Skip to content
Eagles
Link copied to clipboard

Report: Eagles to work out Miami CB

While the deadline to settle on a new CBA has been extended, the Eagles are continuing their usual preparations for April's draft.

According to Pro Football Talk, they have a private, on-campus workout scheduled with University of Miami cornerback Demarcus Van Dyke on March 14.

Van Dyke (6-1, 176) ran the fastest 40 time at the combine (4.28) and the third-fastest time since 2000, according to NFL.com.

In four years with the 'Canes, he started 21 games.

Wes Bunting at the National Football Post has Van Dyke rated as the 29th-best cornerback and says he'll need some time to make an impact in the NFL:

Will be given a chance because of his natural fluidity and size/speed numbers. But as of now isn't a guy who you can trust on the outside in man coverage at the next level. Needs some time and coaching to clean his technique up, and he looks more like a developmental-type prospect to me with a good amount of upside.

As I've done the past two years, I'll keep a separate page listing all the players the Eagles have worked out once more names surface.

I did an interview Saturday, talking Eagles and draft with Cecil Lammey over at FootballGuys.com. He asked me if the Eagles' biggest need is offensive line. But I think right now I'd say it's cornerback.

Don't get me wrong. The Eagles need help up front. But for all the problems they had, the Birds averaged 27.4 points per game, third in the NFL. They averaged a league-best 5.4 yards per carry (includes the Michael Vick runs), a full half-yard better than the second-best team. And they had 61 pass plays of 20-plus yards, fourth-most.

In other words, none of those things are possible if the offensive line is a complete disaster.

The lack of a right cornerback, on the other hand, was an issue that led to all kinds of problems. The Eagles gave up 31 touchdowns (third-most) and 54 pass plays of 20-plus yards (ninth-most).

Both areas need to be addressed, but if you ask me which one is more crucial, I say cornerback.

In case you missed it, yesterday I updated the mock draft roundup post.

EAGLES LOSE CAP ANALYST

According to Adam Caplan of FoxSports.com, the Eagles are losing salary cap analyst Adam Katz, who is reportedly returning to law school.

Per Caplan, Katz has negotiated several player contracts over the last year.

As I wrote about last month, the Eagles figure to have room to spend if/when a salary cap is imposed and bidding opens on free agents.

You can follow Moving the Chains on Twitter or become a fan on Facebook.

Download our NEW iPhone/Android app for even more Birds coverage, including app-exclusive videos and analysis. Get it here.