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Eagles safety Malcolm Jenkins expects a 'breakout' season from CB Jalen Mills

The Eagles might choose one or more cornerbacks in the NFL draft, which starts Thursday.

The Eagles will try to upgrade their cornerback depth chart during the NFL draft, and safety Malcolm Jenkins wants them to take a cornerback in the first round. But he also expects second-year cornerback Jalen Mills to emerge as an important starter for the Eagles.

"I know we've got a lot of faith in Jalen Mills," Jenkins said Monday. "I'm excited to watch him really mature into a starting cornerback, because I think he's going to have a breakout season."

Mills, a seventh-round pick last season, started two games for the Eagles and played all 16 games. He took 65 percent of the defensive snaps and had 10 passes defended. Mills was inconsistent, but he earned the praise - and trust - of defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz because of his competitiveness. With Nolan Carroll and Leodis McKelvin gone, Mills is the team's top returning cornerback.

Why is Jenkins so confident in Mills?

"I'm more impressed by his mentality and his approach to the game," Jenkins said. "At the corner position, that's probably 90 percent of what it is. And he also has the athletic gifts. But his competitiveness and his willingness to work and get better day in and day out has been impressive since he got there. It hasn't changed. As we kind of push a little bit more load onto him, I think he's built to handle it."

The only addition to the cornerback depth chart so far this offseason has been veteran journeyman Patrick Robinson, who came with little financial obligation, and CFL import Mitchell White. (Jenkins was a teammate of Robinson in New Orleans and said he has "a lot of talent," but needs to stay healthy.) The Eagles also return Dwayne Gratz, C.J. Smith, and Aaron Grymes.

Look for them to add at least two cornerbacks in the draft, and one might even come in the first round. Jenkins said the Eagles need a No. 1 cornerback, but he's confident Mills can step into a starting role.