The first two nights of the 2020 NFL Draft left Eagles fans scratching their heads a bit. Many started to question Howie Roseman's tactics, but on day three the narrative seemed to make a complete 180°. Roseman addressed many of the needs the team had at various positions, and he started the day with the drafting of Clemson safety K'Von Wallace.
The selection of Wallace has been met with praise from fans, beat writers, and national analysts. CBSSports.com's Chris Trappaso recently revealed his day three picks that he believes will make immediate impacts for their respective teams. Trappaso named Wallace as one of those impact players. Here's what he had to say on the newest Eagles defensive back:
"Yes, the Eagles traded for star outside cornerback Darius Slay this offseason, however, as a whole, Philadelphia's secondary has a long way to go before it's a truly respectable unit. Many jobs are up for grabs.
Wallace will enter the NFL with a safety label but is truly a slot cornerback who occasionally carried out some free safety responsibilities in Clemson's defense. With 4.53 speed, Wallace is somewhat of a liability running in man deep down the field. But his 38-inch vertical and quick 6.76 three-cone time translates to quick, explosive movements on the field, perfect for dealing with twitch slot receivers at the short and intermediate levels.
As a senior, he defended 10 passes and snagged a pair of interceptions to go along with a hefty 76 tackles. At 5-11 and 206 pounds, Wallace has a compact frame that allows him to play bigger than his size against the run. He's very reliable as a tackler too.
Avonte Maddox has spent time in the slot for the Eagles but kicked outside in 2019. No one else in the defensive backfield has a firm grasp on the new-age safety/slot cornerback position. Wallace has the perfect skill set to be an instant, big-play contributor in Philadelphia's secondary."
So Trappaso believes that Wallace could be more of a hybrid player, but Jim Schwartz still sees to be high on Cre'Von LeBlanc as a productive slot cornerback. The Eagles also added Nickell Robey-Coleman this offseason, who almost exclusively plays the slot.
If Schwartz does want Wallace to be a hybrid, his snaps in the slot might be severely limited in 2020. However, this upcoming season he should get a healthy amount of snaps as a safety.
LeBlanc and Robey-Coleman are not signed through 2021, so if neither of those players impresses enough to stick around, Wallace could move down into a permanent slot role in 2021 and beyond.
Ultimately, almost everyone seems to agree that Wallace has enough talent to be an immediate contributor for this upcoming season. It will be fun to watch just how productive he can be, and if he will turn into the safety of the future or the slot cornerback of the future.
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