The Eagles are popularly linked to Nnamdi Asomugha in free agency speculation, but they may be eyeballing an in-state cornerback option instead.
Citing multiple sources, Adam Caplan of FOXSports.com reports that the Eagles “will show strong interest” in free agent Ike Taylor when the lockout ends. Taylor, of course, has spent the first eight years of his career with Pittsburgh.
Caplan also hints that Philadelphia is considering playing more zone coverage under first-year defensive coordinator Juan Castillo in order to complement changes up front. Along the defensive line, new position coach Jim Washburn is implementing a “wide-nine” philosophy in which both ends line up well outside of the offensive tackles trying to block them. The defensive tackles will be up-field pass rushers.
Taylor played right corner in Pittsburgh last year, and that’s the position Philadelphia sorely needs to upgrade. The Eagles rotated Dmitri Patterson and Ellis Hobbs at the position in 2010, and both flamed out.
PFT’s Mike Florio reported on May 15 that Taylor indeed plans to test the open market, and Taylor couldn’t have been clearer about his intentions to do so in a May 18 ESPN interview.
Taylor should also come at a much more affordable rate than Asomugha.