The Philadelphia Eagles were the NFL’s stingiest team at defending the pass in 2024, leading the league by a wide margin in opponent yards per attempt.
Through seven games, Philly has slipped to the middle of the pack in that area, and the reason why has been painfully obvious for Eagles fans.
The Eagles entered 2025 with a flawed plan at No. 2 cornerback, and a Band-Aid approach won’t fix the problem. No matter the player — Adoree’ Jackson, Kelee Ringo, Jakorian Bennett — the play opposite Quinyon Mitchell has not met the standard for the reigning Super Bowl champions, and fans are expecting GM Howie Roseman to make a major move before the deadline to get it fixed.
Defensive coordinator Vic Fangio, of course, has a cheat code in defensive back Cooper DeJean, and his usage over Philly’s past two games could signal that change is coming. Per Pro Football Focus, DeJean lined up as an outside cornerback a combined 43 times against the Giants and Vikings, including some one-on-one reps against Justin Jefferson in Sunday’s win at Minnesota; that’s a major uptick, as the star nickel only played 50 snaps out wide over the Eagles’ first five games combined.
It’s possible the Eagles are preparing to make a more permanent switch with DeJean, who’s been one of the NFL’s premiere young cover corners over his first two years in the league. That could mean more opportunities for rookie Mac McWilliams in the slot.
Of course, you can never rule out a bold trade with Roseman, and Bleacher Report sees the Eagles going all-in on a defensive move that could change everything over the second half of the season.
Roger McCreary would be the perfect trade deadline target for the CB-needy Eagles
There’s no replacing DeJean’s elite play at the nickel spot, but Roger McCreary of the Tennessee Titans could be the best option available.
McCreary checks a lot of boxes for the Eagles. He’s entering his prime, now in his age-26 season, and was a strong prospect out of Auburn as the No. 35 overall pick in the 2022 NFL Draft; he’s also on an expiring rookie contract, and currently plays for the tanking 1-6 Titans.
On the field, McCreary does over 85 percent of his work in the slot, per PFF; he’s a strong tackler, and could help the Eagles' defense in run support against both QBs and running backs.
With Tennessee eying yet another rebuild after firing its head coach, McCreary figures to be in demand as the trade deadline approaches. Analyst Kris Knox named the Eagles as one of his potential suitors on B/R’s weekly trade big board.
“If the Titans are truly desperate for picks, cashing in McCreary would be logical, since he's an impending 2026 free agent,” Knox wrote. “And while he hasn't developed into a top-tier cornerback, his combination of age (25) and upside is intriguing.”
Given his experience in the role, McCreary would have little problem taking DeJean’s spot as Philly’s main inside cornerback. The move would necessitate DeJean moving outside, but given the skillset the 22-year-old has displayed since entering the starting lineup midway through the 2024 season, there’s no better option on the boundary right now than the former Iowa Hawkeyes star.
The price should be right with McCreary. He was set to make $3.6 million in cash this year, per Spotrac, which, prorated, should fit fine in Philly’s books. He also shouldn’t cost much more than one of Roseman’s patented Day 3 pick swaps.
Read more:Lane Johnson’s silence after Eagles win has fans fearing the wrong move
Philly's CB2 problem has gone on long enough. Kicking DeJean outside has always been the most logical solution, and adding a veteran nickel like McCreary could help lift the Eagles' defense back to 2024 heights.