Cornerbacks

 

It appears that, amongst other teams, Howie Roseman and company have reached out to star cornerback Stephon Gilmore.  Last year, Gilmore, 31, was on the PUP list when he arrived via trade (a 3^rd round pick to New England) in Carolina, still recovering from offseason surgery on a torn quad.  He was not activated till Week 8 and played the final eight games, starting three.  He managed 2 big interceptions during that time.  He had looked forward to returning near his home in (Rock Hill, South) Carolina.

At his peak, Gilmore was a shutdown No. 1 corner.  In New England, he did just that… pretty much “shut down” an opposing receiver, allowing them to use the rest of the defense to concentrate on other threats.  But Gilmore has been hurt and therefore in decline these past 2 seasons.  While still in position to be an adequate or perhaps even good corner, that will be predicated on his health.  And his elite level skills are likely history, with a much lower up side now. 

The Eagles currently have veteran Darius Slay, coming off a pro bowl season, and Avonte Maddox in the slot, re-signed last year after he has found the cornerback spot where he can excel.  Beyond that, the Eagles have collected a group of young cornerbacks all acquired in the last calendar year.   Here they are, all 24 or younger:

• Kary Vincent Jr. (5-10, 189): Drafted in the 7^th round in ‘21 by Denver. Traded to the Eagles for their ‘22 6th rounder last November.  Vincent Jr. is FAST… He was part of the SEC Championship 4×100 meter relay team and ran an eye opening 4.33 40-yard dash at LSU’s 2021 Pro Day.  A developmental player, he was rostered by Denver but had not gotten a defensive snap.  In 3 seasons at LSU, he appeared in 39 games (19 starts) with 87 tackles, 1 sack, 6 picks and 16 pass break-ups.  He was part of the ’19 LSU National Championship team.  Vincent got 29 defensive snaps in the Birds meaningless week 18 game vs. Dallas, so was part of the overmatched defensive group playing against Dak Prescott & the other Dallas Cowboy starters (Dak went 21-27 for 295 yds and 5 TD’s). 
• Tay Gowan (6-1, 186): Drafted in the 6th round in ‘21 by Arizona. He had been a top 8 rated corner by PFF in last years NFL draft.  Per Howie Roseman, the Eagles had been “high” on Gowan in last year’s draft… “He was somebody that we would have considered with our 6^th round pick... He went right before we picked, and he’s a long corner. He’s got tremendous speed.”  Subsequently, he was traded to the Eagles as part of the package for Zach Ertz last October.  He was viewed by the Cardinals as a developmental player, but the Cardinals moved him to acquire Ertz. The Eagles view him the same way.  He has good speed (4.44 40).  He fits defensive coordinator Jonathan Gannon’s cover 2 scheme with that speed and his physicality.  Like Vincent Jr., Gowan got 28 defensive snaps in the Birds meaningless week 18 game vs. the Cowboys.   
• Mac McCain III (6-0, 175): Undrafted Rookie Free Agent in ’21, he was claimed from Denver by the Eagles last September, and immediately made his Eagle NFL debut as a special teamer covering punt returns.  A testament to hard work and dedication, he’s a 3-time All-Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference selection who, in college, showed an ability to read the qb and break on the ball (8 picks, 3 returned for TD’s, & 30 pass deflections).  Another victim in the Eagles week 18 struggle vs. the Cowboys, McCain got 11 of the defensive snaps that day.
• Josiah Scott (5-9, 185): Drafted in the 6^th round in ‘20 by Jacksonville, he was traded to the Eagles last May for Jameson Houston and a ‘23 6^th round pick.  Forced prematurely into the lineup due to injuries, he played in 6 games as a Jaguar rookie nickel corner (80 snaps), then beaten out by 7^th round Jag rookie Chris Claybrooks (Scott gave up an opposing passer rating of 112.5).   But it was argued Scott was not a good scheme fit under perceived incompetent head coach Urban Meyer.  Entering the league, Scott was well-regarded for his technique and fundamentals, with good speed (4.42 40) and experience playing outside (he was used inside by Jacksonville).  He was also noted for positively for his aggressive play, since his downside is his relatively diminutive size.  In college at Michigan State he routinely made plays that looked a whole lot “bigger” than expected from a 5’9” corner (In the past, defensive coordinator Gannon has shown a liking to blitzing his corners from time to time).
• Zech McPhearson (5-11, 191): was drafted in the 4^th round in 2021 by the Eagles in last years April NFL draft.  McPherson really opened eyes at training camp last season, and though the Eagles tip corners had no major injuries, took advantage of his opportunities and played pretty well in limited (179) defensive snaps during the 2021 season (He was a core special teams guy).  He gave up a 69.7 QB rating per PFF.  He has solid man coverage skills and knows what he’s doing in the Eagle zone defenses.  If the Eagles do not acquire a “name” FA corner, nor draft a corner with a premium pick, McPherson has the best chance to take Steve Nelson’s job this coming season.

Per head coach Sirianni last year, “A premium position like that, corners, there are so many teams that don't have corner depth. So, just like we think about with the offense and defensive line, that's another position right there at cornerback that we want to build depth on and want to get the young players in that we feel good about.”  Per defensive backs coach Dennard Wilson, “When you get around them, you have to figure out their personalities first and foremost before you coach them… Just getting them here and getting to know them, see how they work, how they operate. That’s huge in coaching. Just getting the feel for those guys … Because you know what buttons to push, you know how they remember things. Everybody learns differently.”

In addition to “learning how they need to learn,” these kids need to learn technique and scheme.  Vets like Slay help, making sure they can remain aggressive.    And also back on the roster is Craig James, a tough special-teams standout who when forced into action due to front line injuries during the Jim Schwartz era.  While he  fell behind the above younger options in 2021, he’ll be back too.

 

Eagles Lessons: Slay will be 31 next season, and in the last year of a multi-year deal.  The Eagles will need to “protect their future” at corner.  While Gilmore is a possible answer for 2022, that carries risk given his recent (injury) history, and if he is an answer in ’22, he’s certainly not a long-term solution.  Do not expect a free agency signing at CB until the Eagles see what options flow their way (or don’t) in next month’s NFL draft.  But they have certainly appeared to roster “young volume” with the possibility one or more can deliver meaningful (and inexpensive) quality NFL snaps sometime soon.