Even as the NFL playoffs head towards a potential Chiefs-Rams Super Bowl matchup, all eyes are starting to trend towards free agency and the NFL draft.
Philadelphia has a ton of needs, and a cornerback opposite Darius Slay could become an urgent need if Steven Nelson lands a monster deal on the open market.
Nelson made a solid cornerback duo next to Darius Slay and PFF named the veteran defensive back the one player Philadelphia can ill-afford to lose in 2022 free agency.
PHILADELPHIA EAGLES
CB STEVEN NELSON
2021 Player Grade/Rank: 61.5 (76th of 134)
2021 Team Position Grade/Rank: 75.9 (3rd of 32)Nelson was a strong late-offseason addition by the Eagles following his release from the Pittsburgh Steelers. He signed a one-year, $2.5 million deal and earned his sixth straight season grade above 60.0. Nelson missed just two tackles all season and earned a stellar 86.0 tackling grade as a result. The Eagles have added a lot of young talent at cornerback and could feel comfortable letting them step up next season opposite top cornerback Darius Slay, but Nelson is still a solid veteran presence who can be acquired for the right price.
Nelson was one of the better tackling cornerbacks in the NFL and along with Slay and Avonte Maddox, the trio finally gave Philadelphia some stability on the backend, a major reason for Jonathan Gannon’s apparent popularity across the league.