The Philadelphia Eagles are currently 3-3 on the season with a huge matchup tonight against the 5-0 Carolina Panthers before the bye week. This season, many fans thought that the defense would be an issue, not the offense. Through six games, the Eagles defense has kept the team in games and causing turnovers at a rapid pace.
The Eagles’ defense is sixth in the NFL in interceptions thrown with eight. One player, who has three of those interceptions is safety Walter Thurmond III. Thurmond, who the Eagles signed in free agency to a one-year, $3.25 million deal is having a career year.
This season, he has four pass deflections, 30 combined tackles, to go along with those three interceptions. He has been a bargain and brought stability to the secondary.
According to Spotrac, Thurmond’s contract average for this season is ranked 15th in the league in terms of free safeties. In comparison to Houston Texans free safety Rahim Moore, who was also a free agent this offseason, he only has 14 combined tackles and an interception this season. Moore signed a three-year, $12 million deal.
That’s just one example of how the Eagles got a better player at a cheaper price who is paying off. But no one did not know what to expect from Thurmond this season as he missed most of last season with an injury. Last season, Thurmond spent time with the New York Giants, but only had four combined tackles. With the Giants, he was their nickel cornerback, the same position he played with the Seattle Seahawks.
With the Seahawks, Thurmond played an integral part in the Legion of Boom. 2013 was his best season to date, where he had 33 combined tackles, six pass deflections, an interception and a forced fumble. It looks like Thurmond will surpass those numbers this season as he is projected to finish with 80 combined tackles, 11 pass deflections and eight interceptions.
If Thurmond continues to play well at safety, he should be in line for a contract extension at the end of the season.
Right now, he is playing the best football of his career and is an integral piece of the secondary. He is great addition to a secondary that is adding players who are versatile. We have seen many times this season, where the Eagles have used five defensive backs in a lot of passing situations.
The Eagles should re-sign Thurmond because they do not have an heir apparent ready to take over at the safety position. This past May, the Eagles selected cornerback/safety Eric Rowe out of Utah in the second round of the NFL Draft. Eagles defensive coordinator Billy Davis and head coach Chip Kelly are trying to figure out where Rowe is best suited to play at. It looks like, they are trying to work him in at corner but knowing how the Eagles are building their secondary, he could end up at safety.
Thurmond has been a pleasant surprise and an upgrade at a spot where the Eagles have been desperately looking for help. For the Eagles’ secondary to keep causing turnovers, Thurmond has to keep on locking down the left side of the field, making life tough on opposing teams’ quarterbacks and wide receivers.
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