Impending 2023 free agents Eagles must avoid during the frenzy

Eli Apple is a cheaper option at cornerback, but the Eagles can find more consistent players in the market and during the NFL Draft.

Philly’s aforementioned money crunch won’t stop them from flexing their muscles in an attempt to land a solid starting-level cornerback. They can’t afford to avoid doing so (pun intended). They may lose James Bradberry, and there are rumors that they may dangle Darius Slay as trade bait due to his monstrous cap number.

He counts as a $26.1 million cap hit in 2023 and represents $21.2 million in dead cap money.

If one or the other (or both) leave and the Birds are looking for cheaper options, Cincinnati Bengals cornerback Eli Apple should be available, but as is the case with Jadeveon Clowney, the Birds would be wise to steer clear.

Apple is a controversial figure. He’s always trash-talking trash opposing players on social media which wouldn’t be unforgivable if he backed up his play on the field. In 2022, he did anything but. Try 49 total tackles and no interceptions during 15 games with Cincy on for size.

As Cleveland.com’s Mohammad Ahmad points out, during the first half of the NFL season last year, “opposing wide receivers caught 66% of their passes when Apple was covering them”.

Ahmad also mentions that the 27-year-old defensive back led the Bengals’ defense in missed tackles. The Eagles are familiar with Apple, as he played his first four seasons in the NFL as a member of the New York Giants.

He could be a cheaper option, but truthfully, he gets burned much too often by opposing receivers. He also isn’t much of an upgrade from what Philly already fielded this past season at the cornerback position.