Philadelphia Eagles: Will Parks has the tools to replace Malcolm Jenkins

Versatile DB Will Parks may have all the tools needed to replace former Philadelphia Eagles safety Malcolm Jenkins.

For the first time in six years, Malcolm Jenkins won’t be the face of the Philadelphia Eagles secondary. Replacing the former Pro Bowler wasn’t going to be easy, but an under-the-radar free-agent signee is up for the task.

The Philadelphia Eagles snagged Will Parks, an unrestricted free agent of the Denver Broncos, on a one-year deal worth $1.6 million. Parks had better offers on the table from the Minnesota Vikings and the Detroit Lions, but chose to go with his hometown team in Philadelphia.

Parks is betting on himself, which is evident given the contract he signed. But there’s been minimal media recognition of the Eagles addition of Parks. That’s eerily similar to how Jenkins started in Philadelphia when the team signed him in 2014 over the big names at the time.

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No, Parks doesn’t possess the resume Jenkins did at this point in his career, but the defensive back has yet to amass 600 snaps in a season in his four-year career. Opportunity never really came knocking in Denver for Parks, but in Philadelphia, he enters a competition with complete unknowns.

Jalen Mills is transitioning to safety, as we all know. But given an off-season that’s become a complete disaster due to COVID-19, and the preseason reps lost at the position, Parks’ experience at safety gives him an edge. The jump from college to the NFL just became tougher for 2020 fourth-round pick K’Von Wallace as well. A redshirt rookie season isn’t out of the realm of possibilities, which again benefits Parks.

Jenkins played 1,015 snaps in 2019. The Eagles’ third safety between Andrew Sendejo, Marcus Epps, Jonathan Cyprien, and Rudy Ford played a total of 362 snaps, which gives Philadelphia a total of 1,377 snaps vacated at safety. The amount of snaps needing to be filled presents Parks with every shot possible to take advantage of his new opportunity. There are reasons to be optimistic the versatile defensive back won’t disappoint.

During his time in Denver, Parks lined up at every position Jenkins has for the Eagles during his tenure. From box safety to free safety, slot cornerback, and outside cornerback, Parks’ skillset is proven to be along the same lines as Jenkins.

Another factor that bodes well for Parks jumpstarting his career in Philadelphia — the safety has trained with Jenkins since the 2018 off-season.

Parks appeared on the Eagles Brawl podcast and expressed how much he’s benefitting from learning Philadelphia’s defense from the former starting safety.

"“[Jenkins] coming from this defense, fresh out of this defense, I’m able to pick a few pointers from his brain,” Parks explained. “Obviously still go over the same playbook because it’s still fresh in his brain from being in [Eagles] system the last four years. It’s all advantages I’m still taking advantage of. I’m excited about the opportunity that’s on the way.”"

Getting Parks back to his 2018 form is what will be essential for the Eagles. The safety didn’t allow a single touchdown in 334 coverage snaps that season, according to Pro Football Focus, and only surrendered 183 receiving yards on 26 targets. Quarterbacks had a 66.7 passer rating when targeting Parks. Once the Broncos inserted Vic Fangio and his system, Parks struggled mightily in coverage as Denver’s strong safety and was regulated to nickel corner in the defense, where his play improved.

What we do know about Parks is that he’s best suited in the box in Jim Schwartz’s defense. Whether it’s strong safety, dime linebacker in sub-packages, or slot cornerback, those are the best spots on the field for the soon-to-be 26-year-old defensive back to be thriving in Philadelphia. Those are also ironically the positions anchored by Jenkins.

"“I’m looking to go anywhere Schwartz and [coaches] want me to play at,” Parks says. “Having that versatility a part of your game, I feel that’s what the NFL is starting to turn into. With Tyrann Mathieu being one of the first [versatile] guys, and obviously, there’s a couple more, but to do that at an elite level, that’s pretty different. That’s what I look forward to, that’s what I want to do, and that’s what I’m going to do. Go out there and get better while making the team better. That’s all I preach about.”"

Having the skill set needed to fill the void left by Jenkins’ departure, while learning exactly how to play the position at his level directly from the team’s former safety, gives Parks such an advantage at the start of his Eagles career.

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This pandemic hinders many players as alluded to earlier, but Parks has everything working in his favor to be the next reliable long-term safety for the Philadelphia Eagles.

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