AP Photo/Rick Osentoski
The Philadelphia Eagles and cornerback
Avonte Maddox reportedly reached an agreement Saturday on a
three-year, $22.5 million contract extension through the 2024 NFL
season.
ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported full
details of the deal, which comes one day after the Eagles signed
tight end Dallas Goedert to a four-year, $59 million extension:
Maddox is playing the final season of
the four-year rookie contract he signed after Philadelphia selected
him in the fourth round of the 2018 draft.
The 25-year-old University of
Pittsburgh product is putting together the best statistical season of
his career with 48 total tackles, four passes defended, two forced
fumbles and an interception across 10 appearances during the Eagles’
4-6 start.
Perhaps it’s no surprise he’s shown
improvement since moving inside to the slot this year after some
up-and-down campaigns playing on the outside. The offseason arrival
of fellow corner Steven Nelson in free agency to start opposite
Darius Slay allowed for the switch to the nickel role.
Most teams use a nickel package as
their base defense in the pass-happy NFL, so the change
hasn’t impacted his playing time much—he’s played 63 percent of
the Eagles’ defense snaps this year after averaging 69 percent over
his first three seasons.
“You want someone who can move around
on the inside on those quick receivers other than linebackers and
things like that,” Maddox told Dave Zangaro of NBC Sports
Philadelphia in early November. “Nickel is definitely evolving, and
as the years come, I feel like it’ll just keep getting better and
better.”
In all, the Detroit native has recorded
170 total tackles, 21 passes defended and three interceptions in 45
career games.
With two key extensions now in place,
the Eagles can shift focus toward trying to make a second-half surge
toward playoff contention.
They do have a favorable schedule down
the stretch and four straight divisional games to finish the regular
season after their Week 14 bye, so it’s impossible to count Philly
out despite its sluggish start.
Next up is a clash with the New
Orleans Saints (5-4) on Sunday at Lincoln Financial Field in a game that could have lasting NFC wild-card implications.
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