A Real Move!
Posted: March 20th, 2021 | Author: Tommy Lawlor | Filed under: Philadelphia Eagles | 6 Comments »They did it! I had my doubts, but they pulled it off. I’m amazed this dream became reality. Did doctors cure cancer? No. Did leaders come up with peace in the Middle East? No. That stuff is child’s play.
So what happened?
Vikings’ free-agent safety Anthony Harris is signing a one-year, $5 million deal with the Eagles, @DrewJRosenhaus tells ESPN.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 19, 2021
The Eagles were able to scrape together some money from their paper route and give it to a talented DB. This doesn’t exactly match the 2001 secondary, but it is a step in the right direction.
CB – Darius Slay
CB – hidden superstar who will be signed, drafted or created in a secret laboratory
NB – Avonte Maddox
SS – Andrew Adams / K’Vonn Wallace
FS – Anthony Harris
Let’s talk about Harris.
Harris "regressed" last season because the Vikings had no pass rush and two rookie corners. Tape still showed a ridiculous deep safety presence. https://t.co/t9pYXj2BBZ
— Doug Farrar (@NFL_DougFarrar) March 20, 2021
Harris picked off 6 passes in 2019 and had an amazing season. The Vikings used the franchise tag on him. Things didn’t go so well. The Vikings had new corners and no pass rush. Teams were able to light up that secondary, Harris included.
It is surprising that there was so little a market for Harris. He is still a talented safety with great ball skills. Those guys aren’t easy to find.
So why would the Eagles sign a 29-year old player coming off a down season?
The team desperately needed help in the secondary. Harris also is of interest because he played for Jonathan Gannon for three years in Minnesota. Gannon was the assistant DBs coach and Harris was a young DB trying to get on the field. Harris will know the scheme and what Gannon expects of his players.
Harris is here to help the team play better in 2021, but also to help tutor the young DBs. The Eagles could spend a high pick on a free safety to develop for the future. Harris could be a big help in teaching the young player.
This signing is a good example of the Eagles being smart shoppers. They saw a player who made sense for them on and off the field. He came at a relatively cheap price so this makes total sense. It is possible that Harris will struggle and end up being a bad signing in hindsight, but it sure makes a lot of sense right now.
Anthony Harris is very good in coverage.
He led the league in INTs and was PFF’s highest graded safety in 2019. pic.twitter.com/3Cbl8UGFnO
— Victor Williams (@ThePhillyPod) March 19, 2021
EAGLES FIRMAN SAFETY ANTHONY HARRIS (30)
Ahora si Howie Roseman uno de los mejores Safeties en la #NFL firman con los #Eagles por 1 año $5M
Tiene experiencia con Gannon
Las últimas 6 Temporadas: 284 tackles, 9 INT y 28 pass breakups#FlyEaglesFly #NFL pic.twitter.com/Mns9aCVek3— Mundo Eagles (@MundoEagles) March 20, 2021
*****
The Eagles are still looking for cheap help.
Former Titans’ CB Adoree’ Jackson’s plan is to go to NY on Sunday night to meet Monday with the Giants before going to Philadelphia on Monday night to meet with the Eagles.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 19, 2021
We’ll have to wait and see if Jackson is still an option after the Harris signing.
Jackson is a former first round pick who has been somewhat disappointing. He hurt his knee and missed the first part of last year, but came back toward the end of the season. Jackson is only 25 and he’s got 41 starts. He’s absolutely worth taking a look at, for the right price.
Taking chances on players coming off down years or ones where they were hurt isn’t the worst idea.
Remember when the Eagles threw a boat load of money at Byron Maxwell because he was the best free agent CB available? He proved to be mediocre or maybe worse. There is real logic in buying low. Maybe the players don’t work out, but you don’t have a lot of money invested in them.
If you can find elite players, pay ’em. The Eagles did that with Jon Runyan, Jevon Kearse, Asante Samuel, Brandon Brooks, etc. Don’t pay steak prices for hamburgers. The Eagles did that with Maxwell and it showed.
We’ll see what happens with Jackson. He’s at least worth talking to.
*****
A couple of Eagles are gone. They weren’t coming back so this isn’t a shock.
Former #Eagles DL Malik Jackson Is signing with the #Browns, source said
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) March 19, 2021
Report: Duke Riley leaves Eagles to sign with Dolphins https://t.co/lL2vJXLYVL
— Bleeding Green Nation (@BleedingGreen) March 20, 2021
*****
I won’t lie. It did hurt to lose J.J. Smith-Schuster.
In this case, JuJu Smith-Schuster’s agent called the Eagles to gauge their interest; those were the discussions. The Eagles did not wind up courting him. JuJu back to Pittsburgh, which was what he wanted. https://t.co/IWTvGIfzxs
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 19, 2021
Schefter rarely makes mistakes, but he got this report wrong.
JuJu went from turning down the Eagles to not ever being offered by the Eagles. This makes Frank Gore seem like Chuck Bednarik, in terms of the length of his Eagles career.
Joking aside, I’m skeptical about signing a WR. There are a ton of good options in the upcoming draft. It also feels like receiver might be the best player on the board at pick six. Sign one in FA and you might have to shop that pick.
We’ll see.
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