Since the Eagles drafted Sidney Jones and Rasul Douglas in the 2017 NFL Draft last month, the comparison between the rookie duo and the Eagles' last formidable cornerback, Lito Sheppard and Sheldon Brown, has been on the tips of every fan's tongue.
But according to Troy Vincent, at least one of the rookies reminds him of another former Pro Bowl cornerback.
"[Douglas] moved very well," Vincent explained. "[He's] a big, long kid. Reminded me a little bit of Bobby Taylor. Probably a bit better quickness. He was smooth."
The Taylor comparison is actually a pretty good one for Douglas, who is a big, physical cornerback. Taylor stood 6'3" and weighed in at 216 pounds, just a bit bigger than the 6'2", 209-pound Douglas.
Both players played a hard-nosed physical style of football while lined up across the field from a more coverage-savvy cornerback. In Taylor's case, that was Vincent. In Douglas's case, the Eagles are hoping that is Sidney Jones, who is still recovering from a torn Achilles tendon he suffered during pre-draft workouts.
However, it remains to be seen whether Douglas has the speed and agility to hang with NFL wide receivers. In college, Douglas could use his big frame to bully opposing receivers into the sideline, but now when he's going to be lining up against big guys like Dez Bryant and quick guys like Odell Beckham Jr., it seems like he'll need to learn how to hang in there against receivers he can't physically dominate.
But for Alshon Jeffery, Douglas's assignment for practice this week, it is apparent the rookie will be able to make something of himself in the NFL.
"He’s a big corner for a rookie," Jeffery explained. "He plays pretty physical, but at the same time, I am trying to get the best out of anyone who’s out there guarding me. I am excited about what he brings to the team. My job is to get him better and his job is to get me better."
The fact that Douglas will be going up against a receiver of Jeffery's caliber in practice over the next few months will certainly help him out a lot more than say, covering Nelson Agholor or Dorial Green-Beckham on the practice field.
It is hard to say whether or not Douglas will be a quality NFL cornerback based off of a few practices and complements, but after years of futility and mismatches at the cornerback position, it sure is nice for the Eagles to have something to be positive about as they head in to the 2017 season.
