Guess who ranked next-to-last in opposing passing yards per game (287.2)? Now guess who surrendered the fourth most receiving touchdowns (30) in the NFL last year? If you guessed the Philadelphia Eagles for both, congratulations, you're either an unhappy fan or a newly discovered psychic.
Either way, you know that Philly's pass defense was borderline unwatchable by season's end. Cornerback Bradley Fletcher and safety Nate Allen are set to become free agents next month, and the Eagles are happy to look for replacements this offseason. While many mock drafts have them selecting a cornerback in the first round of the upcoming NFL draft, ESPN's Phil Sheridan believes the team should try to address its secondary woes in free agency.
"While the Eagles should be adding the best players they can find in the secondary and elsewhere, their pressing needs at corner and safety can be better addressed in free agency," Sheridan wrote.
"Look at last year's draft. At the spot the Eagles are picking this year - No. 20 overall - there was a cluster of defensive backs available. Six DBs were selected between No. 21 and the end of the first round. Three were cornerbacks, two were safeties and one was a college safety moved to nickel cornerback."
Sheridan goes on to point out that while safeties Ha Ha Clinton-Dix and Deone Bucannon had solid rookie seasons, neither of the four corners impressed their teams very much. With a free agent class that is filled with proven veterans, Sheridan believes the open market is the route Philly should follow up on for secondary help.
"The Eagles should be in that market," Sheridan wrote. In addition to Seattle Seahawks cornerback Byron Maxwell, "there are several other interesting players who are due to be free agents: the Houston Texans' Kareem Jackson, San Diego's Brandon Flowers, and San Francisco's Chris Cook and Perrish Cox are all young enough and experienced enough to attract the Eagles' interest," he added.
Sheridan also includes New England's Devin McCourty and Baltimore's Will Hill as possible options at safety.
Adding a long-term solution through the draft is always a quality strategy. But if the Eagles are looking for instant gratification, then dipping their toes into the free agent market may be their best bet.