Eagles Trade Safety, Strengthen Safety Group

0:00From the Daily News Now Network, this is NFL News Today. Subscribe to keep up with every headline, every game. The Philadelphia Eagles made a big move at safety this week, trading fourth year players Sydney Brown to the Atlanta Falcons. In return, they jumped eight spots in the fourth round from pick number 122 to number 114 and 18 spots in. The sixth round from number 215 to number 197. Brown burst onto the scene as a rookie, with a standout 99 yard interception return for a touchdown against the Arizona Cardinals. But a torn ACL in the final regular season game led to a tough rehab, including a second surgery, and he missed the first six games last year. Under new defensive coordinator, Vic Fangio, Brown struggled to adapt after sitting out early, mostly handling special teams with just 22. After a set of defensive snaps, he sat behind Reed Blankenship, rookie Drew McCuba, and later Marcus Epps on the Dept chart.

1:00Right after the trade, the Eagles locked in one year deals with veterans, Marcus Epps, and J.T. Gray. Epps stepped up as a starter last season after McCuba's injury, while Gray brings top special teams, chops from his time with the Saints and other, stops. Now the safety group features Mukuba, slot convert Michael Carter the second, Ups Gray, plus young features like Andre Sam and Brandon Johnson, setting them up strong, heading into the draft.