As Malcolm Jenkins appears to be bracing for a possible holdout and as Rodney McLeod has a giant brace on his surgically repaired knee, the Eagles are reportedly working out another safety.
This time, they’re looking at a guy with plenty of starting experience.
“With no end is sight,” is an interesting way for Schefter to put it. So far, everything Jenkins has missed has been voluntary. Next week’s mandatory minicamp is the first mandatory portion of the offseason. If Jenkins misses that, he’d could be fined $88,650, according to the 2011 CBA. Jenkins has two years left on his deal but has outplayed his current contract, which makes him the ninth highest-paid safety in the NFL in terms of average per year.
Cyprien, 28, has played and started 70 games in his career. The former second-round pick out of Florida International has never played in a game that he didn’t start. But he missed the entire 2018 season with an ACL tear and played just 10 games in 2017. His first four years in the league were with Jacksonville and he played the 2017 season with the Titans.
He was a decent strong safety, with some ability to play linebacker, but playing just 10 games in two years is notable. He reportedly worked out with the Colts on Monday.
In recent weeks, free agent pickup Andrew Sendejo and Tre Sullivan have been working as the Eagles’ first-team safeties. McLeod and Jenkins are obviously the starters when they’re healthy and present, but that could be a while. McLeod began to practice on Monday, but isn’t ready for everything yet and there’s “no end is sight” with Jenkins, according to Schefter.
NFL
If the Eagles sign Cyprien, it could also be bad news for Sendejo. The 31-year-old safety has looked good this spring, but the Eagles could cut him before the season to recoup a 2020 fourth-round compensatory pick. Since we’re past May 8, signing Cyprien wouldn’t count toward the compensatory pick formula.
The Eagles this offseason brought back former draft pick Blake Countess too. They also still have cornerback Avonte Maddox, who filled in admirably at safety as a rookie.
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