Philadelphia Eagles May Find Parallels Between Avonte Maddox, 2024 Draft Target

The Philadelphia Eagles Found slot cornerbacks Avonte Maddox in the fourth round of the draft six years ago and Zech McPhearson in 2021. Could Kentucky's Andru Phillips be next?

There’s an interesting parallel that can be drawn between Avonte Maddox and Andru Phillips, who reportedly will be one of the top-30 visits for the Philadelphia Eagles in the pre-draft process.

Maddox, who was released by the Eagles last month but re-signed with Philly on Thursday, proved to be a solid fourth-round pick of the Eagles back in 2018, the 125th player taken overall. The University of Pittsburgh product has struggled with injuries throughout his career, but, when healthy, is considered one of the league’s best slot cornerbacks.

Phillips, who played 29 games in four years at the University of Kentucky, is a potential slot cornerback who could be thrust into the competition for snaps at that spot as a rookie should the Eagles draft him. Phillips is considered a third-day pick, but an early one, like Maddox.

The Eagles own the 120th overall pick, which, if they take him there, would be just five picks before Maddox was selected six years ago.

Go back in time and NFL Media’s draft profile in 2018 gave Maddox a 5.90 prospect grade, calling him, “an average backup or special teamer.”

Sep 14, 2023; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Philadelphia Eagles cornerback Avonte Maddox (29).

Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports

Maddox, who is 5-9, 184, became much more than that, collecting 250 tackles, eight forced fumbles, four interceptions, and three sacks in 64 games with the Eagles, including 38 starts.

NFL Media’s draft profile on Phillips, who is listed at 5-11, 190 pounds, gave Phillips a prospect grade of 6.22 and says he “will eventually be an average starter.” He tested well at the NFL Scouting Combine with a 4.48 time in the 40, a 42-inch vertical leap and an 11-3 broad jump.

Zech McPhearson could be added to this parallel mix. He was the Eagles’ fourth-round pick in 2021, the 123rd overall pick and Maddox’s backup in the slot until tearing an Achilles last summer.

His NFL Media grade was 5.99 and, like Maddox, termed “an average backup or special teamer,” and McPhearson proved to be an excellent special team player.

It’s assumed that at some point Isaiah Rodgers will be reinstated by the NFL after spending the year suspended for violating the NFL’s policy on gambling.

It’s also assumed the Rodgers will be the Eagles’ slot cornerback and possibly a kickoff returner.

The Eagles would have liked a decision already, but they should hope to have one by the start of Phase One on April 15 when players will gather for two weeks at the NovaCare Complex to prepare for Phase Two, the OTAs portion of the offseason program.

A decision should come soon. At least they Eagles hope it does so they can begin to integrate him into their system and assess where he stands in terms of physical shape.

The slot is still a work in progress regardless of the expectation Rodgers brings. Perhaps a surprise awaits, and Rodgers pays the outside in place of maybe James Bradberry, since the outside is where he was primarily used as a member of the Indianapolis Colts.

Tyler Hall was an under-the-radar signing in free agency and has plenty of slot experience as well.

McPhearson is also expected to return from an Achilles tear last summer to add more depth at the slot and Chauncey Gardner-Johnson can play the position if necessary though he is expecting to be a full-time safety for defensive coordinator Vic Fangio.

The downside is that Rodgers, McPhearson, and Hall are only signed through this season, which may increase the likelihood of the Eagles looking for a longer-term solution at the position, and that could lead them to Phillips.