Exploring Eagles’ top options at CB throughout the 2022 draft originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia
As the 2022 NFL Draft nears, we’re taking a look at every position on both sides of the ball to find some options for the Eagles throughout the three-day event. We started with QBs, RBs, WRs, TEs, OL, DTs, Edge and LBs. Up today: CB.
The Eagles got through the initial flurry of free agency and still have a pretty obvious need at cornerback.
Darius Slay is their CB1 and Avonte Maddox is their nickel. But Steven Nelson left as a free agent, which means the Eagles need their second outside corner. Could that be Zech McPhearson or another one of their young corners? Maybe. But it’s probably time to go back to the draft.
Even after the Eagles’ trade with the Saints, they still have two first-round picks and 10 total:
1-15 (from Miami)
1-18 (from New Orleans)
2-51
3-83
3-101 (from New Orleans)
4-124
5-154 (from Washington)
5-162
5-166 (from Arizona)
7-237 (from New Orleans)
Here are some cornerback options throughout the draft:
In first round
Derek Stingley (LSU): If we assume that Sauce Gardner from Cincinnati is truly out of the Eagles’ range, then Stingley is the next best guy in this draft, but it might take a trade-up. Stingley (6-0, 190) has played in just 10 games over the last two years but was tremendous back in 2019. He’s a supremely talented player with some obvious injury concerns. But he wowed at his pro day earlier this month.
Trent McDuffie (Washington): At 5-11 and with sub 30-inch arms, the only thing McDuffie definitely lacks is ideal length. If a team can overlook that, they’ll be getting a good athlete who seems like a pretty safe pick who could play zone schemes and someone who could start for the Eagles on Day 1.
Andrew Booth Jr. (Clemson): I actually like Booth (6-0, 194) more than McDuffie as a prospect but that doesn’t seem to be the consensus. There’s a lot to like about Booth, who is sticky in coverage and can play in man or zone…