Ron Brooks has started just three games at cornerback in his four-year NFL career. His new three-year contract with the Eagles, worth $5.55 million, $1.55 million guaranteed, would seem to reflect his role as a reserve with his new team.
Yet when Brooks met with the media on Thursday, the veteran defensive back conceded nothing. He's here to compete for a job, just like everybody else.
"What role do I expect? Corner," Brooks answered bluntly. "I'm coming here to start. I'm not here to sit and take a backseat to anybody, just as I would expect the same mentality from [Eagles safety Rodney McLeod] or anybody else that comes and plays for this team.
"Nobody is looking to be the backup. Everybody is coming to play."
While the prospect of Brooks' winning a starting job out of training camp is unlikely, his carving out a niche in the Eagles' defense isn't improbable. After all, he is one of three free-agent additions that played for defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz before, a fact that made Brooks' decision to sign on the dotted line much easier.
"I was excited when I heard Coach Schwartz wanted me to come and play this defense," Brooks said. "It's been proven and it's been shown that it works and the mentality and scheme he brings to this organization is definitely going to be something to see.
"I had a few other offers, but this was the most vocal, most serious, most into-me team. That was obvious from the beginning, so that was a big decision in me coming here."
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Brooks joins cornerback Leodis McKelvin and linebacker Nigel Bradham as Bills castoffs who are jumping ship to the Eagles this offseason. Not coincidentally, all three played under Schwartz in 2014, his only season with the team.
McKelvin and Bradham are expected to compete for starting jobs. That wasn't necessarily true in Brooks' case, but he believes the experience in Schwartz's system gives him an advantage, and that he's exactly the type of cornerback the coach is looking for.
"I will say it kind of puts us ahead of the learning curve, because if you're just getting into the defense, it's gonna hit you pretty hard at first," Brooks said.
"I think I'm that type of corner Schwartz is looking for as far as, I can come and press you or whatever. It's that type of defense. He's looking for physical players on the defensive side that can come in and get in your face and lock up on the outside."
Brooks has 74 tackles and seven pass breakups in 47 career games, so again, if he's the Eagles' starter in Week 1, it would be a surprise, even if the depth chart is wide open beyond second-year corner Eric Rowe.
Still, there's no accounting for experience, and Schwartz clearly wanted his guys on the roster. And just like McKelvin and Bradham, Brooks had his most productive season in '14 with 34 tackles.
"If you look at the stats for any of us, I feel like in that type of defense we had our best production with that scheme that he had," Brooks said. "I'm excited to get back to it and be reunited with Schwartz and be a part of this Eagles organization and bring that mentality of defense to Philly."
Even if a starting job isn't in Brooks' future, the Eagles are getting a player who contributes on special teams. He's ready and willing to help the team by any means necessary, even if that's in a more unorthodox role for a defensive back.
"I'm looking forward to being a gunner, punt returner, kickoffs, I'll kick the field goals," Brooks said to laughter. "Whatever I can do to help."
Maybe Brooks can even jump into the impending kicking competition between Cody Parkey and Caleb Sturgis.
"My longest field goal? 38 yards," he said. "I don't think they want me to kick for distance, but I'll definitely give it a try."