Under-the-radar Eagles who contributed the most to their playoff run
player. 54. . . . Marcus Epps, safety. 22
Philadelphia Eagles safety Marcus Epps
The Philadelphia Eagles are determined to figure this secondary out. Just look at what they’ve done between this past offseason and the present day. Cre’Von LeBlanc and Nickell Robey-Coleman were allowed to walk before the Birds signed Andrew Adams, Anthony Harris, Nate Meadors, Obi Melifonwu, Blake Countess, Andre Chachere, Mac McCain, and Steven Nelson all to one-year deals.
Meadors, Melifonwu, Countess are all gone. The possibility of Nelson, Chachere, and Adams leaving in the next offseason is high. Rodney McLeod is aging, and the jury is still out on K’Von Wallace. The Birds have work to do. Fortunately, they’ve found a building block in Marcus Epps.
The six-foot, 198-pound free safety is Michael Vick’s size. That’s just to give you a comparison you’d recognize if you haven’t been paying attention because he hits people like he has no concern for his physical safety.
It’s been Epps, not Wallace, who has rounded out the Eagles’ safety rotation as the Birds have made their way to the finish line. He’s earned his keep.
Heading into Week 18, his numbers have dwindled since Rodney McLeod’s return as you’d expect, and down the line, they’ve fluctuated. He was in on 17 snaps or less in weeks 12,15, and 17 compared to 34 snaps and 47 snaps in Week 13 and 16 respectively.
Still, when you give this guy a shot, he makes the most of it. He has 62 total tackles, five pass breakups, and an interception on the season, and he’s signed through next season. Philadelphia has something special here.