5 Cornerbacks Philadelphia Eagles Must Consider in 2015 NFL Draft
The Philadelphia Eagles will no doubt chase an established cornerback in free agency come March, but why stop there? One would certainly help plug an enormous hole in the Birds’ secondary, but if that’s all the organization does this offseason, it’s only a matter of time before the defensive backfield springs another leak.
In addition to the immediate void left by Bradley Fletcher’s impending departure—mercifully, he’s a free agent—the Eagles only have one corner under contract beyond 2015. That could be problematic.
Cary Williams has one year remaining, but he is 30 and a potential cap casualty this offseason. Brandon Boykin is on the last season of his rookie deal and perhaps unlikely to reach an extension if this coaching staff doesn’t give him an opportunity to start. Nolan Carroll is also entering his final year, and while a capable reserve, he did not look like a solution during his Week 17 audition.
That leaves only 2014 fourth-round pick Jaylen Watkins, who wasn’t even on the field for a defensive snap until the regular-season finale, so clearly the Eagles can’t count on him.
Whether Philadelphia adds a free-agent corner or not, one isn’t nearly enough. The organization has no choice but to extend its search to the draft. Fortunately, there should be plenty of options, especially early.
Trae Waynes
1 of 5
We already pitched an in-depth case for Michigan State’s Trae Waynes with Philadelphia’s first-round pick a few weeks back. Basically, what the argument boils down to is Waynes is the consensus top cornerback prospect in the draft without off-field concerns.
At 6’1”, Waynes has the tall, long build Eagles head coach Chip Kelly prefers in his perimeter defenders. The redshirt sophomore recorded 13 pass breakups and six interceptions as a two-year starter.
Both ESPN’s Scouts Inc. and CBSSports.com rank Waynes the 19th-best overall prospect in the draft, which means there’s a chance he’ll still be on the board when the Eagles are on the clock at No. 20. If they catch wind Waynes won’t be there, they may want to consider trading up a few spots to nab him.
Then again, perhaps such a move would be a tad rash. After all, there are always other fish in the sea.
Marcus Peters
2 of 5
While Waynes may be higher on some boards, Marcus Peters is arguably the most talented corner in this draft. However, any team that’s considering investing a first-round pick in the position may have trouble getting around his dismissal from Washington’s football program.
According to reports, Peters repeatedly clashed with the university’s coaching staff, a situation that finally came to a head in November when the talented junior was sent packing.
It’s an unfortunate situation for such a promising, young talent, but he’s simply too good to plummet far. As a three-year starter, Peters racked up 27 pass breakups and 11 interceptions, making him perhaps the best playmaker on the outside at the top of the draft in an ideal 6’0”, 190-pound frame. Somebody will take that.
Whether it will be Kelly remains to be seen. DeSean Jackson’s disputes with the Eagles coaching staff was believed to be one of the many reasons why the three-time Pro Bowl wideout was released last offseason, so Peters’ issues with authority will not be viewed lightly by this regime.
P.J. Williams
3 of 5
Waynes and Peters may be the most recognizable names, but they are not the only cornerbacks who could creep into the first round. Florida State’s P.J. Williams is a name that could be on the rise as the draft approaches.
Williams has good size at 6’0”, 196 pounds. The redshirt junior recorded four interceptions and 17 pass breakups in two seasons as a starter. Oh, and he helped the Seminoles win two ACC titles and a national championship, too.
What may make Williams particularly appealing to the Eagles, in addition to being an intriguing cornerback prospect, is his work on special teams. His ESPN scouting report makes sure to note he was a key contributor on the kickoff- and punt-coverage units.
There is currently a difference of opinion on where Williams will go in the draft. CBSSports.com ranks him as the 33rd-best prospect in the draft. ESPN’s Scouts Inc. has him No. 50, which means he potentially could be available to Philly in Round 2.
That might work, provided the Eagles have already sufficiently upgraded the cornerback spot in free agency. In fact, the simple reality is they may have to unearth some talent in the middle of the draft.
.jpg?w=256 "Colts Jaguars Football")
Quinten Rollins
4 of 5
There’s no denying this crop of incoming corners has some real sizzle, but one might be flying under the radar. Quinten Rollins from small-time Miami, Ohio, is a name that could begin to draw an increasing amount of buzz as the draft nears as more people become familiar with his body of work.
Rollins only has one season of college football under his belt, but it was a good one. All told, he finished third in the nation with seven interceptions and defended nine more en route to MAC Defensive Player of the Year honors.
As Les Bowen for the Philadelphia Daily News writes, Rollins was originally recruited to play basketball, but once his eligibility ran out, he wound up giving football a try. That seems to be working out well for the young man.
Eliot Shorr-Parks for NJ Advance Media notes Rollins was among the players the Eagles met with during the Senior Bowl.
Rollins is only 5’11”, so he comes in slightly shorter than Kelly typically prefers. However, given his athletic background, that may go overlooked. Who knows, Rollins’ pure physical ability may catapult him into the first round if he tests well at the combine and pro day. The Eagles would be wise to keep a close eye on him.
Josh Shaw
5 of 5
Whether the Eagles are unable to or choose not to address their cornerback need with a first- or second-round selection, it’s not necessarily the end of the world. There may be a steal or two in the middle of the draft.
One player the Birds will no doubt take a long, hard look at is Josh Shaw out of USC. Shaw may have been headed for a Day 1 or Day 2 selection, but he lost most of his senior season to a suspension arising from an off-field incident.
Normally, an off-field incident would be an indicator the Eagles are out, but Shaw was never charged with a crime after his bizarre run-in with police and eventually reinstated to the football team. Of course, it was still a weird incident that no doubt hurts his draft stock.
Still, Shaw is 6’1”, 200 pounds. As a two-year starter in 2013 and ’14, he racked up six interceptions and 15 pass breakups. Shaw also played safety, versatility that could come in handy at the next level.
Scouts Inc. and CBSSports.com both have ranked him somewhere in the area of the fourth round of the draft, where Philadelphia is currently sitting on two picks. If Kelly can overlook a singular off-field incident, the Eagles may have themselves quite a prospect for that spot in the draft.
.jpg?w=480 "Colts Jaguars Football")
.png?w=480)
