Don't tell your high school teachers or college professors that we told you this, but sometimes, we're resentful for having to study math for so many hours. We rarely use trigonometry and calculus. We talk about the Philadelphia Eagle every day for Heaven's sake, but we rock out with simple addition and subtraction constantly.
We understand that, if the roster currently houses 90 men and it needs to be trimmed to 53 before the regular season, 37 guys are getting cut... But, they can be added to the practice squad. That adds 16 more guys, or 17 in Philly's case (Laekin Vakalahi, an international player, receives a special roster exemption). That was pretty easy, right? How about a couple of other equations?
Last season, the Eagles carried seven cornerbacks on their regular-season roster. That's one more than the six most teams normally carry. They currently are home to 13 cornerbacks and two defensive backs. If the math is correct, which we believe it is. eight or nine guys are going to be cut before the games begin counting on the ledger.
Darius Slay, Quinyon Mitchell, Isaiah Rodgers, Cooper DeJean, and Kelee Ringo all feel like shoo-ins to make the initial 53-man roster. Eli Ricks and Josh Jobe could be added as both provide value on special teams. Where does that leave someone like Avonte Maddox? Frankly, we're glad you asked.
Avonte Maddox's best play for making the Eagles roster is seemingly by making the switch from corner to safety.
Okay, so if our math is correct... Avonte Maddox is competing with nine guys for what appears to be one or two available spots on the Eagles' 53-man roster. We're including 'DBs' Cooper DeJean and Parry Nickerson in that bunch along with Ricks, Jobe, and James Bradberry.
The odds don't seem favorable that Bradberry will be around, but you never know. Let's say he does stick around though. The odds of Avonte making the roster don't seem great, unless of course...
He makes the transition from cornerback to safety.
We have seen this way of thinking employed by the Eagles before. Take JJ Arcega-Whiteside's attempt to make the roster as a tight end. Well... Okay, JJAW was awful. We also knew he wouldn't make the roster, but you get the idea though.
The numbers game always seems to come into play when it comes to these things. Philly might be approaching gridlock at the cornerback position, even if they do open up seven spots instead of six. Meanwhile, we could also make the argument for keeping four or five safeties on the team. That cracks a window for Avonte and James Bradberry.
Here's how we see things. For Avonte Maddox to make the roster, James Bradberry has to go. Nothing has really happened yet in the preseason, but we'd assume James ranks higher on the minds of Eagles coaches than Avonte does. He is also more durable, and we have already discussed his transition to the backend of Philly's defense earlier this offseason.
James was seen working out at safety briefly during mandatory minicamp, but he left with an injury. That could mean something. It may mean nothing. Remember when we saw him cross-train at slot corner during the 2022 offseason?
Neither James or Avonte will make this team as corners. Now, let's say James is dealt or released. Maddox could make this team by playing deep.
Philly is expected to keep four or five safeties. We have seen them keep five several times over the years, often dedicating the fifth guy to play on special teams.
C.J. Gardner-Johnson and Reed Blankenship are safe. Sydney Brown should be too, but even though the latter is out of a walking boot, he may not be ready to go by Week 1.
That helps Avonte's case as well. With James gone and Sydney potentially beginning the regular season on the PUP (physically unable to perform list), Avonte could earn himself a roster spot. We'll have to wait and see how things play out though.
