Philadelphia Eagles: Anthony Harris’ ceiling and floor in 2021
Ceiling: Anthony Harris could become the Philadelphia Eagles’ next great safety.
When the Philadelphia Eagles signed Malcolm Jenkins back in 2014, it wasn’t because he was the best player on the market or had any connection with the team’s pre-existing coaching staff.
Though some questioned the decision to sign Jenkins over players like T.J. Ward and Jairus Byrd at the time, as they were considered the top-2 safeties on the open market at the time, few argued with the results – especially considering both Edwards and Byrd are out of the league.
While Harris’ story isn’t quite parallel to that of Jenkins’, considering his relationship with Jonathan Gannon from 2015-17, his status as an overlooked free agency option is quite similar and could provide similar results depending on how everything works out.
Essentially locked into one of the team’s two starting safety positions, likely the FS spot, Harris will be able to make plays in the open field in a largely two-deep safety look. He’ll be able to showcase his ball skills while locking down the backend of the field, either split with Rodney McLeod or as a center fielder, drop into man/zone coverage depending on the matchup, and even provide some valuable support against the run.
If he can consistently make plays all over the field, whether as a tackler, a blanket defender, or as a walking interception – he does have nine career picks after all – Harris will all but certainly be offered a lucrative, long-term contract in the vein of his pre-free agency Over The Cap projected $14 million evaluation, and may just join the ranks of the all-time great defensive backs to don a midnight green uniform.
Considering the Minnesota Vikings allowed Anthony Harris to walk for nothing, we could very well be looking at one of the all-time steals in recent Philadelphia Eagles free agency history, in the same vein as signing Malcolm Jenkins away from the New Orleans Saints in 2014. If that happens, expect Harris to finally earn his first Pro Bowl bid after six seasons in the league and potentially compete for an All-Pro opportunity alongside the best safeties the game has to offer.