Eagles Boast Best CB Group in NFL? ESPN's Rankings

While Darius Slay and James Bradberry will be challenged by some top receivers this season, the real pressure in the Philadelphia Eagles secondary may lie in the slot, where Avonte Maddox will be tested.

The Philadelphia Eagles have one of the top outside cornerback duos in the NFL in veterans Darius Slay and James Bradberry.

But maybe not the best, at least, not according to ESPN’s recent breakdown of the top cornerback groups in the league. On Mike Clay’s list, Philly lands at No. 3 behind the Miami Dolphins and New York Jets, respectively. Rounding out the top five are the Green Bay Packers at No. 4 and the Dallas Cowboys at No. 5

Clay listed five cornerbacks for each team on the list. In addition to Slay and Bradberry, he has Avonte Maddox, Greedy Williams, and Kelee Ringo listed for the Eagles. Neither Zech McPhearson nor Josh Jobe made the top five on his own team.

2023 NFL Cornerback Unit Ranks and Depth Charts.

The Jalen Ramsey trade launches the Dolphins to #1 and sinks the Rams to #32 pic.twitter.com/gQW9P8Jknw

— Mike Clay (@MikeClayNFL) May 15, 2023

Looking at the Eagles’ schedule, the secondary will be put to the test with some of the game’s best pass-catchers. It’s a list that starts in Week 2 when the Minnesota Vikings come to town with Justin Jefferson and rookie Jordan Addison.

Others include:

• Week 3 vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers Mike Evans and Russell Gage

• Weeks 4 and 8 vs. Washington Commanders Terry McLaurin and Jahan Dotson

• Week 7 vs. Miami Dolphins Jaylen Waddle and Tyreek Hill

• Weeks 9 and 14 vs. Michael Gallup and Brandin Cooks

• Week 12 vs. Buffalo Bills Stefon Diggs and Gabe Davis

• Week 13 vs. San Francisco 49ers Brandon Aiyuk and Deebo Samuel

• Week 15 vs. Seattle Seahawks D.K. Metcalf and Tyler Lockett

As challenging as that will be, the real pressure will come in the slot, where Avonte Maddox is considered one of the top five in the league at that position and even has his own position coach in Ronell Williams.

Maddox battled multiple injuries last year that limited him to just nine regular-season games, though he still had three forced fumbles, one interception, and one sack. Maddox will be put to the test by several players considered slot receivers.

They are:

• New England Patriots' JuJu Smith-Schuster

• Tampa Bay Bucs’ Chris Godwin

• Washington Commanders' Curtis Samuel

• Dallas Cowboys' CeeDee Lamb

• Los Angeles Rams’ Cooper Kupp

• New York Jets' Mecole Hardman

• Arizona Cardinals' Rondale Moore

• Perhaps even Seattle Seahawks rookie Jaxon Smith-Njigba

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Ed Kracz covers the Philadelphia Eagles for SI's EaglesToday.

Please follow him and our Eagles coverage on Twitter at @kracze.

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