For Nolan Carroll and the Philadelphia Eagles, what a difference a year makes.
Upon signing with the Eagles in March 2014, Carroll had been a free agent on the open market for three weeks. The former Miami Dolphins cornerback wound up playing the whole season in Philadelphia’s dime package, unable to beat out an ineffective Bradley Fletcher for the starting job.
Then the organization used its 2015 second-round draft pick on Eric Rowe out of Utah, seemingly cementing Carroll’s role as a backup.
But when the Eagles showed up for offseason workouts, Carroll—not Rowe—was the starter opposite Byron Maxwell.