Philadelphia Eagles fans can recite the team's two biggest needs like the back of their hands: wide receiver and cornerback. Much of the focus has been on the former, with the latter appearing more and more like an option in the NFL Draft, as opposed to free agency. The team's plans could change, though, with a surprising entry into the free agent market: Brandon Flowers.
Serving his release
Flowers was cut by the Los Angeles Chargers on Tuesday morning, in addition to wide receiver Stevie Johnson and offensive lineman D.J. Fluker. The move to cut their cornerback was a salary cap measure, as he was set to create a $11 million hit next season; now Los Angeles will get $7 million of that back.
The Chargers were interested in shedding old parts more than anything as they make their move to Los Angeles.
Flowers signed as a big ticket free agent in 2014, but never lived up to his billing as a top-tier cornerback. He actually signed a one-year deal with the team so he could compete against his former squad, the Kansas City Chiefs. The team brought him back on a bigger deal, though, which he struggled with after suffering concussions. He played in just one game in 2016.
A fit in Philadelphia
The Eagles shouldn't shy away from Flowers because of his concussion issues, though. Head injuries are notoriously unpredictable - they can continue to fester away at the cornerback's career, or they could prove to be a thing of the past, so long as he doesn't suffer another one.
The 2013 Pro Bowl player deserves a chance, even on a one-year deal, and Philadelphia can provide that to him.
Team executive Howie Roseman has expressed interest in getting help at the position in the draft, but they could do both. They are just concerned about what happened last time, when the Eagles spent judiciously on Nnamdi Asomugha, only for the deal to prove a massive bust. Philadelphia is right to want to build through the draft, but a one-year "prove it" deal with Flowers seems like a worthwhile investment for the team.
