A year ago, the Eagles reported to training camp with nearly everyone thinking they needed secondary help, particularly at cornerback, where they’d jettisoned 2016 starters Nolan Carroll and Leodis McKelvin.
The top corners as camp opened were Jalen Mills, coming off an up-and-down rookie season, and journeyman vet Patrick Robinson. Behind them were third-round rookie Rasul Douglas and C.J. Smith, who made the team as an undrafted rookie in 2016. After that, we were talking about Ron Brooks coming back from injury and former CFL star Aaron Grymes.
The picture changed significantly when football operations vice president Howie Roseman traded wideout Jordan Matthews to Buffalo for starting corner Ronald Darby on Aug.