10 defensive backs for the Eagles to watch at the 2023 NFL combine
The Eagles are in Indianapolis for the 2023 NFL scouting combine, and all eyes within the organization will likely be on impact defenders.
Brandon Graham, Fletcher Cox, Javon Hargrave, T.J. Edwards, Kyzir White, James Bradberry, C.J. Gardner-Johnson, and Marcus Epps are all slated for free agency. It won’t be possible for the Eagles to bring them all back, especially once Jalen Hurts signs his new deal.
We’ve previewed the edge rushers and linebackers who worked out on Thursday, and we’ll now transition to a deep class at the defensive back position.
Christian Gonzalez, CB, Oregon
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A talented athlete at 6-foot-2, 201 pounds, Gonzalez earned First-Team All-Pac-12 after transferring from Colorado.
Brian Branch, S, Alabama
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A talented safety who can do it all at multiple positions, Branch can make plays in space, he can cover one-on-one and he could also assume the C.J. Gardner-Johnson role in this defense.
Kelee Ringo (Georgia)
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One of the biggest corners in the draft, listed at 6-2, 210 pounds, Ringo is a former track athlete who s a big play waiting to happen.
The Georgia All-American has reportedly met with the Eagles in Indianapolis.
Antonio Johnson, S, Texas A&M
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A big safety at 6-foot-3, 195 pounds, Johnson is an explosive athlete who could play a Jamal Adams role for the Eagles.
Sydney Brown, DB, Illinois
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Brown started 50 games for the Illini, and his brother, Chase, is a star running back in this draft class as well.
A swiss army knife at safety, Brown earned First-Team All-Big Ten playing a hybrid role.
Cam Smith, CB, South Carolina
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A productive cornerback who plays with quickness and fluid movements, Smith is battle tested after playing in the SEC.
Jammie Robinson (Florida State)
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Robinson is talented and versatile, as he can play a slot corner/safety hybrid and compares to C.J. Gardner-Johnson.
Jordan Battle, S, Alabama
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A consistent player at the safety position, Battle logged 44 starts and over 3,000 defensive snaps during his time at Alabama.
Joey Porter Jr., CB, Penn State
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Listed at 6-2, 198 pounds, Porter is an aggressive cornerback that forced an incompletion on 38.2 percent of the throws where he was targeted in coverage this season.
Devon Witherspoon, CB, Illinois
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The top-ranked cornerback on many boards, Witherspoon could be the perfect fit for an Eagles team looking to retool at the position.
Last season among draft-eligible cornerbacks, no player allowed a lower percentage of his targets to be caught (31.6) and no one forced a lower passer rating for opposing quarterbacks when he was the primary coverage defender (45.3) than Witherspoon.
Emmanuel Forbes -- Mississippi State
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Forbes patterns his game after Darius Slay and he’s a big-play cornerback in his own right.
Emmanuel Forbes looks up to Darius Slay, a fellow Miss. State product. The toughest WR he covered in the SEC? DeVonta Smith. pic.twitter.com/RqVFIkuYmJ
— Zach Berman (@ZBerm) March 2, 2023
Forbes owns the FBS record with six career pick-sixes and is a three-year starter for the Bulldogs.
The Bengals also talked to CB Emmanuel Forbes. Holds the record for must pick-6s in college football history.
Would be a very fun add for the Bengals defense. pic.twitter.com/FAE0ZKuIGa
— Blake Jewell (@BlakeJewellNFL) March 2, 2023
