6 Eagles Playing for Their Jobs in Training Camp

1. Avonte Maddox, Cornerback

When it comes to pure talent, Avonte Maddox should have a spot locked down. He's been a premier slot cornerback since the Eagles selected him in the fourth round of the 2018 NFL Draft.

Maddox is slightly undersized at 5-foot-9 and 184 pounds but he possesses elite quickness and instincts. That’s served him well as he has 250 tackles, 31 pass defenses, eight forced fumbles, and four interceptions in his career. Despite his high level of play, Maddox was initially released by the Eagles in March.

Less than one month later, he was re-signed to a one-year deal worth $2 million. While it makes sense to keep him in the fold, there’s no guarantee he will stick with the team. 

Philly added a lot of talent in their secondary this offseason. Not only did they bring in Quinyon Mitchell and Cooper DeJean, but they brought back C.J. Gardner-Johnson as well. Gardner-Johnson spent one year in Detroit but led the league in interceptions in 2022 while with the Eagles. He’s listed as a safety but can play the slot.

He had to do that often in 2022 as Maddox missed eight games. He was out for another 13 in 2023, which played into his release in May.

Of course, Gardner-Johnson is also coming off an injury, after playing in just three games for the Lions last year. 

The Eagles plan to improve their secondary and while Maddox has the talent to make them better, his durability concerns over the past two years mean he has to fight to prove he’s worth the risk — even with the alternative options.

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