CB vs WR

We don’t know who the Eagles will take at pick 12. We’ve spent weeks, even months, debating players and positions. We do have a good idea that CB and WR are two positions they’ll be targeting. Which position should the Eagles prioritize?

I don’t think there is anything definitively right or wrong here. I don’t think one player or position is going to fix the Eagles.

As we talk about CB vs WR, I think we have to look at the Eagles and the league in general. It doesn’t take a long scan of the Eagles depth chart to see that CB is the bigger need. Darius Slay is the one reliable starter on the outside. He is 30 years old. That doesn’t bode well for the present or the future. This secondary desperately needs help.

I haven’t forgotten about Avonte Maddox. He has played on the outside, but I think he looks much better in the slot. That fits his size and skill set better. The other CBs, Michael Jacquet and Craig James, are role players and STers. The Eagles must draft at least one starting caliber corner.

The Eagles could go into the season with the receivers currently on the roster. Jalen Reagor and Travis Fulgham could start on the outside. Greg Ward could play in the slot. John Hightower and Quez Watkins could be good role players. If that group stayed healthy, they could be functional. And they are all young.

Before you try to have me put in an asylum, understand that I want the WR corps upgraded. The Eagles have a functional group, but that’s not good enough. You need a strong group of WRs in today’s NFL.

Think about the last couple of Super Bowls.

Chiefs WRs – Tyreek Hill, Sammy Watkins, Mecole Hardman, Demarcus Robinson
Chiefs CBs – Kendall Fuller, Bashaud Breeland, Morris Claiborne

Niners WRs – Deebo Samuel, Emmanuel Sanders, Dante Pettis, Richie James, Kendrick Bourne
Niners CBs – Richard Sherman, Ahkello Witherspoon, K’Vaun Williams

Bucs WRs – Mike Evans, Chris Godwin, Scott Miller, Antonio Brown, Tyler Johnson
Bucs CBs – Carlton Davis, Sean Murphy-Bunting, Ross Cockrel, Jamel Dean

Each team had a high level receiver. Each team had a good group of receivers. KC and SF had veteran corners. Tampa had a pair of 2nd round picks starting for them, both young.

The NFL rules favor offenses. I think you’re better off loading up on offense than defense. If it is even, I’d go WR over CB.

If the Eagles have a CB rated higher, take him. I tend to think that Ja’Marr Chase, DeVonta Smith and Jaylen Waddle will be higher rated than Patrick Surtain or Jaycee Horn. If one of those receivers and one of those corners are on the board, go with the receiver.

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This is a loaded receiver class so the Eagles could find help there in other rounds. They don’t have to go receiver early.

There are good corners outside of the first round. It is just harder to know what the Eagles want in a corner…size or speed or ball skills or something else. Receiver is a bit easier to figure out.

I do hope the Eagles take a couple of corners. Don’t look at one player as “the answer”. The more CBs you add, the better a chance you have of finding a good one. I think. The way the Eagles have addressed CB in the last decade can make you question even basic logic.

The Eagles know they need CB help. My guess is that they’ll see how things go in the draft first. The free agent market is thin. Depending on how things go in the draft, the Eagles could still add a veteran corner. There is no need to take action right now. See how things play out.

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Fran did his breakdown of LB Eric Wilson. You see that he’s versatile, can cover and has good hands. Wilson isn’t a great tackler, but he should be an upgrade at the LB position. He and Alex Singleton give the Eagles a solid pair of LBs.

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