What the Eagles Should do with Every Player on the Roster, Vol. 7: Defensive Backs
What the Eagles Should do with Every Player on the Roster, Vol. 7: Defensive Backs
Here we will continue our series of what I would do with every player on the Eagles roster if I was Howie Roseman, this time looking at the defensive backs. There are a lot of bodies in this group, so I am going to sort them by tiers instead of looking at them individually.
The Obvious Keepers: Darius Slay and Avonte Maddox
Slay was pretty easily the best defensive player on the Eagles last season, and he more than earned his “Big Play Slay” nickname with his three defensive touchdowns in a four week span from Weeks 8-11. He is a great corner and great personality, and is under contract for two more years. He is not going anywhere.
Maddox signed a three-year extension after having the best season of his career as the team’s slot corner. He will obviously be around next year as well.
Free Agent Veterans: Steven Nelson, Anthony Harris, and Rodney McLeod
Nelson struck out on the free agent market last offseason after getting released by the Steelers, so he signed a cheap one year prove-it deal with the Eagles in hopes of cashing in this offseason. His tweet after the season ended kind of felt as if he is not anticipating being back next year:
Thank you God for another healthy season Philly you guys were awesome all year I love the city and passion for the game. The LINC was always electric. I made some good friends with a great group of men year 8 otw wow time flies my best football is ahead of me thank you!
— Steve Nelson (@Nelson_Island) January 18, 2022
Nelson had an unspectacular but very solid year starting opposite Darius Slay, and made the game-winning interception in Carolina Week 5. However, with all of the younger guys they have on the roster (more on that soon), this probably is not the most ideal spot for his services, and I think he knows it. I would probably let him walk in free agency.
Like Nelson, Anthony Harris also came to Philadelphia on a prove it deal after a quiet free agent market. While a serviceable starter, the 30 year old is likely more needed elsewhere for the same reasons as Nelson. Let him walk as well.
McLeod is a more difficult decision. He has become a team leader, he is still a solid player, and the Eagles need something at safety. Unlike the aforementioned guys, I could see McLeod taking a team-friendly deal to finish out his career here, and I would look to bring him back on a 1-2 year deal.
Cheap/Developmental Depth: K’Von Wallace, Zech McPhearson, and Marcus Epps
Wallace and McPhearson were both fourth-round picks in the 2020 and 2021 drafts, respectively. Wallace was thought to be somewhat of a steal at the time, but unfortunately his development has come along very slowly, and both his playing time and production regressed from year 1 to year 2. I think he gets one more chance this upcoming season, but he needs to show something soon. McPhearson was a special-teamer and backup corner last year. He was fine for a fourth-round rookie, and I would imagine his roster spot is pretty secure.
Epps was a 2019 sixth-round pick by the Vikings, but he has spent pretty much his entire career on the Eagles, and has actually developed into a reasonable backup safety. He has definitely played more than the ideal amount due to injuries, but he is worth keeping around while he is still cheap.
Dart Throws: Andre Chachere, Mac McCain, Kary Vincent Jr., Tay Gowan, and Josiah Scott
Howie Roseman made a lot of trades and waiver claims over the past year which essentially consisted of taking low-risk flyers on young cornerbacks, presumably hoping that at least one or two of them will pan out. Chachere was claimed off of waivers from Indianapolis in early September; McCain was on and off the practice squad after being waived by Denver; Vincent was a rookie the Eagles traded a sixth-rounder for at the trade deadline (again from Denver); Gowan was part of the return in the Zach Ertz trade, and Scott is a slot corner who arrived from Jacksonville, again for a sixth-rounder. All five of these guys played very sparingly over the course of the season, and it is basically impossible for me to determine which of the bunch will be a part of the team next year. I would probably bring them all to training camp and perhaps keep the two best ones, especially considering how thin the Eagles cornerback room is if Nelson leaves. It is an interesting tactic, but if two of them turn out to be contributors, it is certainly more than worthwhile.
Long Shots: Craig James and Jared Mayden
James does have prior experience with the Eagles, but I would be pretty surprised if either of these two guys came close to cracking the 53-man roster this year.
Photo: Nell Redmond/AP
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Categorized:Eagles