The change of address for cornerbacks Bradley Fletcher and Cary Williams was a welcome sight after what could only be described as an embarrassing showing in 2014. Their seeming incapacity compromised an otherwise respectable defense: the secondary last season posted the second-worst effort against the pass, allowing the fourth most thrown touchdowns (30) and the second-most passing yards per game (258).
The silver lining in that cloud could be safety Malcolm Jenkins, who, in his second season with the Eagles over from the Saints, will likely start opposite Earl Wolff at the position. Rookie Eric Rowe, Walter Thurmond, and Byron Maxwell fill out the corners.
And while Thurmond got a one-year deal, the Eagles went all-out on Maxwell, giving him a six year contract worth $63 million. They clearly believe Maxwell will be their No. 1 corner for the long-term. Are they right?
The optimism with which they planted their flag for Maxwell could have arisen from the fact that the Eagles haven't had a franchise corner of their own for a fair amount of time. Asante Samuel, who left in 2011, rings a bell as the last.
Maxwell has repaid the Eagles with some optimism of his own, guaranteeing (gulp) that Philadelphia will represent the NFC in Super Bowl 50.
Drafted in the sixth round of the 2011 NFL Draft by the Seahawks, Maxwell has only 17 starts to his credit in four seasons. Seattle eased him into their gameplan, starting him out on special teams before having enough faith to pit him opposite Richard Sherman against some of the best in the NFL. He faced first and second wide receivers from then on, including Dez Bryant and Jordy Nelson.
The results were inspiring, and Maxwell largely held his own as the No. 2 behind Sherman on a Super Bowl run and a pair of NFC Championships as a member of the Legion of Boom.
He steadily improved in production during his time with Seattle, compiling 82 career tackles, three forced fumbles, recovering three, and adding six interceptions. Last season was his best (39 tackles, 2 INT, 39 return yards). His interception of Aaron Rodgers in last year's NFC Championship helped propel the Seahawks into their second straight Super Bowl appearance.
The Eagles' secondary is more or less a blank slate for him to make his own. He'll have enough help in front of him in a front seven that ranked with the elite in football last season. Their deep linebacking corps and an attacking defensive line will give him (and whoever ends up opposite him in the other corner, likely Nolan Carroll) to establish themselves without too much pressure.
He has all the cliched makings of a pro cornerback (and pretty much every other position): size, speed, versatility, leadership, confidence, work ethic, and good hands. All things Chip Kelly knew he had when he approved the deal.
"When you see him in person, you see how big and tall and long he is and what a disruptive force he is," Kelly said in June. "He had a good game against us. If you ask Jordan [Matthews, Eagles wide receiver], he would say he was the best cover guy that he faced last year as a rookie."
Maxwell & Co. held the Eagles to 10 completions in December for all of 96 yards (and 57 yards rushing). Zach Ertz led Philadelphia with 39 yards in a dreary 10-point defeat.
Kelly saw something that day he knew he wanted on his roster. Armed with fistfulls of Jeffrey Lurie's cash, he got it.
Maxwell was a major move for the Eagles to take to repair a major issue of theirs last season. His youth and increasing productivity, combined with ample help in front of him, will help him to lock down at least half the defensive backfield as the Eagles look to mount a much-needed postseason run in Chip Kelly's third year at the helm.
With respect to Fletcher and Williams, the unit very nearly had nowhere to go but up.
@MrJamesParks
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