While the Philadelphia Eagles' offensive concerns have understandably received most of the attention among the fanbase and media, their defensive issues can't be ignored. Defensive coordinator Vic Fangio's unit looked particularly bad against the New York Giants on Thursday, and the defense that looked like the best in the NFL during last season's Super Bowl run looks like a shell of itself.
Offseason departures have obviously played a part in the early struggles. The Eagles are missing Josh Sweat, Milton Williams, Darius Slay, and Isaiah Rodgers, who are all off to good starts with their new teams. The Eagles were presumably banking on their ability to get the most out of under-the-radar players and find hidden gems, and that is why they began the season with Kelee Ringo and Adoree' Jackson as their primary cornerback options opposite Quinyon Mitchell.
Through the first six weeks of the season, this experiment has failed miserably. Ringo's disappointing season hit a new low on Thursday when he was exposed in coverage early and often. He was beaten by the likes of Giants wideouts Wan'Dale Robinson and Lil'Jordan Humphrey so badly that he was benched, even with Mitchell leaving early with an injury.
Stephon Gilmore May Be Perfect Kelee Ringo Replacement for Eagles
With how helpless he looked out there against WR3/4 type, the Eagles clearly can't trust Ringo going forward and must address the issue before it's too late. Instead, they can turn to the free agent market to find an upgrade. There are players like former Eagle James Bradberry, or capable veterans like Kendall Fuller and Asante Samuel Jr. Yet, the best option would undoubtedly be Stephon Gilmore.
The 35-year-old is obviously not the dominant game-wrecker he was earlier in his career when he helped the New England Patriots win a Super Bowl, but he is still as reliable as they come. Playing for five different teams in the last five years, Gilmore made a positive impact in all of them, without missing any significant time. He started a total of 48 games in the past three seasons, and played over 87% of the Vikings' defensive snaps last year.
Gilmore finished last season with a 63.9 defensive grade on Pro Football Focus. It was his worst grade in four seasons, but it would still put him way ahead of both Ringo's and Jackson's grades so far this year. That alone makes him a risk worth taking.
The former NFL Defensive Player of the Year is arguably the best cornerback on the market. If the Eagles aren't going to address their need on the trade market, they will be hard-pressed to find a better option than Gilmore without needing to give up coveted draft capital.
With Gilmore seemingly looking to win his second Lombardi Trophy, it could be a match made in heaven for both sides. Eagles general manager Howie Roseman must phone the free-agent CB's agent immediately.