The Eagles got a free agent for their secondary, and he's a familiar face.
He’s been on a starter on a Super Bowl champion, he knows the Jim Schwartz defense and he didn’t cost nearly as much money as Byron Jones or James Bradberry.
Jalen Mills is back with the Eagles for at least one more year, and according to ESPN's Josina Anderson, Mills will be moving to safety:
One day after Jones signed with the Dolphins for $16.5 million per year and Bradberry signed with the Giants for $15 million a year, the Eagles and Mills agreed to a one-year, $5 million deal Tuesday, NBC Sports Philadelphia’s Dave Zangaro confirmed. The deal was first reported by ESPN.
Mills, the Eagles’ 7th-round pick in 2016, instantly becomes the most experienced and most valuable cornerback on a team with dire cornerback issues.
The only cornerbacks under contract are Sidney Jones, Rasul Douglas, Cre’Von LeBlanc and Avonte Maddox.
NFL
The Eagles presumably are still in the market for corners both in free agent and the draft, but in Mills at least they have a tough, versatile veteran that is a favorite of Schwartz and when healthy is a capable if not dazzling pro.
Mills wasn’t the fastest corner in the league and was a tough matchup against speedy outside receivers, but he’s considered one of the better red-zone defenders in the league, he’s a tough physical tackler and he brings a healthy dose of swagger to the Eagles’ defense.
Mills started two games as a rookie out of LSU in 2016 then became a full-time starter during the Super Bowl season, when he led the Eagles with three interceptions. A serious foot injury limited him to only the first eight games of 2018 and the last nine games of last year.
Mills played the first four years of his career on a four-year, $2.42 million rookie deal. He’s the second player the team has re-signed a day before the official start of free agency. The team re-signed defensive tackle Hassan Ridgeway on Monday. They also agreed to terms of a three-year, $39 million deal with free agent defensive tackle Javon Hargrave.
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