The Philadelphia Eagles had one of the worst defenses in the NFL last season, prompting massive changes to the coaching staff. While the franchise hopes it is a step towards improvement, the NFL Draft and free agency could prove even more crucial to overhauling this defense.
The Eagles’ passing defense proved to be the biggest problem. After strong seasons in 2022, cornerbacks Darius Slay and James Bradberry regressed significantly last season. Just as concerning, a defensive line loaded with first-round picks and massive financial investments fizzled out in the second half of the year.
- Philadelphia Eagles defense stats: 25.6 PPG (30th in NFL), 46.15% third-down conversion rate (30th), 3.3 red-zone scoring attempts per game (24th)
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With long-term financial commitments tied up in key players, Philadelphia won’t have a ton of money to spend this offseason. Even more problematic, the team is projected to have just $23.4 million of cap space in 2025. It makes hitting on this year’s draft class critical and there is one intriguing player Philadelphia seems to have its eye on.
According to Tony Pauline of Sportskeeda, the Eagles might select CFL cornerback Qwan’tez Stiggers in the middle rounds of the 2024 NFL Draft. He’s already impressed during the pre-draft process and could be one of the Day 3 gems who becomes an impact player at the next level.
Interestingly, NFL teams wanted to sign Stiggers last offseason but those efforts were blocked. So, he spent the 2023 season with the Toronto Argonauts and is widely viewed as one of the best non-NCAA players in the 2024 NFL Draft class.
Who is Qwan’tez Stiggers?
Qwan’tez Stiggers, age 22, has already overcome several hardships in his life to reach this point. A car accident resulted in the death of his father and one of his brothers suffered a severe spinal injury playing football. Depression led him to leave college, but he made his way back to football.
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Stiggers returned to the gridiron in the Fan Controlled Football League for the 2022 season and then caught the eye of the CFL’s Toronto Argonauts. When his path to the NFL was blocked, the 6-foot cornerback took advantage of an opportunity in the Canadian Football League.
- Qwan’tez Stiggers CFL stats: 5 interceptions in 16 games
He earned CFL East All-Star honors and earned the CFL’s Most Outstanding Rookie Award this past season. After a successful CFL debut, Stiggers was invited to the Shrine Bowl where he once again made a strong impression. With the Eagles once again in need of cornerbacks, Stiggers will be a name to watch in the 2024 NFL Draft and his story could make him a fan-favorite in Philadelphia.
