Cooper DeJean and Michael Carter II can play the same position, but their presence together could give the Eagles' defensive coordinator Vic Fangio more options rather than creating a conflict.
DeJean established himself as an elite nickel defender, but he can also align at safety, outside cornerback, or near the line of scrimmage. Carter has spent most of his NFL career covering slot receivers and gives Philadelphia another proven inside option. Fangio can place Carter in the slot and move DeJean to safety without substituting. On another snap, DeJean can return to the nickel position while Carter handles a dime-linebacker assignment.
That flexibility will be valuable against offenses that use motion to identify coverages. Philadelphia can show
one alignment before the snap and rotate into another once the quarterback begins his cadence.
Riq Woolen and Quinyon Mitchell should handle most outside assignments. Andrew Mukuba and Marcus Epps project as the conventional safeties, but DeJean’s ability to move between levels gives Fangio another solution against tight ends, running backs, and mobile quarterbacks.
Carter’s acquisition and reworked contract were not an admission that DeJean needed to leave the slot. It was an investment in having two dependable inside defensive backs capable of expanding the entire coverage menu.
This article originally appeared on Eagles Wire: How Cooper DeJean and Michael Carter II give Vic Fangio added flexibility
