Philadelphia Eagles: Already Burned At Cornerback
By Jeremy Klump
The Philadelphia Eagles cornerback situation is already a problem and the year hasn’t even started.
The Philadelphia Eagles head into another year with more questions than answers at cornerback.
You have to commend Howie Roseman for the incredible work he has done this offseason. He was able to work his magic and make moves that will help the Eagles for years to come.
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His best move was trading up twice in the first round in order to draft former North Dakota State quarterback Carson Wentz. Roseman’s legacy depends on Wentz, so that will always be a move you look at, but I feel it was the right one and will work out just fine.
Other big moves Roseman made were getting rid of some big contracts. He was able to trade 2015 free agent acquisition DeMarco Murray, whose contract was way too big after just one underachieving season. He was also able to trade free agent bust, cornerback Byron Maxwell to the Miami Dolphins. Maxwell was getting payed like a top corner in the league, but he showed in 2015 that he isn’t a top corner. It made sense for the Eagles to get rid of him, however Roseman and company didn’t really get anyone to replace him.
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The Eagles corners were their weakest position last season, and before 2016 even starts they are even weaker. Maxwell may have been overpaid, but he was still a starer on the defense that the Eagles needed to replace.
The Eagles went out and signed Leodis McKelvin this offseason and many feel he may be the player to replace Maxwell. For starters, everyone is excited to see McKelvin play for his former defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz, who McKelvin had his best season playing for.
The thinking makes sense, well, that is until you see that he only started nine games in 2014 because of injuries when he played for Schwartz. Also, in 2015, McKelvin was the 83rd ranked cornerback by Pro Football Focus. Add in the fact that he only started five games last season because of injuries and you are catching onto the theme here.
McKelvin may have potential, but he can’t stay on the field! Matter of fact, McKelvin has never even started 16 games in his eight-year career. So, yes, I understand to try and see the positives in signing players, however McKelvin can’t really be a corner that people believe will magically start 16 games and become a legitimate No. 1 guy.
After McKelvin, the Eagles have Nolan Carroll, Eric Rowe and Jalen Mills fighting for a starting outside corner spot.
Carroll played well last season, intercepting two passes, but he only played 11 games in 2015 due to a season-ending injury. The injury (broken ankle) was a huge setback for the six-year veteran out of Maryland because as the Eagles transition into a new defense, he hasn’t even fully practiced yet. If Carroll comes back healthy, he will be an option as the No. 2 corner, but that is a big IF. Just like McKelvin, Carroll has never started a full 16-game season in his career.
Then you have the 2015 second round pick out of Utah, Rowe. I was very high on him coming out of college and thought he was a great fit as a safety, but the Eagles decided to draft him to put him at cornerback and it didn’t work too well.
Rowe struggled early and often, which is expected by a rookie and ended the year as the 82nd ranked corner by Pro Football Focus, which is still one higher than McKelvin and they started the same amount of games (5). Out of the first three corners I have talked about, Rowe has more potential to become a legitimate starting cornerback in the NFL, but it will still take time.
Lastly there is 2016 seventh round pick out of LSU, Mills. He was drafted in the seventh round because of his off-field red flags, but the Eagles decided to give him a chance and that may payoff big time. Mills has a ton of skill and could be a surprise starter by the time Week 1 roles in.
He has the cover skills and ability to be a starter at corner in the NFL, so it will be interesting to see if he can crack into the starting spot. He hasn’t played corner since 2014, which was his best season at LSU, so there may be some growing pains when he gets back out there.
If the Eagles were smart, they would start Rowe and Mills on the outside this season. Starting McKelvin and Carroll isn’t going to get the job done and they are both players who won’t be on the roster as long as Rowe and Mills will be.
Rowe and Mills may not play great in 2016 as a tandem, but it allows you to progress them faster and see if cornerback is a position you need to address with your second round pick in the 2017 NFL Draft.
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The Eagles may currently have the worst group of cornerbacks in the entire NFL as we head into 2016 so they have nothing to lose by trying to start the younger guys. Eagles fans will be screaming all year as this group gets burned, but Eagles fans should see that they are already burned before the year even gets going.