Justin Evans Opts for Opportunity with Eagles
PHILADELPHIA - Things were progressing as planned for Justin Evans after he was the 50th overall pick by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2017. The talented Texas A&M safety was a full-time starter by his sophomore season when then injuries took hold of his career.
A significant turf toe injury was followed by a devastating Achilles tear and 21 of 25 starts to begin Evans' professional career turned into three years of inactivity, at least on the field.
Off of it, Evans, now 27, was working tirelessly to make it back, something he was able to do in New Orleans last season working as a hybrid safety and slot player for Dennis Allen's defense.
In free agency, Evans was looking for an opportunity and he found it in Philadelphia after the Eagles lost both 2022 starters in free agency: Marcus Epps to Las Vegas and C.J. Gardner-Johnson to Detroit.
Although the Eagles have made it clear behind the scenes that they are not done at the safety position, if the organization had to play a game on Sunday (spoiler alert: it doesn't) it would likely be Evans lining up next to second-year man Reed Blankenship.
“It was kind of a simple process,” Evans said of his decision to sign a one-year deal with Philadelphia. “I had a couple of options, but me, my agent, and my family felt like this was the best place, spot, and opportunity. We’re just blessed for it. ...It feels like the best place.”
Ironically, Evans' agent is Kevin Conner, who also happens to rep Gardner-Johnson, a splash player last season with a league-high six interceptions in just 12 games.
CJGJ seemed to indicate that the Eagles disrespected him with a contract offer on his way out the door in Philadelphia via the tweet-and-delete route. Evans downplayed the connection and potential awkwardness when asked, intimating that Gardner-Johnson's business was his own.
For Evans, it's about getting back to where he once was as an ascending player with the Bucs.
“It was humbling for sure," Evans said of his injury issues. "You just learn a lot and figure out a lot about yourself, your life, and who you are. Once you mold that into shape, you could just piece the parts of your life together."
The good news for Evans in NOLA last season was that he stayed healthy enough to play in 15 games, starting four.
He finished with 29 tackles, two pass breakups, and a forced fumble while toggling between some safety and slot work, a role that again, ironically, opened up with the Saints when Gardner-Johnson was dealt to the Eagles on Aug. 30 of last year.
"I got back into it, and I’ve been blessed because opportunities keep coming for me, and I’ll just keep taking them, grabbing them, and running with them,” Evans said.
Whether it's another veteran in the coming weeks or a draft pick in late April, the Eagles plan to add more competition to the safety position, a group that currently includes K'Von Wallace, Andre Chachere. Marquise Blair, and Tristin McCollum, along with Blankenship and Evans.
Last season, Jaquiski Tartt was brought into the organization in June with extensive starting experience from his days in San Francisco but never gained a foothold and was ultimately released before GM Howie Roseman shifted gears and turned down the trade path eventually landing Gardner-Johnson.
The moral of the story there is that Evans isn't guaranteed anything.
“I think my role can be whatever I make it,” Evans said. “I don’t really think to myself that I can only be the starter or I’m going to be something specific."
Although the Eagles have changed defensive coordinators from Jonathan Gannon, who left to become the head coach in Arizona, to Sean Desai, the defensive philosophy is expected to remain the same, a Vic Fangio-inspired scheme that values mirrored players with safety/slot versatility.
Gardner-Johnson, Avonte Maddox, Josian Scott, and Chachere were all cross-trained like that at times last season and Evans presumably will that same kind of attention from Desai and new secondary coach Taver Johnson.
"I’m going to compete," he said, "and see wherever that takes me."
-John McMullen contributes Eagles coverage for SI.com's Eagles Today and is the NFL Insider for JAKIB Media. You can listen to John, alongside legendary sports-talk host Jody McDonald every morning from 8-10 on ‘Birds 365,” streaming live on YouTube. John is also the host of his own show "Football 24/7 and a daily contributor to ESPN South Jersey. You can reach him at jmcmullen44@gmail.com or on Twitter @JFMcMullen
