Philadelphia Eagles Must Address Free Safety Position in 2013 NFL Draft


Brad Mills-USA TODAY Sports

Through all of the Philadelphia Eagles’ struggles over the past two seasons, it has been very apparent that they are in dire need of help in their defensive secondary.

While Eagles CBs Nnamdi Asomugha and Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie have both greatly underachieved since coming to Philly before the 2011 season, they are still elite talents, and are sure to break out of their respective slumps with some help in the secondary.

Being that the cornerback position is covered as of now, with CB Brandon Boykin also an up-and-coming youngster at nickel-back, the position that needs the most help on the Eagles’ D is free safety.

The Eagles have been trying to get away with no-namers Kurt Coleman and David Sims splitting time at free safety, but the bird’s woeful statistics against the pass show that the duo is not cutting it.

It was truly painful to watch the Eagles allow opposing wide-outs to run free down-field all season long, with seemingly no hope at containing them. Plenty of times, even when it looked like a receiver was blanketed by this Eagles’ defense, he still were able to come up with the ball somehow.

Even though former Eagles legend, Brian Dawkins, played strong safety primarily, the organization has failed to replace him with any real presence lurking down-field at either safety position since Dawkins’ departure in 2008.

While the Eagles will likely never be able to completely fill the shoes of Dawkins, a nine-time Pro Bowler and six-time All-Pro selection, they need to try and find an elite free safety in this year’s 2013 NFL Draft who will be able to compliment the very raw talent of third year pro, SS Nate Allen.

If the Eagles really want to make a splash, they could target Louisiana State University stand-out FS Eric Reid or FS Tony Jefferson out of Oklahoma University in the first two rounds of the draft. The Eagles could also go after Kenny Vaccaro from the University of Texas in the first round, who is an incredible talent capable of playing free safety and strong safety.

There is surely a nice smorgasbord of safeties in this year’s draft, and the Eagles need to take advantage immediately in order to prosper during Chip Kelly’s first season in Philly.

 

Please follow Joe on Twitter @Joe_RantNFL for all Eagles/NFL insight.

Hottest Women in SI Swimsuit History
Who Are the Biggest NFL Hall of Fame Snubs of All Time?
Check Out the Best NFL Quarterbacks Heading Into the 2013 Season


2013 NFL Draft

MantiTe'o 2013 NFL Draft Prospects: Top 5 Players at Every Major Position
Jarvis Jones-UGA 2013 NFL Mock Draft Through October
Jerry Lai-USA TODAY Sports Every NFL Team’s Biggest Need in the 2013 NFL Draft

We Recommend

Rant NFL

Around the Web