The Philadelphia Eagles had some great performances from the defense last year, including two All-Pros in the secondary, but not everything about that unit was all rainbows and butterflies.
Eagles fans had to stick it out with Adoree' Jackson and Kelee Ringo at CB2 as Jackson got more of the snaps. While Jackson actually played well late in the season, his inconsistency left the Eagles with much to desire at cornerback.
Pro Football Focus's Mason Cameron named the best landing spots for the top five cornerbacks hitting free agency. Cameron likes Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks cornerback Tariq Woolen and the Eagles to work well together as a destination.
"Although reckless at times, Woolen possesses unmatched measurables for a cornerback, ranking in the top percentile in height (6-foot-4), arm length (34 inches) and speed (4.26-second 40-yard dash). Those tools helped him produce the second-highest lockdown percentage (65%) in the NFL this past season. Those are traits that would fit well into Vic Fangio’s scheme and elevate the Eagles' coverage unit to championship caliber once again."
Tariq Woolen would be a good fit for Eagles' defense
Last season, Woolen had a decent performance in the Seahawks' secondary, finishing with 41 tackles, 12 pass deflections, one tackle for loss, one quarterback hit, and one interception in 16 games. PFF graded him at 61.2, ranking 61st out of 114 cornerbacks in the NFL.
While the concerns are about him being inconsistent and not starting as many games in a deep Seahawks secondary, the scheme fit with Fangio seems to have everyone believing Woolen would perform better at a higher level with Quinyon Mitchell and Cooper DeJean in the secondary.
The good thing about Woolen is that while Jackson might be a cheaper option in free agency to bring him back, Woolen is younger and a better scheme. If the Eagles signed Woolen, Spotrac estimates his market value at $8.2 million per year.
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Philly has to address the cornerback position for the second straight offseason, hoping this time they get it right. Woolen might give them a better long-term solution at CB2 than anyone in the NFL Draft or free agency.