Report: Eagles linked to former All-Pro cornerback

According to ESPN NFL writer Bill Barnwell, the Philadelphia Eagles are still scouring the cornerback market, looking for a potential replacement for Darius Slay.

The team has already added veteran Adoree Jackson to the mix, though he’s viewed as more of a depth piece than anything else. Barnwell predicts that former All-Pro corner Stephon Gilmore could be the Eagles next addition.

Barnwell on the Eagles – Gilmore fit:

“The Vikings only signed Gilmore last offseason after they seemed to realize they didn’t have enough at cornerback,” Barnwell writes. “He was more than worth their $7 million investment. I wouldn’t be surprised if the same scenario happened this year, where a team that looks thin at cornerback and doesn’t love what it sees from some of its young guys in camp goes after Gilmore as a plug-and-play solution over the summer.”

Barnwell also mentioned the Seahawks and 49ers as potential fits along with the Birds.

Gilmore is an interesting target. He’s 34 years old and hasn’t been to a Pro Bowl in three years. Last season with Minnesota, he snagged one interception in 15 starts, while allowing a 98.7 QB rating and 65.9% completion percentage when targeted. He’s certainly not at the same level he was during his New England days, where he won Defensive Player of the Year and earned two first-team All-Pro nods.

Based on everything we’ve seen the Eagles do thus far during free agency, Gilmore doesn’t fit the trend. Howie Roseman has went after young players with potential to become solid role player and/or starters. If the Eagles wanted a plug-and-play veteran corner over 30, they would’ve kept Slay.

The idea that the Eagles will sign another corner is not offbase, I just don’t see Gilmore as the answer.