Levi Wallace
Wallace spent the 2019 season lining up across from Tre’Davious White as the Bills No. 2 cornerback. He split reps with Kevin Johnson in that role, but outplayed him on the majority of occasions and would often see more snaps. This comes on the back of exploding onto the field as a UDFA in 2018, playing in each of the Bills’ last seven games.
He’s everything the Eagles could want in a cornerback. At 6’0, 179 lbs, he brings that undrafted chip on his shoulder to every snap and plays with a real intensity at the position.
Wallace is really instinctive when it comes to read-and-react situations. When left with Curl/flat responsibilities or simple zone looks, he hangs so perfectly and comes blazing downhill to snuff out the pass. He has a tendency to open his hips immediately with the intent of funneling the play inside, allowing him to see the QB in his peripheral vision.
It can work against him on double-moves etc, especially against crisper route-runners who will want to easily gain a step, but he’s got the range to get back into plays and knock balls loose. His backpedal is a little tall and stiff, which may be why he favors running with his hips turned instead, but it’s becoming a bigger element to his game, showing growth.
Not to mention, but Wallace was a key cog in a defense that allowed an average depth of target of a stunning 7.3 yards, second-lowest in the league, and only allowed 15 total passing touchdowns.
He is an exclusive-rights free agent, making the signing unlikely, but should he slip through the cracks, paying the man is a no brainer.
Mike Hilton
Another former undrafted free agent, Hilton is only 25-years old and has expressed an interest to stay in Pittsburgh. Luring him to a short trip across PA may not be as difficult as it appears if the Steelers let him walk.
At 5’9, 184 lbs, Hilton played a career-high 62.5% of the Steelers defensive snaps in 2019. Interestingly though, he split his time in the nickel with some Safety reps (Cc: Jimmer). He ended the year with 63 tackles, 6 TFL, 5 QB hits and 1.5 sacks. His value on CB blitzes is evident and he’s a player that could potentially help negate the loss of Malcolm Jenkins if the Eagles do decide to move on from the veteran, who spends most of his time inside the box.
Hilton’s smooth hips and aggressive hands at the line helped earn him a PFF grade that ranked him the 18th-best in the league, giving up a rating of 84.1 when targeted. You’ll notice a trend with these names…
He’s another corner that bursts to the ball with great instincts and flies downfield to blow up plays. Hilton really does play with tenacity when hitting and in coverage, he does a fantastic job of feeling his way down the route while keeping. his eyes pinned in the backfield.
If it’s a multi-year deal he wants, Pittsburgh army of first-round picks may make that problematic. The Eagles should jump at the chance if he becomes available.
James Bradberry
Ready to get paid, Bradberry is a perfect zone corner to pick up this offseason if the Eagles want room to develop a younger name. Maybe drafting a future CB1 and having Bradberry hold the fort is the perfect formula, maybe it isn’t. But at least it would be fun.
Bradberry, at 6’1, 212 lbs, is the rangiest corner on this list and it shows. He’s had 10+ passes defensed every season he’s been in the league and had 3 interceptions this year. He may actually be the only ‘dinner’ cornerback on this entire list, but I’m a sucker for DB’s who make plays around the ball and Bradberry is lethal.
What I really like though is that Bradberry has a very solid track record against dominant wideouts. In a division where Mike Evans and Michael Thomas co-exist, Bradberry entered year four having held Thomas to under 100 yards with no more than 7 catches in six regular-season games.
In 2019 alone:
DeAndre Hopkins got clamped to just 41 receiving yards and 0 TD
Mike Evans was held to 157 yards and 0 TD across two games
AJ Brown was held to 81 yards and 0 TD
Julio Jones was held to 56 yards and 0 TD
You get the point.
Bradberry should be affordable for the Eagles and if they want someone to compliment the perfect draft pick, Bradberry is that guy. His click-and-close is enough to make anyone flustered and the swagger he has at the line of scrimmage is something that has been missing from Phialdelphia for way too long.
Who do you want the team to sign? Let us know in the comments!
