The Eagles may not be practicing today, but that doesn’t mean the team aren’t actively trying to get better. According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, former Titans and Jags Safety Jonathan Cyprien is signing a one-year deal with the team. Here is all you need to know.
The player
Cyprien worked out for the Eagles earlier this offseason and is coming off a torn ACL that forced him to miss the entire 2018 season. Prior to that, Cyprien started 12 games for Tennessee (including 2 playoff games). After being drafted with the 33rd overall pick in 2013, Cyprien tallied 100+ tackles in four consecutive seasons for Jacksonville. At 6’1, 211 lbs, he’s built in a similar vein to Malcolm Jenkins.
The fit
Now this one is interesting. Do you look to Rodney McLeod, who is recovering from a season-ending injury of his own, and view this as an insurance policy? Or does this instead put the pressure on Andrew Sendejo, who we know has a ‘compensatory pick casualty’ label hanging over is head? it’s probably a little from column A and a little from column B. Not to mention the fact that Malcolm Jenkins is still seeking a new payday, Cyprien is a Safety who when healthy, is among the better starters in the league.
Interestingly, NFL.com noted that ‘Sendejo has struggled in coverage filling McLeod’s role’…which is news to me, with most in attendance, including coaches, actually praising the former Viking. Maybe they know something we don’t…
Either way, this is a depth signing through-and-through and Cyprien will be fighting for the third/fourth spot on the depth chart to begin with. How things pan out after that is a total mystery, with several different roads available.
Mandatory Credit: Jim Brown-USA TODAY Sports
