The Eagles made a shrewd move on Tuesday, waiving veteran safety Andrew Sendejo in favor of a 2020 fifth-round compensatory pick.
Sendejo was the lone compensatory formula glitch left on the roster for the Eagles this season. If he had played 10 games for the franchise, the Eagles would have lost the compensatory pick (fifth round) tied to wide receiver Golden Tate, who signed with the Giants in March.
With Sendejo off the books, the Eagles have reinforced their standing within the compensatory pick formula.
That said, the Eagles now have a notable hole to fill in their “big” nickel packages. Sendejo played 41 percent of the defensive snaps this season. He also served on 67.5 percent of the special teams snaps.
The Eagles will now need to find someone to step up in both of those roles moving forward.
Here are the Eagles’ three options to replace Sendejo moving forward:
1. Avonte Maddox/Cre’Von LeBlanc
Maddox (neck/concussion) returned to the field during the Week 9 win over the Chicago Bears, one month after Sendejo knocked him out with a friendly-fire shot in Week 4. Maddox played well in the slot in his return. With fellow cornerback Cre’Von LeBlanc (foot) eligible to return from injured reserve, Maddox could play the nickel cornerback spot full time. While the Eagles have favored three-safety looks in the backfield, Maddox tackles and covers well enough to be moved around as the fifth defender in the secondary at all times.
LeBlanc could also rotate with Maddox at nickel cornerback while serving as a gunner on punt coverage alongside either fellow cornerback Craig James or safety Rudy Ford. LeBlanc’s return to special teams could make up for Sendejo’s void in the third phase. LeBlanc’s return will help the depth at the nickel position, allowing the Eagles to both rotate talent at the spot, as well as determine personnel based on the matchup and obvious play calls.
2. Rudy Ford
This option isn’t likely but is worth considering for the fact that Ford has been in the system for nine games.
The Eagles traded for Ford due to his special teams prowess. This season, Ford has been up-and-down with his production. He’s also been a penalty risk on special teams.
Ford is known for his speed, so the Eagles could like his ability in coverage. While he could appeal to the Eagles in a long-term defensive role, it’s unlikely he would receive that job any time soon. He has played just one defensive snap through nine games.
Ford has played a team-high 75 percent of the special teams snaps this season. With LeBlanc potentially returning, the Eagles could still use Ford frequently but change his responsibilities to fill the hole left by Sendejo’s departure.
3. An external option
The pickings are slim on the free-agent market. Veterans like Eric Berry and D.J. Swearinger have been passed over repeatedly and seem to be afterthoughts on the market. George Iloka and T.J. McDonald also seem to be out of the NFL’s circle of interest as well.
That said, the Eagles are a team that favors veteran talent in the defensive backfield, so it’s possible general manager Howie Roseman goes that route.
However, it’s more likely that the Eagles fill Sendejo’s void internally, as the front office probably planned to cut the veteran for a while, even with a limited scope of replacements on the open market.
Mike Kaye may be reached at mkaye@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter@Mike_E_Kaye. Find NJ.com on Facebook.