How Many DBs Should the Philadelphia Eagles Draft?

By Nick DeCesare | Jan 17, 2015

Nov 29, 2014; University Park, PA, USA; Michigan State Spartans cornerback Trae Waynes (15) intercepts a pass intended for Penn State Nittany Lions wide receiver Chris Godwin (12) in the second quarter at Beaver Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Evan Habeeb-USA TODAY Sports

The Eagles secondary, after years of being the weakest unit on the team, have not really improved. The front office has done little to address the weak corps of defensive backs (DBs), other than drafting busts. Signing Eagles safety Malcolm Jenkins was a step in the right direction, but this unit needs leaps and bounds, not just steps, in order to become reliable. This year, how many DBs should the Philadelphia Eagles draft?

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To start, I would like to say the Eagles have two very good cornerstones to build around in Jenkins and Eagles nickel cornerback Brandon Boykin, arguably the best in the league at his position. But two players, including one who sees the field less than half of the Eagles’ defensive snaps, are certainly not enough to make this secondary look even remotely good.

The Eagles are going to need to do a lot this offseason considering two out of four defensive backs have contracts expiring, and another will be grossly overpaid next season if he is kept. To be honest, none of those three is worth keeping next year and the depth behind them is either untested or just plain bad.

The Eagles don’t have the funds to go on a free agent spending spree for elite defensive backs. Nor would they want to considering the last two “big name” DBs were cut after two horrible seasons with the team. So other than maybe one marquee free agent, the Eagles will have to build this secondary through the draft.

I fully expect at least three defensive backs to be taken in the draft. Two of those should probably be in the first three rounds of the draft and the last being a fifth or sixth round pick. Who should they be?

Well in round 1, there are two cornerbacks who should be available when the Eagles pick at 20: Michigan State cornerback Trae Waynes and Washington cornerback Marcus Peters. While Peters is the more talented player of the two, he comes with huge character concerns. Personally, I would want the Eagles to take a chance on Peters, but knowing the front office, Waynes will likely be the guy.

Next, I would love to see the Eagles draft Ole Miss safety Cody Prewitt in the second round. This guy is an absolute beast and completely fits the (Philadelphia Eagles head coach) Chip Kelly mantra that “big people beat up little people.” Prewitt is a 6’2″ 220 pound enforcer who could play in this defense the way the Seattle Seahawks use Kam Chancellor. Prewitt would complement Jenkins very well, and together they could make a very talented safety tandem.

Lastly, I really like USC cornerback Josh Shaw. The guy is 6’1″ and has had big games against some of the Pac-12’s best receivers. The main reason he could fall so far is that he was suspended for most of the 2014 season due to a domestic-violence investigation conducted by the LAPD. Prior to that one incident, however, Shaw had kept his nose fairly clean and had been a great leader on the football field.

So what do you guys think? Three defensive backs? Are Waynes, Prewitt, and Shaw our guys? Let me know your thoughts in the comments below.

Fly Eagles Fly.

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