Eagles vs. Redskins: 5 Predictions for Philly in NFL Week 1

3. Avonte Maddox snags the first pick of the year

The cornerback situation in Philly is unique. The Eagles have a good chunk of guys who can go out on the field and contribute reasonably well. But not a single one has established themselves as the clear-cut starter in terms of consistency on a weekly basis.

Last year, Avonte Maddox wasn’t expected to do much, but he quickly established himself as much more than a reserve nickel cornerback. The kid is quite versatile. He’s able to play inside, outside, or even behind the cornerbacks at safety.

On Sunday, Maddox will most likely be back in his natural area at nickel cornerback. The Eagles secondary should have an excellent day as Washington’s passing game is hardly a threat. Sidney Jones will play well, but he isn’t much of a ballhawk quite yet.

Ronald Darby is decent, but he’s still working on getting back to one-hundred percent. Maddox, he’s got a knack for creating turnovers. I wouldn’t say he’s the best ballhawk on the team, but I believe there’s a realistic shot that he leads the Eagles in interceptions this year. His collection of picks starts on Sunday against Washington.