Philadelphia Eagles: Will Jaiquawn Jarrett Even Make the Team?

In 2011, the Philadelphia Eagles spent a second-round pick on safety Jaiquawn Jarrett out of Temple University. Jarrett was projected to go in the mid-rounds, but the Eagles—who are still looking for a replacement for Brian Dawkins, as well as former Pro Bowler Quintin Mikell—jumped on Jarrett with the 54th overall pick.

Jarrett played sparingly in his rookie campaign with the team, even though Nate Allen and Kurt Coleman struggled as the starters. Jarrett’s most well-known moment was probably getting burned by All-Pro wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald for a late touchdown in a 21-17 loss to the Arizona Cardinals, although I give defensive coordinator Juan Castillo much of the blame for putting a rookie safety against a receiver with Fitzgerald’s talent.

Jarrett entered 2012 as the second-team safety behind Allen and Coleman, and the Eagles have new acquisition O.J. Atogwe in the mix fighting for a starting job. Jarrett looked awful in the team’s first preseason game this August against the Pittsburgh Steelers, missing tackles and failing to wrap up ball-carriers just as he did in ’11.

Jarrett was demoted to the third team at Sunday’s practice, and that’s the coaching staff’s way of sending a serious message to Jarrett. He didn’t pick off a pass last year, he has no sacks to his name and he didn’t even record a pass defensed. Jarrett was torched for a 107.0 passer rating in the 20 passes his way, and he even rated poorly as a run-stopper.

He really doesn’t seem to offer much to the team. Maybe Jarrett will develop more in his later years if he learns how to take better angles to the ball, but I hope he gets the chance elsewhere. I don’t need to see him missing any more tackles for the Eagles.