Avonte Maddox Back With the Eagles On a 1-Year Deal

The Eagles have found their slot cornerback, and it is a familiar face. After being cut earlier in the off-season, Avonte Maddox is back on a 1-year deal. Adam Schefter was the first to report.

Maddox has served as their primary slot cornerback for the past several seasons. But in the last two seasons, he missed significant time with injuries. With him due to carry a $9.6 million cap hit this season, the Eagles chose to part ways instead. Cutting him saved the Eagles $2 million against the cap.

But even at the time of cutting him, many thought a reunion could be in store. Maddox went out and tested the free-agent market. Presumably, he did not hear what he wanted from other teams. So he has returned to the Eagles on a 1-year prove-it deal.

When healthy, Maddox played quite well as the nickel corner. It is health that is the issue though. Maddox played only 13 games, excluding the playoffs, in the past two seasons. They just couldn't justify playing a guy who they couldn't count on to be available. Getting him back at a lower number makes sense though.

Cornerback is still a major need for them. Maddox at least gives them an experienced option at nickel though. Having him, with some of their younger guys to back Maddox up, makes sense. Now they can focus on adding an outside corner to play across from Darius Slay. Expect them to address that either via a trade or in the draft.

Getting Avonte Maddox back helps them there though. If he can stay healthy, he is the answer in the slot. His health is a huge question mark though given the past two seasons.

We are two weeks into the NFL Off-season, and the Eagles have been quite busy. They have made some of the splashiest moves in the league thus far. The off-season champs are not always the real champs. But the moves they made to this point has gone a long way to restoring the fan's support in their team.

You could argue Howie Roseman has been more busy this off-season than any other GM. Even after the big moves like Bryce Huff, CJ Gardner Johnson, and Saquon Barkley, he continued to make moves around the edges of the roster. Howie brought in Kenny Pickett to play backup, signed a few Special Teams specialists, and took a gamble on Devin White at LB.

But even with all of those moves, the job is far from done. The Eagles roster was a mess coming into the off-season, at least on defense. While they have done a good job, there are still moves to be made if they want to get back to their 2022 form.

Some of those may still come in free agency, or via a trade. But many more may have to wait until the draft.

Let's run through some of their biggest needs from before the off-season began. Coming into it, we knew they needed a corner, a safety, a LB, a RB, a backup QB, just to name a few. Which of those have they already addressed? Which ones does Howie Roseman still need to fill?

Moves They Made So Far:

One slot corner is not going to fix their problems here. They have some guys with upside like Kelee Ringo. And Isaiah Rodgers is the wild card. But they kind of need to come away from the draft with an exciting younger corner. Ideally one who can start opposite Darius Slay.

Verdict: Still a Need

Moves They Made So Far

Kevin Byard had to go. He cost way too much and did not play up to expectations last season. Likewise, they had to sign a Safety. They got outbid for Xavier McKinney but did reunite with CJ Gardner-Johnson.

That move is great. CJ should bring a swagger back to the Eagles' defense and give them a much-needed playmaker. It is not enough though. Reed Blankenship did not do enough to earn starting spot, and Sydney Brown will miss the start of the season. They still need another Safety.

Justin Simmons is still out there. The fact he is unsigned, likely means he is not getting the offers he wants. If he has to settle for less, the Eagles would be a great spot. He can reunite with Vic Fangio and would give the Eagles a great Safety duo.

Whether it is Simmons, or someone else though, they still need to do more at Safety.

Verdict: Still A Need

Moves They Made So Far:

With D'Andre Swift leaving, and Kenny Gainwell the only RB under contract, the Eagles needed to do something at RB. That something was landing one of the best running backs in the league.

Is spending on an RB wise? That is the debate the NFL has been having for over a decade. But the deal isn't as big as it seems. In truth, it is a 2-year deal. After that, if they wanted, they could cut him with a dead cap hit of only $9 million. And in year 1 his cap hit is only $3.9 million. So while the deal seemed huge at first, it may only cost them a little over $20 million against the cap in the next 3 seasons.

Landing Barkley makes it no longer a need. Do they need a 3rd RB? Sure. But finding a 3rd string RB is easy. They can sign an undrafted free agent, slot him into the 3rd spot, and be fine. They have a 3-down back now, and Kenny Gainwell is perfectly capable of being the main backup.

Verdict: No Longer A Need

Moves They Have Made:

This one is very much still up in the air. It shouldn't have been a need at all. But after Haason Reddick asked for a raise, the Eagles might make it one. All signs seem to point to him being traded now.

To make up for that, they signed Bryce Huff. But while Huff was great in a limited role last season, he alone would not replace Reddick. If they do trade Reddick, they will need to do something else. Either via a signing, a trade, or in the draft. Huff, Sweat, and Nolan Smith have not proven enough to be comfortable going into the season with as your 3 main guys.

Verdict: Still A Need 

Moves They Made So Far

You hope your backup QB never sees the field, short of coming in because you are blowing someone out. But it was still a major need. They lost Marcus Mariota. And with Jalen Hurts being a mobile QB, and at increased risk of injury, you need a dependable backup. They got that in Pickett.

Is Pieckett a great QB? No. but if he was, he wouldn't be a backup. As far as backups go, he will be among the best in the NFL. Now you have him for at least two years.

Will Grier is coming in to help Kellen Morre implement his offense. He can compete with Tanner McKee for the 3rd QB role, but it sounds like McKee is the favorite to win that job.

Verdict- No Longer a Need

Moves They Made So Far

Devin White has a high upside but has not been the same player he once was these past few years. Baun is mostly a special teamer. Burks filled in well as a backup for the Niners, but is not good enough to count on as a starter. Add them on top of Nakobe Dean, who is promising but unproven, and there are still only question marks at LB.

The Eagles still need to do more here. That could be via the draft or a trade. But they need one sure thing going into the season, and they do not have it right now.

Verdict: Still a Need

Moves They Made So Far:

The big change here is Jason Kelce. They didn't need to replace him though. They already had Kelce's handpicked replacement, Cam Jurgens, waiting in the wings. They might need to replace Jurgens at RG. The plan there is Tyler Steen. Plus they brought in Matt Hennessy who has started at both guard and center in with the Falcons.

What was a need was depth. They lost both Sua Opeta and Jack Driscoll. Matt Hennessy replaces one of them. Fred Johnson might be able to step into a bigger role next year too. But they might still be looking for another backup.

They also need to start thinking about who will replace Lane Johnson. It's not an immediate need. But we know the Eagles love to plan ahead at O-Line. An OT is very much in play at pick 22. It will be a bit of a surprise if they come away from the draft without adding any linemen.

Verdict: Still a Need, But Not An Immediate One

Moves They Made So Far:

Dallas Goedert got hurt in each of the past two seasons. When he was out in 2022, the backup tight ends made 11 receptions for 117 yards in 5 games.  Last year they had just 2 catches for 17 yards in the 3 games Goedert missed. Basically nothing.

Jack Stoll left. He was more of a blocker anyway. Albert O will likely be back, even though he gave them nothing last year. They need a better option to go with him behind Dallas Goedert though. Not a star, but just anyone who can give them something. It is not priority 1. But it is something they should address if they can. Grant Calcaterra clearly is not going to cut it.

Verdict: Still A Need

Moves They Made So Far:

The Eagles needed a better 3rd WR. Quez Watkins was hugely disappointing in that role the past two seasons. He is fast. But speed without production does not mean all that much.

Going back to the backup Tight End issue, we also saw none of their other WRs step up when Goedert went out. Which is even worse, because the 3rd WR is on the field far more often than the backup TE. They added Parker and Campbell. Both have some upside but have failed to live up to expectations.

They won't invest huge resources. But spending a day 3 pick on a WR might be a good idea.

Verdict: A Slight Need