Nnamdi Asomugha Signs with Philadelphia Eagles: What It Means for the Defense

Throughout the build-up to the beginning of free agency, the Dallas Cowboys and the New York Jets were considered the front-runners for the services of free-agent prize pony, Nnamdi Asomugha.

Well, there's a dark horse candidate, and then there's the Philadelphia Eagles, who were more like a black stallion. They nabbed the purebred cornerback within the first 15 minutes of free agency, per a report by ESPN literally-know-everything analyst Adam Schefter.

The Cowboys were aiming for Asomugha because they need someone, anyone in their defensive secondary.

The Jets and the Eagles, on the other hand, were among the three-horse race for Asomugha despite already having top dollar invested at cornerback. This shows exactly how important cover cornerbacks have become in today's pass-happy NFL.

The news comes just a day after the Eagles completed a trade with the Arizona Cardinals, landing cornerback Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie.

Three top-flight cornerbacks in the same secondary? Watch out NFL. That will be one scary defense.

The Eagles have always tried to field a lockdown secondary. They featured cornerbacks Lito Sheppard and Sheldon Brown when both were in their prime. Safety Brian Dawkins built a legacy for himself as a leader and enforcer in the secondary.

This trio, however, may take the cake. Of course, they're not without their weaknesses.

Asante Samuel has long been considered one of the top cover corners in football, but many have said that he gets away with taking a lot of risks in coverage. The same can be said for Rodgers-Cromartie.

Asomugha was thrown at just 31 times in 14 games last year (per Football Outsiders' Aaron Schatz). On the other hand, he played almost exclusively on the right side (640 snaps on the right, 40 on the left, the rest in the slot). Right-handed quarterbacks throw to the right less by default, as that throw would usually come across their body.

With three of the league's most talented cornerbacks in one secondary, the upside far outweighs the downside.

With three top-notch cornerbacks in their secondary once again, the Eagles can move the three around to best accommodate the matchups.

Rodgers-Cromartie and Asomugha are 6'2" and 6'3" respectively, making them great matchups for taller receivers. While Rodgers-Cromartie's speed matches him up better with "field stretchers," Asomugha's great skills in man coverage allow him to match up with virtually anyone.

The idea that pass rushers are the building blocks of an elite defense has become so universally accepted, that the very notion of a defense being built on elite play in the secondary has become laughable to some.

The Eagles laugh at it all, and are happy with having both a great pass-rushing defense (top 10 in sacks each of the past three years), as well as one of the best cornerback units (on paper) in all of football.

With all that new defensive firepower, the Eagles defense could win best in show in 2011.