Avonte Maddox wasted no time in looking for another team when he was released from the Philadelphia Eagles last week. Even though it appears that both the Eagles and Maddox would be open to sticking together, that might not happen if the Saints feel he’s a good fit and are ready to put that in writing.
According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, the fourth-round 2018 draft pick from the University of Pittsburg was released after playing for the Eagles for six years. It might have been a slick move for the Eagles if they want leverage in negotiations but this is a player other teams will be looking at and the Saints are at the top of the list.
Free agency doesn’t offically begin in the NFL until Wednesday, marking the moment when the starter pistol fires and teams can swarm like vulchers upon the valuable players who are out there looking for a job. Avonte Maddox was able to explore other options early because of his release and as if its heads swiveled so fast that it snapped, the Saints were looking his way.
The Saints’ cornerback position has had its up and downs over the last few years. Just last year, Alontae Taylor had some hiccups and Dennis Allen had to sit him down and put Ugo Amadi in his place. If you remember, Amadi was traded to the Eagles in 2022 and then traded to the Titans about 10 days later. He would go on to get his ring playing for the Chiefs against the Eagles in Super Bowl LVII. Karma has a way of coming around like that in the NFL and he went on to sign with the Saints in 2023.
This is the situation Avonte Maddox is getting himself into. With Paulson Adebo making headlines and Marshon Lattimore being one of the best in the business, despite rumors the Saints might trade him, Maddox has an uphill battle if he wants to shine in the NFC South with a fleur-de-lis on his helmet.
Can Avonte Maddox Bring It?
For the past few years, he’s been injured which has resulted in him only being in 14 games over the last two season. Last year, he tore his pectoral muscle in the second week and didn’t return until the last two games of the season. That’s a lot of missed games.
But when he’s playing, he’s a force to be reckoned with. Throughout his career, he’s had 250 tackles, he’s forced 8 fumbles, he’s had 3 sacks, and intercepted 4 times. In 2021, he signed a three-year extension to his contract in the amount of $22.5 million that came with a $5 million signing bonus and salary of $7.5 million, which means that he was going into his last year on that agreement.
A player doesn’t see that kind of money on the table unless the team finds him to be invaluable. But that was back in 2021 and the last two years might have changed their minds. Afterall, it is just business and that business means winning. If you’re sitting, you’re not playing and teams ultimately are only trying to pay the players who are playing.
Is Avonte Maddox Done With The Eagles?
CBS News reports that releasing Maddox was a smart move because it will save them $1.9 million. But they also report that the team would love to see him back at the negotiation table which means they would most likely want to regnotiate that contract. If this move is all for leverage, they might have missed out on a good player.
Maddox will definitely add value to the Saints defense. He’ll get comfortable in New Orleans if he decides to call it home, which will make the fans happy. One more weapon in their quiver to stop the offense never hurt.