The Eagles will be without their captain and starting safety Rodney McLeod for the remainder of the season, and likely the beginning of next season, as he recovers from a torn ACL.
The secondary found itself in shambles on Sunday afternoon as McLeod, Darius Slay, and Avonte Maddox were all sidelined with various injuries. With Maddox and McLeod surely missing time and Slay in concussion protocol the team will have some adjustments to make on the backend. Here are three things to expect with the team missing at least two of four starting defensive backs.
There’s going to be a lot on Jalen Mills’ plate
The former seventh-round draft pick has shown some versatility in his switch from cornerback to safety. He is one of Jim Schwartz’s favorite players as he plays with tenacity and attitude – even if he isn’t the most physically gifted player on the field.
The fifth-year player has learned first-hand from locker room leaders like McLeod and Malcolm Jenkins so now’s the time to put their lessons into action as he takes control of the defensive backfield.
It’s your time now bro!!!! Made for it!! Show the world.. https://t.co/1rPaETEXxT
— Rodney McLeod (@Rodney_McLeod4) December 14, 2020
With McLeod on the sideline, I expect Schwartz to use Mills’ versatility to his advantage. I think he’ll line up all over the field – as a deep safety, an extra man in the box, and even at cornerback.
Expanded roles for Marcus Epps and K’Von Wallace
With one safety down and one possibly moving to corner two young safeties in Epps and Wallace can – and will – find more playing time,
Epps came to the Eagles by way of a waiver claim last season. He was a sixth-round pick in 2019, so he’s still young in his NFL career. Known mostly for his special teams’ ability he will be leaned on a little more in the coming weeks.
Most Eagles fans already know Wallace, this year’s fourth-round pick, and have been dying for him to see the field. They’ll get their wish as the season winds down.
Epps and Wallace played 35 and 28 snaps respectively on Sunday against the Saints. When the team cut safety Will Parks on Dec. 1 it was implied the team wanted to move in a younger direction. Now that McLeod is out the two will have plenty of time to play and grow.
The team will have to address the position in the offseason
The Eagles secondary is subpar; that’s putting it gently.
McLeod’s a fine player. Mills is OK, though he draws a ton of ire from fans.
Darius Slay is doing the best he can. Most of the season he played a good brand of football, but back-to-back poor performances against DK Metcalf and Davante Adams loom large overhead. While they’re two of the top receivers in the game you expect more from your 50 million dollar cornerback.
Aside from that, the team has a ton of question marks. Like how will McLeod recover from another torn ACL? What is Avonte Maddox’s ceiling and is he anything other than a depth guy? How will Marcus Epps and K’Von Wallace grow? Mills, Nickell Robey-Coleman, and Cre’Von LeBlanc are all on expiring contracts, too.
I’d assume Robey-Coleman is out, LeBlanc could test free agency but I could see him returning on another one-year veteran’s minimum deal. Mills is interesting; I think so long as he isn’t the focal point of defense, think a shutdown corner or Pro Bowl safety, he is fine. You could do worse than a Jalen Mills and you sure can do better. For the right price, I’d bring him back as the versatile guy who can spot start at cornerback and play safety. For a team with cap issues, he could be a luxury the team cannot afford and I understand that.
Regardless, for what seems like the 20th year in a row the team needs to address the secondary in both free agency and the NFL draft. If the team uses two of their first three picks on a cornerback and safety it will be justified.
