One day after adding a player who fills one of their offseason needs, the Eagles appear to be looking to sign a second. According to Evan Massey, the Birds have shown interest in former Colts and Vikings CB, Xavier Rhodes.
Rhodes is going to be 32 years old this year but is a three-time Pro-Bowler and 1st team All-Pro corner from his years in Minnesota. Per PFF he graded out to a 62 last season which is about average among NFL Corners.
Should the Eagles sign Xavier Rhodes?
There could not be a better setup for the Eagles, who would be looking to replace Steven Nelson if he signs elsewhere. After reuniting with Jonathan Gannon in Indy having played under him during his stint with the Vikings, Rhodes flourished in 2020 and proved he still had plenty of gas in the tank.
Another thing that helped was his role. As a CB2, he was no longer having to live on his own island while receivers licked their lips at an opportunity to beat a flailing great. He had a lot less responsibility and was able to have a greater impact as a result. Maybe he did lose some of that speed and burst that once made him so dominant, but Indy’s system acted as a safe haven that allowed his ball-hawking tendencies and strong football IQ to still thrive.
Xavier Rhodes is still serviceable and this would allow the Eagles to continue to build younger talent over longer periods. However, if it’s Sauce, Stingley, or Andrew Booth that they want, then Rhodes may not be the best option.
If he were to sign with the Eagles, Rhodes would be reuniting with Jonathan Gannon for a third time. He signed a $4M deal with the Colts last season and it would be fair to assume a similar value here. Rhodes would be a great leader for young guys like Zech McPhearson and Tay Gowan, while providing the Eagles with an experienced CB pairing of dreams in Darius Slay and Xavier Rhodes.
Should Howie Roseman pick up the phone? It would behoove him to at least poke around and see what kind of market Rhodes is looking for. With a bit of luck, the Eagles could sign him to a cheap and cheerful deal, ticking off another offseason checklist item in the process, while staying on their course to develop raw talent with salivating upside.
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