Eagles hint at major cornerback move (but not what fans expect)

Forgive the played-out NFL cliche, but general manager Howie Roseman and the Philadelphia Eagles really did use Week 1 as an extension of the preseason.

The Eagles entered last week’s season opener against the Dallas Cowboys with some question marks at key defensive spots like cornerback, EDGE and safety, and emerged from the game looking to add outside veteran help. Philly signed three-time Pro Bowl pass rusher Za'Darius Smith, 32, to a one-year deal prior to Sunday’s league-wide slate, and are clearly seeking a replacement for the struggling Adoree’ Jackson after hosting former Bengals cornerback Mike Hilton for a workout on Monday.

Eagles fans can rest easy knowing their GM will exhaust all options to fix problem areas on the roster. It’s definitely concerning, though, that the Eagles appear poised to throw more bodies at said problem areas until something sticks. 

The move to add Smith makes sense after Azeez Ojulari sat out Week 1 as a healthy scratch. Philly’s interest in Hilton is much more intriguing, as it hints that a major move at cornerback could be coming (whether a veteran like Hilton is added or not).

Are the Philadelphia Eagles preparing to move star defensive back Cooper DeJean from nickel to CB2?

The best option for the Eagles opposite Quiniyon Mitchell is obvious, and it has nothing to do with available free agents or the current trade market.

Moving Cooper DeJean outside to No. 2 cornerback is complicated, though.

DeJean has the versatility to play all over Vic Fangio’s defense. Fans will remember a ton of chatter about the second-year pro playing some safety this year. The issue is that he’s easily been the most dominant nickel in the NFL since he started manning that spot in Week 6 last season. Shifting DeJean to Jackson’s spot could solve one problem, while opening up another in the middle of the defense.