Philadelphia Eagles: Preparing for the Worst at CB

By Anthony DiBona | Feb 5, 2015

It’s clear that the Philadelphia Eagles need to drastically improve at cornerback. But what happens if they can’t land a top free agent or draft prospect? Well then it’s time to prepare for the worst.

The team has had no success the past two seasons with Cary Williams and Bradley Fletcher as the starting duo at the position. Williams is a number two cornerback, at his best. Fletcher was awful in 2014 and is luckily set to be an unrestricted free agent. Brandon Boykin has been very good in the slot, but sadly it looks like that’s where he’s stuck since the coaching staff refuses to play him on the outside.

If that’s the case, the team will need at least one new starting cornerback in 2015, that’s not counting if they release Williams either, which is a very real possibility. The only problem is that the free agent market at the position is pretty thin. It’s highly unlikely that the New England Patriots let Darrelle Revis walk away. That leaves Byron Maxwell and Kareem Jackson as the next best options on the market.

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Both of those players will likely be highly sought after and over-valued because of the limited pool of talent available at cornerback. The Eagles have yet to spend a ton of money in free agency since head coach Chip Kelly has joined the team. Philadelphia also has to worry about their own free agents like wide receiver Jeremy Maclin and outside linebacker Brandon Graham. So can they really afford to go after the big names in free agency?

The answer is that they actually can. According to Over The Cap, Philadelphia is set to have around $19 million to spend in free agency. That’s not counting the possible cuts and contract restructuring they can do to free up even more money. But as Eagles’ fans, we know all too well that blowing a ton of money on free agents, especially at cornerback, isn’t always the best way to go.

That leads us to the 2015 NFL Draft, where the Eagles will be selecting 20th overall. There is plenty of talent at cornerback in this year’s draft class but there are some questions regarding some prospects, especially at the top of the draft. Washington’s Marcus Peters, who many believe is the most talented cornerback in the draft, has a long list of off the field issues and was eventually dismissed from the Huskies’ team.

"Peters got into an argument with an assistant coach during practice Wednesday, a source said, apparently the final straw in a series of run-ins with Washington’s new coaching staff. He also got into an argument with coaches during UW’s victory at Colorado on Saturday and then missed practice on Tuesday, sources said."

Then there is Michigan State’s Trae Waynes, who many rank as the top overall cornerback in the draft. He may not be as skilled as Peters but he is clean off the field and an outstanding player on the field. The only problem is Waynes will likely be gone before the Eagles pick. That leaves the team with another trouble player off the field in Florida State’s P.J. Williams, who left the scene of a car crash while also driving with a suspended licence.

Chip Kelly values character and building a strong locker room very highly and it’s unlikely he’ll add a prospect with such off the field issues as Peters or Williams do to the roster. Waynes would be a strong addition to the team, but as mentioned before, it’s unlikely the Eagles will be able to draft him unless they trade up.

All of that being said, there are a variety of directions the Eagles can go in the upcoming off-season to address the cornerback position. But unless they decide to spend some big money in free agency or take a risk on a troubled yet potentially great prospect in the draft. It’s highly unlikely their secondary will improve drastically in 2015 like many fans are hoping for.

Next: Philadelphia Eagles: Preparing for the Worst at QB

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