As is often the case for Super Bowl champions, the Philadelphia Eagles had a hard time retaining some talented players in free agency in March. Teams were eager to scoop up anyone they could from Philly, and that has led to nine Eagles free agents signing with other teams.
Some of these seemed like really smart signings by the new teams. Others were just picking up scraps that the Eagles didn't want back anyway.
That's what happened when the Detroit Lions signed Avonte Maddox, and his job is already in jeopardy before he's ever even played a snap in Detroit.
Former Eagle Avonte Maddox Could Already Be Out of a Job After the NFL Draft
The Lions signed Maddox after one of the worst seasons of his career. And while they're a team that has some major needs in the secondary, he was never going to be guaranteed a starting role. But the Lions' draft plans could ultimately mean that he never even makes the 53-man roster.
Unless Detroit trades starting slot corner Amik Robertson, Maddox would be a presumed backup anyway. And Peter Schrager, one of the most accurate NFL Draft experts out there, has the Lions drafting a cornerback in the first round on Thursday.
Maddox was phased almost entirely out of the Eagles' defense down the stretch, playing only a combined 13 defensive snaps across their four postseason games. And when he did get on the field, it usually wasn't pretty. Fans were happy to see him go.
He's 29 years old, which doesn't seem all that bad, but cornerback is a position that relies so much on athleticism that his recent decline could simply be that he's already past his prime.
His contract in Detroit was only a one-year deal worth $1.4 million, and it would be no surprise if Detroit decided to eat the $1.2 million in dead money against their salary cap by moving on from Maddox already if they're able to add some cornerback talent in the draft.