Howie Roseman SZN: The Cornerbacks
The Eagles had the best cornerback trio in the NFL this season (at least when Avonte Maddox was healthy) yet face tremendous uncertainty at the position with the new league year looming on March 15.
Darius Slay and Avonte Maddox are locked in moving forward but James Bradberry is set to be an unrestricted free agent coming off a spectacular season in which he was named a second-team All-Pro.
Slay remains CB1 but he turned 32 on Jan. 1 and he had a tremendous first half before faltering a bit from there.
Through Week 9, Slay was No. 2 in the NFL to Bradberry, allowing a minuscule 37.2 passer rating, which included shutting down the NFL’s best receiver in Justin Jefferson. From that point forward he was among the league’s worst CBs while permitting a 126.1 passer rating when targeted.
Part of that dichotomy is just a natural regression to the mean because 37.2 is not sustainable over the long haul but the number Slay retreated to is at least a little troubling when coupled with his age. He’s under contract through 2023 and set to make $17 million with an even larger cap number so expect some kind of restructure coming from Howie Roseman.
Bradberry bet on himself after becoming a salary-cap casualty with the New York Giants and cashed in with a career season.
Set to turn 30 on Aug. 4, the veteran was a perfect fit for Jonathan Gannon’s quarters-heavy scheme, and perhaps a reunion out in the desert will happen for those two.
From the Eagles’ perspective, having two CBs with top-of-the-market deals is untenable and Bradberry has been honest that his decision will come down to money. This is likely his last chance to garner a big deal and Spotrac.com has valued a potential Bradberry deal at three years and $45M.
Even with a Slay restructured deal that’s just not financially feasible with a monster Jalen Hurts extension also looming over the Philadelphia salary cap. Any hope of Bradberry returning likely hinges on a depressed market.
Maddox, 26, was great as the slot corner when on the field but he missed nine games with assorted injured (ankle, hamstring, and toe) and recently underwent surgery on the turf toe that cost him the final two games of the regular season and the divisional round playoff win over the Giants until returning at less than 100% for the NFC Championship Game and Super Bowl LVII.
Maddox signed a three-year, $22.5M extension last season that keeps him in the fold through the 2024 season but another injury-plagued season could put that final year in jeopardy.
Maddox's backup is Josiah Scott, set to turn 24 in April, who was an EKG with some ups and many downs. Experience and versatility help Scott, though. He’s a solid backup, has cross-trained at safety, and can help on special teams so his roster spot should be safe
Last year at this time the Eagles would rave about the upside of young corners Zech McPhearson, Kary Vincent, Jr., Tay Gowan, and Mac McCain.
Only McPhearson, 24, remains on the team now after McCain didn’t get a futures deal and signed with Detroit earlier this week. Gowan spent the 2022 season on Minnesota’s practice squad and Vincent is in the XFL.
Entering his third season, McPhearson is the top reserve at outside CB and showed some skill as a gunner on special teams but if Bradberry walks there isn't much talk of McPhearson being a potential replacement and that's telling.
The other young CBs this time around are three 2022 undrafted rookies: Josh Jobe, Mario Goodrich, and Tristin McCollum.
Jobe, 24, made the Eagles roster as a UDFA and became a significant part of the special team coverage groups while Goodrich, 23, spent the entire season on the Philadelphia PS and will get another opportunity to break through this summer.
McCollum, 23, signed a futures deal in January after his PS deal with Houston expired. He’s got length and speed (6-foot-1, 4.48 40) so the Eagles obviously see some traits.
STAY:
-Slay will be back as the CB1 with some kind of contract restructure likely.
-Maddox played well when healthy but injuries are becoming a concern with his physical style of play.
-McPhearson will be entering his third season trying to prove he’s more than a special teamer.
-Jobe got his feet wet with 12 defensive snaps. It will be interesting to track his development.
-Scott’s versatility and ability to backup slot snaps with competency are important.
-Goodrich will get the summer to prove he belongs.
-McCollum is a traits-based prospect worth a roll of the dice.
GO:
Bradberry - Figures to get a big-money deal elsewhere, potentially with Gannon in Arizona.
READ MORE ON SAFTIES
Howie Roseman SZN: The Safeties - Sports Illustrated
-John McMullen contributes Eagles coverage for SI.com's Eagles Today and is the NFL Insider for JAKIB Media. You can listen to John, alongside legendary sports-talk host Jody McDonald every morning from 8-10 on ‘Birds 365,” streaming live on YouTube. John is also the host of his own show "Football 24/7 and a daily contributor to ESPN South Jersey. You can reach him at jmcmullen44@gmail.com or on Twitter @JFMcMullen
