When the Philadelphia Eagles released slot cornerback Avonte Maddox in March, the belief was that the organization would want to bring him back on a reduced deal.
Philadelphia validated that assumption when it agreed to a one-year contract with Maddox that kept the 2018 fourth-round corner out of Pittsburgh with the team that drafted him. The latest signing is another move the Eagles have made to address their secondary heading into the new season.
Let’s break down those moves and where the Eagles’ depth chart currently stands following Maddox’s return.
Eagles’ Current Secondary Depth Chart
Maddox’s return to the Eagles provides further depth to the organization. While there are still many questions yet to be answered at this time, we have a basic picture of how the group could look before the draft.
Here’s what Philadelphia’s secondary looks like at the moment.
- RCB: Darius Slay, Kelee Ringo
- NB: Avonte Maddox, Isaiah Rodgers, Zech McPhearson
- LCB: James Bradberry, Josh Jobe, Eli Ricks
- SS: C.J. Gardner-Johnson
- FS: Reed Blankenship, Sydney Brown
Some may be surprised that James Bradberry will be penciled in as a starter at the moment, but Philadelphia seems prepared to give the former Pro Bowl corner a chance to bounce back after a significant decrease in productivity in 2023.
“I think it’s obvious to everyone, including JB, that JB didn’t have the year that he was expecting and that we were expecting,” Roseman said to NBC Sports Philadelphia. “I think, obviously, he understands that, and he is driven to show that he is the player that he was in 2022.”
Should Bradberry bounce back to his Pro Bowl form from 2022, the Eagles’ secondary could look a lot better than their 31st-ranked unit from 2023. Bringing back Maddox for the slot also means that the defense will have quality players at every position group.
What’s Next for the Eagles’ Secondary?
Philadelphia still has over $30 million in cap space, three selections in the top 64 picks in the 2024 NFL Draft, and some depth questions surrounding the position groups in the secondary.
Simply put, just because the Eagles were able to bring back players like Maddox and Gardner-Johnson, it doesn’t mean they are quite finished to improve the overall group.
While the organization seems prepared to allow Bradberry the chance to show that 2023 was an outlier to a solid career, they could draft a corner early to secure some depth at the position.
In free agency, top safeties like Justin Simmons and Quandre Diggs remain available, offering the Eagles a viable path to addressing the depth at safety following the draft. Diggs and Simmons are quality players asking for more than what the market is willing to pay for players over 30 years old.
Should that price lower, the Eagles could pounce on a free agent safety to lessen the pressure on Sydney Brown to recover from his ACL surgery.
The clear sign, though, is that the Eagles aren’t done yet.
Which Defensive Backs Could the Eagles Target in the NFL Draft?
While the Eagles remain flexible in the positions they could address in the first round, the signing of Maddox should cancel out the idea that the team addresses the cornerback position on the first day of the draft.
That should probably take them out on players like Cooper DeJean, Quinyon Mitchell, Kool-Aid McKinstry, and Terrion Arnold.
KEEP READING: Philadelphia Eagles News, April 4
In a deep class, though, there are plenty of top players in the second and third rounds that could interest the Eagles over the weekend. Ennis Rackstraw Jr., Kamari Lassiter, and Nate Wiggins are players who could fall into the second day of the draft and provide strong depth for the team in many different roles.
Just because the organization made a move to re-sign a solid role player, it doesn’t mean they’ll look past the position in the 2024 NFL Draft.
Miss football? The 2024 NFL Draft is almost here, boss. Pro Football Network has you covered with everything from team draft needs to the Top 100 prospects available. Plus, fire up PFN’s all-new Mock Draft Simulator to put yourself in the general manager’s seat and make all the calls – lone wolf or with your friends!