Eric Rowe a Fine Addition to Much-Improved Philadelphia Eagles Secondary

In 2014, the Philadelphia Eagles finished 31^st in passing yards allowed, and a case can be made that the secondary was the main reason the team missed the playoffs. Cornerback Bradley Fletcher was a frequent culprit of allowing big plays, and the safety position next to Malcolm Jenkins was complete turmoil.

Chip Kelly has taken major strides to restore that unit, first by signing Seattle free-agent cornerback Byron Maxwell to a $63 million deal, then by adding a couple of under-the-radar players in slot corners Walter Thurmond and E.J. Biggers. And now trading up for Utah’s Eric Rowe gives the Eagles another secondary player that should start in Week 1.

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#Eagles trade: 2d rd pick (52) and two 5th rd picks (145 and 156) to Miami for 2nd rd pick (47) and 6th rd pick (191). Got Eric Rowe.

— Jeff McLane (@Jeff_McLane) May 2, 2015"

Rowe is a similar player to Maxwell, and they’re both perfect fits for what Kelly wants to do on the defensive side of the ball. They’re tall, long and can play press coverage.

Rowe, in particular, has the ability to play both cornerback and safety. He was a four-year starter at Utah, the first three at safety and the final one at corner, so where the Eagles do decide to play him in 2015 still depends.

As a corner, Rowe becomes one of the bigger players in the league at his position, at 6’1”, 205 pounds and with a 4.45 40-yard dash. As a safety, he’s like Jenkins in that he has the athleticism to line up head-to-head over wide receivers, which is one of Kelly’s preferences among his safeties.

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Eric Rowe’s spider graphs look nice for both cornerback and safety: http://t.co/JWRtGFj31Epic.twitter.com/oEHeHXtqcE

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— Brandon Lee Gowton (@BrandonGowton) May 2, 2015

It’s a great value pick for the Eagles, but also one that fills a glaring need, and that’s why Kelly felt the need to trade up for the athletic Rowe.

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Eric Rowe tested in the 94th percentile by his position at the Combine, according to his SPARQ chart. Fantastic athlete. #Eagles

— Bryn Swartz (@eaglescentral) May 2, 2015

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Per Bleeding Green Nation, the Eagles had shown extensive interest in Rowe. They visited him, talked with him at the Senior Bowl, attended his pro day and had him in for a workout. In fact, Kelly said Rowe was one of the two corners the Eagles really wanted from this draft.

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Chip Kelly: We had Byron Jones and Eric Rowe as the two DBs we targeted.

— Jeff McLane (@Jeff_McLane) May 2, 2015

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Apparently, the feeling was mutual, as Rowe said he was a big fan of the Eagles organization.

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Eric Rowe said his last visit was to the #Eagles, and the culture stood out. Said he instantly wanted to join.

— Eliot Shorr-Parks (@EliotShorrParks) May 2, 2015

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It probably makes sense for the Eagles to play Rowe at the strong safety spot next to Jenkins so Thurmond and Boykin can rotate at the other starting cornerback spot opposite Maxwell. But if they want to play him at corner, that's two corners that are a huge step up from last year's tandem of Cary Williams and Bradley Fletcher.

Either way, that’s a substantially improved secondary from the group that was repeatedly torched down the stretch in 2014.