6 Defensive Backs Philadelphia Eagles Should Target in Early Rounds of Draft
Despite signing cornerback Byron Maxwell to a lucrative deal in free agency, the Philadelphia Eagles could still use additional players in their secondary. Chip Kelly’s preferences for tall and long corners as well as safeties who can cover have been evident in his previous signings of Maxwell, Bradley Fletcher and Malcolm Jenkins. Expect this trend to continue should the team address the position in the NFL draft.
Picking 20th, the Eagles won’t get Kelly’s college quarterback, Marcus Mariota, without trading up and mortgaging a handful of draft picks. There’s still some talent to be had in the middle of the first round, though, specifically a handful of players who specifically fit what Kelly and defensive coordinator Billy Davis like to do.
The following six players are potential first-rounders (or second-rounders if Kelly targets Mariota, a wide receiver or the offensive line) and would be expected to contribute immediately as rookies.
Byron Jones, CB, Connecticut
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If Chip Kelly could pick any player in the first round—other than Marcus Mariota—there’s a good chance Byron Jones would be one of the top selections.
Jones is a physical freak who skyrocketed up draft boards with an unbelievable pro day. He ran a 4.36 time in the 40-yard dash. He set the unofficial world record in the broad jump. And he nearly leaped out of the sky in the vertical leap, registering a ridiculous 44.5-inch mark.
According to Geoff Mosher of CSN Philly, (h/t NJ Advanced Media's Eliot Shorr-Parks), he’s visited the Philadelphia Eagles before, which is worth noting because every player Kelly drafted last year had been hosted pre-draft (or attended Oregon). He has long arms, and he has the potential to be a true shutdown corner.
Eric Rowe, CB/S, Utah
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Eric Rowe is another Chip Kelly prospect. He’s highly athletic, has long arms and can play cornerback and safety.
Rowe started at free safety for three seasons, then moved to cornerback his final collegiate season. He has an impressive build at 6’1”, 205 pounds with 31.5-inch arms.
If the Philadelphia Eagles draft Rowe, there’s a good chance he would push for a starting safety spot as a rookie. As of now, the spot opposite Malcolm Jenkins is likely to be filled by a combination of Earl Wolff, Jerome Couplin or Ed Reynolds, which certainly won’t scare opposing offensive coordinators.
Kevin Johnson, CB, Wake Forest
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Kevin Johnson is an exceptional athlete who should be a talented NFL cornerback. He’s worked his way up NFL draft boards as of late and would be a solid pick for the Philadelphia Eagles at the 20th selection in the first round.
Johnson is tall with long arms and started for four years in college. He’s a former high school running back. He is a star special teams player. And he would likely push for a starting spot immediately with the Eagles should Chip Kelly take him.
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Quinten Rollins, CB, Miami (OH)
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Quinten Rollins is an unusual prospect. He played basketball for four years at Miami (OH), then switched to football for his final year there.
It’s safe to say he made an impact in his abbreviated collegiate career. He recorded seven interceptions in 12 games at the NCAA level. He’s a tremendous athlete who earned the MAC Defensive Player of the Year and was invited to the Senior Bowl.
There’s a lot of potential in a player like Rollins, who did so much in just one year of organized college football. He’s undersized compared to what Chip Kelly prefers in his corners, as Rollins is just 5’11” without the long arms Kelly prefers, but what he does have is exceptional athleticism.
Jalen Collins, CB, LSU
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LSU’s Jalen Collins has a lot of room for growth at the NFL level, despite a college career that included just three interceptions in three seasons.
Collins is 6’1”, which would make him one of the league’s tallest cornerbacks. He has ridiculously long arms (32.5 inches) and led his position at the NFL Scouting Combine in the three-cone drill time. He may start his career as a raw player because he started just 10 games in college, but if he can develop to his full potential, he’s going to be a shutdown player.
Alex Carter, CB, Stanford
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We know how Chip Kelly feels about his Pac-12 players. Alex Carter would fill a position of need. He went to Stanford. And he’s the prototypical size for a cornerback, being listed at 6’0” tall, close to 200 pounds with arms that measured in at over 32 inches.
Carter posted an impressive 40-inch vertical leap, which should allow him to compete against the division’s finest receivers, Dez Bryant and Odell Beckham Jr., in jump balls. Carter plays with a physical style and may be a hybrid corner/safety if he can put on weight. Kelly will love that versatility.
All Scouting Combine numbers are per NFL.com.
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