Philadelphia Eagles draft buzz: Virginia Tech cornerback Caleb Farley
When was the last time the Philadelphia Eagles spent a first-round pick on a talented cornerback? If you are struggling to figure that one out, don’t worry. You aren’t alone. The Eagles never seem to invest high draft capital on a potential star corner. Needless to say, the need to find a shutdown corner to pair with Darius Slay has been ever-present and heading into 2021’s offseason, that should be one of if not the most important issue to address.
No matter how you look at it, the Philadelphia Eagles will never compete in the NFC if they keep rolling out the defensive backs they leaned on in 2020. Aside from Darius Slay and Jalen Mills (every once in a while), Philly’s defense was basically swiss cheese, smothered in holes.
Fast forward to the 2021 NFL Draft, one in which is filled with potential stars that play defensive back, the Eagles’ front office needs to land one. Of all the names in this year’s selection meeting, one sticks out above all the rest, Virginia Tech cornerback Caleb Farley. He’s a six-foot-two, 210-pound ball hawk with arguably the fastest feet in the draft.
Blessed with a long frame, and a high motor that never seems to quit, Farley has the natural ability coaches search for on prospects. Speed kills in the football world, and Caleb Farley may be the fastest of them all. He’s expected to run a sub-4.3 time in the 40-yard dash at Tech’s offseason team workouts.
I had the opportunity to sit with the Hokie product and ask him how he feels he could help the Philadelphia Eagles defense. Here is what he had to say:
"I am a player that wants to the best player on the field all the time, no ifs and or buts. Really, I know I have the speed to run with any of these wideouts in the league, and I love to make contact. My favorite thing to do is come up and knock the stuffing out of players, so I am looking (forward) to doing that. I love tackling, and I love to set the tone for my team. I know I am new at this position but my potential is at a high. I play the game at a high level and I know I haven’t even reached my peak. You put me on the Philadelphia Eagles roster and I am going to ball out. I would love to learn with (Darius) Slay. All I need is a shot."
Virginia Tech cornerback Caleb Farley could arguably be the best cornerback in the 2021 NFL Draft, with his explosive speed, natural ball skills, and aggressive playstyle. If the Philadelphia Eagles could land the North Carolina native, it could go a very long way in creating the best CB duo in the National Football League.