Philadelphia Eagles: Get Kary Vincent under Rodney McLeod’s wing

The Philadelphia Eagles have a lot of cornerbacks.

Even if you count is Andre Chachere as a safety – which is technically correct, though he exclusively plays on special teams – the team has three starters in Darius Slay, Steven Nelson, and Avonte Maddox who play the majority of the team’s defensive snaps and four more bench reserves in Josiah Scott, Tay Gowan, Zech McPherson, and Mac McCain who have held varying roles, depending on the week.

By trading for Kary Vincent, that number now balloons up to eight.

So what gives? For a team that has been notoriously hesitant to put four cornerbacks on the field at the same time, why add yet another developmental slot cornerback when you already have a burgeoning superstar in Maddox and a second-year prospect in Scott who has looked pretty good in limited action?

If the answer is “to have another slot cornerback,” then I question the decision. If the answer is more like “to move him to free safety,” then this move could be very, very interesting.

Hey Philadelphia Eagles, put Kary Vincent under Rodney McLeod’s wing.

Kary Vincent is a speeding bullet.

Whether playing in the slot or deployed a little further back at free safety, Vincent’s LSU tape is loaded with impressive burst, big plays, and the recovery speed to remain in plays even when his receiver had a few steps on him.

It also features plenty of missed opportunities, loose coverage, and more than a few spots where better coverage technique could have turned a minus play into a plus one.

Is that to be expected? Most definitely. I mean, Vincent was drafted in the seventh round for a reason, but after playing 32 games over three years in one of the best secondaries in college football – Vincent opted out of his senior season – there’s still a lot to like about the second-year pro as an NFL prospect, especially if the Philadelphia Eagles can find a way to play to his strengths and hide his weakness as he continues to develop.

My suggestion? Get Vincent under Rodney McLeod’s wing and convert him to safety.

I mean, think about it; McLeod was also a college cornerback who was overlooked during the draft process. He joined a loaded St. Louis defensive backfield as a UDFA and was starting every game for the Rams by his second professional season.

How? By working hard to hone his craft.

While Vincent played far less safety than McLeod in college, as the pride of the University of Virginia transitioned from cornerback between his sophomore and junior season, the duo look relatively comparable on the field.

The biggest difference? Vincent is a whole lot faster.

Running a 4.39 40 at LSU’s Pro Day, Vincent has the athleticism needed to roam the back of a defensive secondary with ease, especially in a two-high look like the one Jonathan Gannon favors.

If you’ve been banging the drum for Avonte Maddox to play safety after a few positive showings during his rookie season, Vincent might be your new favorite bottom-of-the-roster guy.

Moving Vincent further off the ball would allow him more time to see plays develop, fewer opportunities to get beaten in man coverage by technician route runners, and most importantly of all, more chances to rally to the ball and provide support with his A-plus speed.

Is that projection worth a sixth-round pick? Only time will tell, but with three years left on his existing contract after this season, Vincent will have plenty of opportunities to find his best position with the team long-term.

Who knows, maybe I’m wrong. Maybe the Philadelphia Eagles just aren’t sold on Avonte Maddox as their slot guy moving forward, and believe that between Kary Vincent, Josiah Scott, and Zech McPhearson, they’ll be able to replicate his production in 2022 and beyond. But in this blogger’s humble opinion, Vincent’s best value comes as a potential safety in waiting who could learn from Rodney McLeod and Anthony Harris in 2021 and compete with players like Elijah Riley, K’Von Wallace, and any other further additions down the line.