three corners in the entire league to allow a sub-80.0 passer rating since 2016. He only allowed 164 completions on 305 targets for 2,207 yards and eight touchdowns. This is over the course of 48 games.
Here's the math:
164 completions = 3.4 receptions per game
2,207 yards = 46 yards per game
8 touchdowns = .17 touchdowns per game
Get. Him. Howie. Sign him to whatever deal he wants.
Chris Harris Jr.
If, for whatever reason, Howie cannot pull off the move of the century and land Jalen Ramsey, he should turn his efforts to the 0-3 Broncos.
The Broncos are in the same division as the Chiefs. They are in no position to win. They should be looking towards the future, but John Elway wants to trot old man Joe Flacco out there every Sunday *shrugs*.
If Jalen Ramsey is option one, Chris Harris Jr. is one-A.
Harris is in his ninth year in the league and has consistently been a top five cornerback in the league.
Going into this season, Harris played in 123 games and has allowed 377 receptions on 644 targets for 3,851 yards and 16 touchdowns.
Math time again!
377 receptions = 3.1 receptions per game
3,851 yards = 31.3 yards per game
16 touchdowns = .13 touchdowns per game
The big difference here between Ramsey and Harris Jr. is age. Ramsey is in his fourth year of his rookie contract, whereas Harris is in the final year of his extension and will be an unrestricted free agent going into his age 31 season.
The price for Harris would probably be expensive, but less expensive than Ramsey. For a team that should be looking towards the future, the Broncos should be willing to let Harris go and get some compensation for him rather than letting him walk in free agency.
Xavien Howard
Speaking of teams that should be looking toward the future, the Miami Dolphins have scored 16 points in three games. 5.3 points per game. They have given up 133 points in those three games. 44.3 points per game.
The Dolphins are in full tank mode and have already shipped off one of their most promising players in Minkah Fitzpatrick. It's time they do the same with Xavien Howard.
Howard is coming off a 2018 season in which he had seven interceptions. Oh, and that was in just 12 games.
His performance since being drafted in the second round of the 2016 draft netted him a huge contract extension in the offseason that made him the highest paid corner in the league. He has never allowed more than 500 yards against him in a season. He deserves to play on a contending team.
The Eagles would be able to absorb his contract with no issue and, with Howard under contract through the 2025 season, they will have a young and productive cornerback to lead them for years to come.
But every shopper likes to find their bargains and door-buster sales, so let's take the elevator to the next floor of the mall and see what discounts could be had.
View discount deals on the page below:
Mandatory Credit: Reinhold Matay-USA TODAY Sports
Discount Deals
When you look around the league for discount deals, you try to find teams that aren't in the hunt with players toward the end of their careers or about to become free agents during a later stage of their career. Here are some names that come to mind when thinking of #HowieSZN deals:
Johnathan Joseph
Joseph is 35 years old, a free agent after this season, and he is still productive. He allowed a passer rating of 76.0 in 2018 and has four pass deflections through three games this year. The 2-1 Texans have shown that they are in win-now mode with their trade for Tunsil, but if they lose Sunday versus the Panthers, they may start thinking about recouping some draft picks.
Dre Kirkpatrick
The Eagles need perimeter corners. Dre Kirkpatrick is a perimeter corner. The 0-3 Bengals have a very important game with the 0-3 Steelers on Monday night and if they fall to 0-4, they could be making major changes.
Kirkpatrick, approaching his 30th birthday in a few weeks, allowed a 44% completion rate on the outside in 2018, lowest among all corners. He is currently allowing a 64.3% completion rate and 124.7 passer rating through three games, so maybe he just needs a change of scenery to get back to his 2018 self.
William Jackson III
Staying in the Bengals aisle, we now take William Jackson II off the shelf to ask the cashier his price.
Jackson III might be able to snag the Bengals more compensation in a trade, and rightfully so. He defended 14 passes as a rookie in 2017, 13 last year, and already has an interception this year. He allowed 44 catches last season on 77 targets and has allowed just six this year on 13 targets.
If Howie wants to spend a little more in the discount aisle, Jackson would be the perfect buy. Another product of the 2016 draft, as with Ramsey and Howard, Jackson is in the final year of his rookie deal and has a fifth year option for 2020. Howie could pull this deal off and afford to wait to sign him to an extension.
So what do you think, Eagles fans? Is there a name out there that you're looking for? Let us know!
Make sure to follow @PhiladelphiaSN, @Infante54, and @FlippinBirdsPod on Twitter!
Mandatory Credit: Reinhold Matay-USA TODAY Sports
