Reuben Frank and Dave Zangaro bring back Stay or Go in 2022, trying to figure out the futures of every Eagles player on the roster.
We already looked at receivers.
Up today: Cornerbacks.
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Tay Gowan
Roob:There’s not much to go on with Gowan, who only got into two games this year, and one was the meaningless Cowboys season finale. He was a 6th-round pick of the Cards last year, he’s got nice size at 6-2, 185 and he ran 4.41 at his pro day so he can scoot. Whether he can earn a roster spot remains to be seen, but he’s got some encouraging traits and will likely get a long look at training camp. And while he might become one of those guys who bounces around between the practice squad and roster, I don’t see him on next year’s opening-day 53.
Verdict: Goes
Dave: We didn’t get to see too much of Gowan in 2021. He played just 44 total defensive snaps and 28 of them came in the regular season finale. But the Eagles liked Gowan coming out of UCF in the sixth round and when they traded Zach Ertz to Arizona, they made sure Gowan was part of the return. While Gowan wasn’t the centerpiece of that return, obviously, he has some upside. While he’s already 24, Gowan has good length and seems like he could be a good fit in Jonathan Gannon’s zone-heavy scheme. I think the Eagles keep him around.
NFL
Verdict: Stays
Craig James
Roob: James has bounced around since 2018 and has been on and off the Eagles’ roster and practice squad since 2019. The Eagles seemed to like him as a backup outside corner at one point, but he’s only played in four games over the last two years, playing just 15 defensive snaps, so it sure seems like his days here are numbered.
Verdict: Goes
Dave: The Eagles once considered James to be one of their top special teamers but he didn’t play for them in 2021. Instead, he was on the practice squad and was signed to a futures deal after the season ended. It would take a pretty great training camp for him to make the roster this year.
Verdict: Goes
Avonte Maddox
Roob: The big plays weren’t there, but Maddox was one of the Eagles’ most consistent defensive players this year, and even though he wasn’t a full-time starter he still played the 5th-most snaps on defense. Thankfully, the Eagles figured out Maddox is not an outside corner, but back home inside he showed toughness and excellent tackling ability, he was solid in coverage and he gave the secondary a measure of toughness it really needed. Now signed through 2024, thankfully Maddox isn’t going anywhere.
Verdict: Stays
Dave: Maddox had a great season in 2021 and earned a three-year contract worth $22.5 million during the season. It was clear in 2020 that he wasn’t the best fit at the CB2 job opposite Darius Slay and when the Eagles signed Steven Nelson the biggest byproduct was that Maddox went back to his role as a nickel corner. That’s where Maddox belongs, in the slot. And as long as the Eagles keep him there, he’s an important part of their defense.
Verdict: Stays
Mac McCain III
Roob: Another one of the fast, young, unproven corners Howie Roseman was accumulating last year, McCain bounced back and forth between the Eagles and Broncos this past season. He got into a couple games for the Eagles, mainly on special teams, and although the Eagles will presumably get a long look at him in camp there’s no reason to think he’ll ever be a contributor.
Verdict: Goes
Dave: The Eagles and Broncos played tug-o-war with McCain throughout his rookie season. Eventually, he finished the year on the Eagles’ practice squad and signed a futures deal when the season ended. McCain played 33 special teams snaps with the Eagles as a rookie but I don’t think that’s going to be enough to keep him around.
Verdict: Goes
Zech McPhearson
Roob: Darius Slay and Steven Nelson played almost every snap this year, but when they didn’t, McPhearson got some valuable work as the No. 3 outside corner. He took his lumps, but you could tell he really battled no matter who he was matched up against. McPhearson has a long way to go, and it’s not likely he’ll ever be a full-time starting cornerback, but you would hope for a big jump in Year 2.
Verdict: Stays
Dave: The Eagles used a fourth-round pick on McPhearson out of Texas Tech and while he didn’t play a ton on defense in 2021, he made the most of his chances when he filled in. Where he really shined was on special teams, where he played 325 snaps, the most of any player on the roster. And by the end of the season, he was the Eagles’ top gunner on the punt team. The Eagles are obviously hoping McPhearson can continue to develop as a cornerback but if he’s just a special teamer in 2022, he’s still clearly worth the roster spot.
Verdict: Stays
Steven Nelson
Roob: Nelson was a perfectly fine CB2 this year, but since Nelson is 29 and Darius Slay is 31, it just makes sense for the Eagles to draft a corner in the 1st or 2nd round, and it makes for Nelson to look for the type of long-term multi-million-dollar contract the Eagles aren’t going to give him. The Eagles need to get younger and faster and more athletic in the secondary, so with Nelson it’s thanks for your service, best of luck at your next stop.
Verdict: Goes
Dave: The Eagles waited a while to sign Nelson but when they landed him in July on a modest one-year, $3 million deal they solidified the position. Nelson was plugged in at that CB2 job opposite Slay and had a really solid season in 2021. Could the Eagles sign him to a deal again? Perhaps. But Nelson should want to test free agency and my guess is he gets a decent contract to play elsewhere. The Eagles, ideally, would get a little younger and cheaper at the position.
Verdict: Goes
Josiah Scott
Roob: Another 2021 Howie Roseman acquisition that we don’t know much about, but the thing about Scott is that whenever he did play, you tended to notice him. He was active on special teams, and he even had an effort sack in the meaningless Dallas game. He’s definitely a slot, and the Jaguars liked him enough to draft him in the 4th round two years ago, so he’s got some traits. All these guys are longshots, but one of them will probably be a keeper, and for me it’s Scott. I like what I’ve seen from him.
Verdict: Stays
Dave: The Eagles traded Jameson Houston and a 2023 sixth-round pick in May to bring in Scott from the Jaguars, who used a fourth-round pick on him in 2020. The Michigan State product, nicknamed the “Gnat,” didn’t play much with the Eagles in Year 2 on defense, totaling 90 snaps. But he ended up being a big special teams contributor and in the playoff game played 27 of 28 special teams snaps and was the other gunner on the punt team. The Eagles seem to like Scott, so I have him taking one of the last cornerback spots.
Verdict: Stays
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Darius Slay
Roob: Slay was very good last year but this year he really blossomed as a Pro Bowl cornerback. According to Pro Football Focus, quarterbacks throwing his way when he was in single coverage had an NFL-low 25.6 passer rating this year, which is remarkable. Slay is 31 now and he’s at the age where cornerbacks start to decline, so it’s something we need to keep an eye on that. But we didn’t see any signs of it this year. He’s a stud.
Verdict: Stays
Dave: After a good season in 2020, Slay was great in 2021. He was an obvious Pro Bowler and should have warranted more consideration as an All-Pro player. This past season, he played the cornerback position at the highest level we’ve seen in this city since Asante Samuel a decade ago. Still under contract for two more seasons, Slay is back in 2022 and the Eagles will need him to play at the same level again.
Verdict: Stays
Kary Vincent Jr.
Roob: What do we know about Vincent? About as much as we know about Gowan, McCain and Scott. Another young prospect, another late-round pick (Cards 7thround), another guy who barely played, another guy we’ll see a lot of in training camp. Ultimately, another guy who’s a longshot to survive final roster cuts.
Verdict: Goes
Dave: The Eagles traded a sixth-round pick for Vincent in November to pry him away from the Broncos, who drafted him in the seventh round last year. So the Eagles clearly liked something about Vincent, who didn’t really get a chance to play much as a late arrival. My last spot at CB came down to Gowan vs. Vincent and it could go either way. But we saw more of Gowan this year and I’m giving him the edge because of it.
Verdict: Goes