Veteran Defensive Back, Avonte Maddox may return to the Philadelphia Eagles after being released from the team to save salary cap. The corner who missed 29 games throughout his four-year tenure in Philadelphia is being released, according to a source. The release is not a surprise after injuries have set the Eagles back last season. Maddox has been relatively productive when healthy, but those games have been less frequent where he’s 100%.
He missed at least six games in 2020 with an ankle injury and continued to face injuries into 2022 due to knee and toe injuries. Maddox was limited to four games last year after undergoing surgery to repair a torn pectoral in September. He returned for the last few games of the season, but he wasn’t close to being fully healthy. The Eagles have been trying to find a replacement for Maddox, but they found themselves in a deeper hole.
Maddox signed a three-year, $22.5 million extension in 2021 with $13.3 million guaranteed. He had just one year left on that deal with a $6.85 million base salary, according to OverTheCap. Maddox became a massive contributor as a rookie, starting nine games and picking off two passes. However, his production is slowing down after only having two interceptions over the next five years.
There are still question marks if the Eagles will bring back Maddox. His high salary and frequent injuries could make him look more like a liability than an asset. However, there’s still a chance because if they bring him back, the Eagles would probably still think about the future. They also released starting Safety Kevin Byard recently to save more salary.
More roster moves: The Philadelphia Eagles are releasing CB Avonte Maddox after six seasons, per sources. He had a $9.6 million salary cap hit for 2024. The two sides will keep talking and are open to a reunion. pic.twitter.com/xXuWctNQ1v
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 6, 2024
Veteran Defensive Back Avonte Maddox May Return to the Philadelphia Eagles
Could He Return to the Team?
With Jason Kelce retiring and both Fletcher Cox and Brandon Graham heading to free agency, the future is looking uncertain on the defense. The only players from 2018 that are under contract are guys like Lane Johnson, Jake Elliott and Greg Ward. Philadelphia is lacking veteran presence now and they may need to add one in the slot. The projected slot plan for the Eagles is Eli Ricks and Bradley Roby, but Roby is an impending free agent.
However, they do still have Zech McPhearson, who began the summer as Maddox’s backup. The only implication is that Sydney Brown is another defensive player in the secondary who has faced injuries. Brown could miss several games next season with a torn ACL he suffered at the end of last year. However, the Eagles could plan to use the market to target a corner or the draft.
Even if the Eagles do bring back Maddox, they would still have to sign a potential veteran. There are many cornerbacks available in the market next week, so it’s still a possibility. However, Philadelphia would bring him back on a new contract so they could allocate resources for a new defender. According to Adam Schefter, Maddox’s release involved a $9.6 million cap hit for the Eagles.
Other Potential Cornerbacks for Philadelphia
While they may have the replacements on the roster already, they could look towards adding more. Xavien Howard may be a name to look out for since any team can sign him now to a new contract. Howard also played under Vic Fangio in Miami so a reunion could make things smooth again for the secondary. Another option would be Stephon Gilmore who is looking to sign with a potential contender.
