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Philadelphia Eagles leading the way to signing Byron Maxwell

By Luke Dahlgren

Dec 21, 2014; Glendale, AZ, USA; Seattle Seahawks cornerback Byron Maxwell (41) against the Arizona Cardinals at University of Phoenix Stadium. The Seahawks defeated the Cardinals 35-6. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 21, 2014; Glendale, AZ, USA; Seattle Seahawks cornerback Byron Maxwell (41) against the Arizona Cardinals at University of Phoenix Stadium. The Seahawks defeated the Cardinals 35-6. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports /
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The free agent cornerback who played last year for the Seattle Seahawks would bolster one of the worst secondaries in the league.

Down the stretch this season, the Philadelphia Eagles lost control over the NFC East in no small part due to their inability to stop critical big plays.

Certainly the dream of a Mark Sanchez Super Bowl squad was far-fetched even for the cheesesteak-riddled imaginations of Eagles fans, but the secondary, Bradley Fletcher in particular, couldn’t stop plays downfield consistently without committing penalties.

Well, the team will apparently look to turn to the Legion of Boom in order to solve those problems.

Perhaps the least notable member of the Seahawks secondary, Byron Maxwell was no slouch on the edge during the team’s playoff run. Tasked with defending the right side of the field, Maxwell often times drew the opponents best receivers who were looking to move away from Richard Sherman.

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One issue, though, is that Maxwell is used to playing in a zone scheme in Seattle that relied heavily on safety help. It helps to have Earl Thomas playing centerfield and Kam Chancellor threatening crossing routes.

With Nate Allen behind you, it may be a different story for Maxwell. And often times defensive coordinator Billy Davis left corners on an island.

Byron Maxwell will at least perform better than Bradley Fletcher, who was especially bad during the final two games of the season which the Eagles lost to divisional foes Dallas and Washington. Fletcher allowed 1,072 yards, the most in the NFL for 2014, as well as 9 touchdowns. Despite Maxwell’s lack of scheme familiarity, the Eagles should see improvement.

The Eagles may also be looking to draft a corner or safety in the draft this year, where they pick 20th. Alabama’s Landon Collins, regarded as this year’s best safety, could go anywhere from 7th in Chicago to 26th in Baltimore. Other corners could be possibilities, like Michigan State’s Trae Waynes or Marcus Peters from Washington.

Either way, the Eagles should hope to see some marked improvement from their back four this year, and adding Byron Maxwell will help that improvement begin.

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