Eagles’ CB situation more urgent after Giants’ signing of Brandon Marshall
By Ryan Quigley
The Eagles better fix their cornerback situation immediately.
The New York Giants have signed free agent wide receiver Brandon Marshall to a two-year deal, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter. With Marshall now a member of the Giants, it has become even more imperative for the Philadelphia Eagles to add competent cornerback talent.
The NFC East now contains several of the NFL’s top receivers and the Eagles will have to face the likes of Marshall, Odell Beckham Jr. and Dez Bryant two times a year. With a lackluster group of corners, that definitely doesn’t bode too well for Philadelphia.
At the moment, the best cornerback on the Eagles’ roster is Jalen Mills, who was selected in the seventh round of last year’s draft. Out of 120 cornerbacks last season, Mills was ranked dead last by Pro Football Focus. While Mills did show some flashes as a first-year player, there are still some concerns about his ability to play on the outside. His speed is questionable and the team may feel he is better suited to play in the slot.
Luckily, Philadelphia picked a great year to need a cornerback. The 2017 NFL Draft is stocked with elite cornerback talent from top to bottom. NFL Network’s Mike Mayock called this year’s cornerback class one of the deepest he’s seen in years. The Eagles will have plenty of chances in the first several rounds to shore up their depleted group of cornerbacks.
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The Eagles are also in the running for free agent cornerback A.J. Bouye. It was reported Wednesday that the Houston Texans are worried about losing Bouye to the Eagles. Philadelphia may not have a great track record when it comes to signing free agent cornerbacks, but Bouye is just 25 years old and already looks like a shutdown corner. He allowed a measly 61.0 quarterback rating when targeted in 2016.
Whether Philadelphia signs Bouye or builds the secondary through the draft, it is absolutely critical that they improve their secondary this offseason. The NFC East is filled with talented wideouts and the Eagles will have a hard time winning games if they can’t cover any of them.