The Eagles traded defensive tackle Thomas Booker to the Las Vegas Raiders in exchange for cornerback Jakorian Bennett on Monday night, according to multiple reports from ESPN and NFL Network.
Bennett, a 2023 fourth-round draft pick of the Raiders, has started 11 games in his first two NFL seasons, amassing 58 tackles and 11 passes defended. He has taken 712 snaps at outside cornerback compared to 28 snaps in the slot, according to Pro Football Focus.
The addition of Bennett signals the Eagles are not content with Kelee Ringo and Adoree’ Jackson being the only options for the CB2 job.
Bennett should join the competition and has a good chance of starting this season. He was selected one pick ahead of Ringo in the 2023 draft and has shown more through two years.
Last season, the 24-year-old only allowed 18 catches for 176 yards and gave up zero touchdowns in 294 coverage snaps, per PFF. Bennett missed the final seven games with a shoulder injury.
“It feels amazing, man. I haven’t had both my shoulders since college,” Bennett told reporters this past spring, according to RaidersWire. ”I’d go out there during games, knowing my shoulder was going to pop out. Probably last season my shoulder popped out like five times. Because I had a torn labrum, you know?
“A lot of people don’t know that but I was just thugging it out. They’d put it back in and I’d go back in or whatever, but it feels good to have it back right. Just time to take that next step.”
The undersized cornerback (5-11, 195 pounds) played well last season, so it’s odd that the Raiders have decided to trade him.
Bennett doesn’t fit new Raiders coach Pete Carroll’s size threshold for the position. Dating back to his time with the Seattle Seahawks, Carroll has built his defense around big CBs. Perhaps that’s the reason Bennett was no longer viewed as a fit.
The Eagles run zone coverage, which is a perfect fit for Bennett’s skill set. He will have to quickly learn Vic Fangio’s scheme to beat out Ringo and Jackson, starting this week.
Fangio said before Monday’s practice the battle between Jackson and Ringo was close. With nobody emerging as a leader, the Eagles were inclined to add another CB to the mix.
Ringo and Jackson shouldn’t be counted out from winning it still, but it will be tougher to do.
Bennett has elite speed (4.30 40-yard dash time) and could pair nicely with Quinyon Mitchell. He at least gives the Eagles better depth. Still with two years remaining on his rookie contract, he’s the type of player worth gambling on.
With Booker gone, it opens the door for Gabe Hall or Byron Young to make the roster. The Eagles are strong at DT, so the loss of Booker won’t hurt.
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