As I was finishing this, the Eagles announced the release of Cary Williams via their Twitter account. IT seems that the franchise is planning on being aggressive in both free agency: freeing up cap space along the offensive line & secondary, so far, that will likely go to replacements for those players cut. Now seems as good a time as ever to bring this up as his replacement could well come from one of the teams discussed below. It is no secret that the CBs who played in Seattle & San Francisco last year are going to be highly sought on the free agent market. So let’s get started with the matching game:
Arizona Cardinals
Darnell Dockett, Antonia Cromartie, Dan Williams
Let’s start with the newest addition to the list. Darnell Dockett is a 10-year NFL veteran who, at 33 years old, became a Cardinal cap casualty last week: saving Arizona nearly $7M in salary relief moving into 2015. Alliteration aside, the question becomes can he still perform? He missed all of last season with a torn ACL. In 2013, he started 16 games and tallied 46 tackles & five sacks. If the Eagles are wary of bringing back DeMeco Ryans for next season, then Dockett isn’t their guy. Cromartie, on the other hand, very well may be. At 30 years old, he is still young enough to get paid well in a short contract. If the Eagles miss out on the younger options—many of whom are listed below—he may be a solid short-term contributor until draft picks develop. ProFootball Focus (PFF) rated him the 45th best cornerback in the NFL last season: immediately behind Byron Maxwell & three spots above Cary Williams. Playing over 1,000 snaps, he had three interceptions, six passes defensed, and allowed 59% of passes his way to be completed for an average of 14.6 yards/completion. Again, at this stage of his career, he isn’t a shutdown guy but he is a guy that could at least be an improvement over the current roster options. Dan Williams is a classically built 3-4 NT: standing 6”2’ & tipping the scales at 327 lbs. He is entering free agency at the right time having just finished his best year yet according to PFF. He graded out as the 14th best NT in the NFL. A cardinal concern for Williams is, and always has been, his ability to play given his stature. He may be massive but could possibly be too big to fit into an athletic two-gap system like the one the Eagles employ. There are other names to consider on this roster: Tedd Ginn Jr, Paul Fanaika, etc. If the Eagles are serious about improving the roster—top-to-bottom—then those guys would be last resorts to bigger/better free agent names.
San Francisco 49ers
Dan Skuta, Chris Culliver, Perrish Cox, Mike Iupati, Michael Crabtree,
Here’s where we really start getting into some prospects the Eagles could/should target. Playing just 391 snaps, Skuta was the 29th best OLB in the NFL according to Pro Football Focus. In that time, he still managed four sacks & eight QB hurries. While he doesn’t grade out well in coverage, he can help in the run game. He is—for lack of a better comparison—the 49ers version of Brandon Graham: a part time guy who gets after the passer. Culliver was among the league leaders in interceptions last year with four picks. He allows just 50% of balls in his direction to be caught and gave up just 119 total yards-after-the-catch on 37 receptions. He fits the Kelly mold as a six-footer who is just 26 years old. Cox—though not the same caliber as Culliver—is another CB to consider. He is 28 years old who manages to find his way to the ball: totaling 54 tackles, five interceptions, and 17 passes defensed while playing 965 snaps last year. Truth be told, either one of these guys is light years better than Bradley Fletcher & an improvement on Cary Williams. Mike Iupati is about to be an insanely well-paid 27 year old. The soon-to-be fifth year guard out of the University of Idaho is as impactful a run-blocker as any in the NFL. He was the 17th pick overall in 2010 & has worked out well in the Bay area ever since: making the NFL All-Rookie team, followed by a Pro Bowl & All-Pro nod in 2012. While he is not as prolific in pass protection, the zone blocking schemes employed by Chip Kelly may allow Iupati to flourish in this offense. If the Eagles just dumped Herremans to move money to another standout guard, this guy could be it. While Iupati has lived up to first round expectations, Crabtree has certainly not done so. Coming out of Texas Tech in 2009, he was the 10th overall pick for the 49ers. Unfortunately, he has been unable to replicate his best season from 2012 when he went for 80+ catches, 1000+ yards, and 9 touchdowns. In fact, in the two combined years since 2012, he has less than 90 total receptions for less than 1000 yards and just 5 scores. The fact is, he hasn’t been the same since his Achilles injury. The Eagles need to improve the caliber of the WR corps & Crabtree is too unreliable or damaged or, more likely, both.
Seattle Seahawks
Byron Maxwell, James Carpenter
Honestly, how many people scrolled down here—skipping what’s above—because they just wanted to get to Byron Maxwell? Hopefully, the personnel department at Novacare looks into everyone. But if the Eagles dropped gobs of cash on Maxwell on March 10th, it seems like no one would be disappointed. Which is interesting because, according to ProFootball Focus, he had an average 2014 at best: finishing as the 45th rated CB in the NFL. Opposing QBs were completing 63.4% of passes targeting Maxwell for an average of 12.6 yards per completion. This is a significant increase from the year before: when he allowed just 51% for 11.9 yards/reception. Still, he is a physical corner with the build that Kelly covets. More importantly, he comes from a winning culture and can bring serious swagger & credibility to a secondary that—as currently comprised—has a legitimate leader in Malcolm Jenkins, an overrated loudmouth in Cary Williams, and a couple cold bodies in Nate Allen & Bradley Fletcher. James Carpenter, though he will likely get paid because he won a Super Bowl in Seattle, is not a great fit for the Eagles. He is a pigeon-holed left guard who doesn’t hold up well in run blocking. Don’t get confused, Seattle has had an incredible running game since Carpenter entered the league in 2011. This is the result of having Marshawn Lynch carrying the ball: not in having Carpenter seal off running lanes. Surprisingly, there is little else the Seahawks have to offer in free agency. The organization does a good job of locking up their young talent. Anyone else moving from Seattle to Philly would add to a stellar special teams unit or provide depth. Other names to keep in the back of your head: O’Brien Schofield & Jeron Johnson.
St. Louis Rams
Kendall Langford, Kenny Britt
Kendall Langford is an interesting name. Despite playing limited time—just 494 snaps—he managed a sack & 10 QB hurries. This is the result of playing with one of the best pass rush units in the NFL. That front-seven in St. Louis is no joke & Langford plays a minor supporting role. Still, though, there has to be some talent there if he is getting any playing time at all in Fisher’s defense. The list of WRs that outperformed Riley Cooper continues to add to the argument for Cooper’s dismissal before 2015 kickoff. Kenny Britt last year signed a 1 year, $1.4M prove it deal with the Rams after being released by the Titans following the 2013 season. The 6’3”, 215 lb WR responded by catching 48 balls for 748 yards & three scores. Compare that with Cooper (6’3”, 220 lbs.) who caught 55 balls for 573 yards & three touchdowns but just finished the first of a five year, $22.5M deal. Kenny Britt graded out higher than the following WRs, according to PFF: Keenan Allen, Michael Floyd, Torrey Smith, Andre Johnson, DeSean Jackson, & Steven Smith. The problem is Britt’s off-the-field troubles with the police. He seems to have problems staying away from trouble. Whether it is because his friends are being stabbed or Britt being arrested following police chases, the law seems to find him. Any kind of rap sheet is a problem for Kelly…just ask DeSean Jackson. So don’t bank of Britt landing at Lincoln Financial Field anytime soon.
