Eagles Secondary Beginning to Take Shape

With the Washington Redskins signing Ronald Darby over the weekend to a 1-year deal the secondary for defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz begins to take shape.

The team made a big trade with Detroit, landing Darius Slay, nailing down one side of the field for Schwartz's secondary. Who will play opposite him is still a major question mark for a team what gave up a ton of yards through the air last season.

Darby and Jalen Mills were the Eagles two best corners last season, but their impact wasn't great, leaving the team to look for an upgrade this offseason.  The team went out and not only acquired Slay, but added Nickell Robey-Coleman and Will Parks in free agency, meaning its likely that two-thirds of their corners will be new this season.

The team's current options are to use Avonte Maddox on the outside, or allow Sidney Jones and Rasul Douglas to battle it out in a winner take all training camp matchup.

They could also draft a corner at No. 21, which would enter extra competition at that position in camp.

While Ohio State's Jeff Okudah, the top corner in this years class will be off-the-board, Florida's C.J. Henderson, Clemson's A.J. Terrell, Alabama's Trevon Diggs or LSU's Kristian Fulton would each be interesting options that should be available when the Eagles selection comes up.

As of right now, I expect the depth chart to look as follows:

CB - Darius Slay
CB - Sidney Jones
Slot - Nickell Robey-Coleman
SS - Jalen Mills
FS - Rodney McLeod

That would be your most likely starting group, getting the most snaps.  In a reserve role, Will Parks, Avonte Maddox, Rasul Douglas and Cre'Von LeBlanc would provide depth.

While replacing Malcolm Jenkins will be difficult, the Eagles should have more depth, and at least will have a top-level corner in Slay, and Robey-Coleman should be an upgrade in the slot.

More work needs to be done, but the secondary should be better in 2020 than it was in each of the past two seasons.