Entering the final day of the NFL Draft, Howie Roseman had to be patient and hope that former Pittsburgh cornerback Avonte Maddox would be on the board 25 selections into the fourth round. The Eagles didn't want to sacrifice the resources necessary to move up.
Maddox was still available. And now he's an Eagle. The Eagles chose him with the 125th overall pick.
"This is a guy that fits in with our DB room," vice president of player personnel Joe Douglas said. "It's a group of highly competitive guys and he's going to blend in perfectly and even stand out to a degree. Even though he's not the biggest guy, he will attack and support. He was a productive tackler for Pittsburgh."
The 22-year-old Detroit native was a four-year starter for the Panthers, breaking up 34 passes and notching eight interceptions. He returned two of them for touchdowns. A team captain as a senior, Maddox brings kick return experience into the mix as well.
Maddox played primarily on the left side at Pittsburgh but has nickel experience as well. He tested well at the NFL Scouting Combine posting the fastest 60-yard shuttle among all players this year. Maddox also impressed with a 4.39-second 40-yard dash, a 10-5 broad jump, and a 6.51-second 3-cone drill.
Maddox is 5-9, 180 pounds but the talent, athleticism, and character were too good to pass on.
"There's been plenty of productive corners who don't have ideal height and length," Douglas said.
The latest addition to a young cornerback group, Maddox joins Ronald Darby, Jalen Mills, and last year's draft picks in Sidney Jones and Rasul Douglas. The Eagles do have to replace the production from last year's nickel corner Patrick Robinson, who signed with New Orleans in free agency.
Take a look at the Eagles 2018 draft class.
The Eagles selected Dallas Goedert with the 49th overall pick.
Dallas Goedert caught 198 passes for 2,988 yards and 21 touchdowns during his career at South Dakota State.
Dallas Goedert.
Dallas Goedert scores a touchdown against TCU during a game on Sept. 3, 2016.
Dallas Goedert's best season at South Dalota State came in 2016 when he caught 92 passes for 1,293 yards and 11 touchdowns.
Dallas Goedert running with the ball against Western Illinois.
Dallas Goedert catches a touchdown against Montana during a game on Nov. 28, 2015.
Dallas Goedert at the NFL Scouting Combine
Dallas Goedert.
The Eagles selected CB Avonte Maddox with the 125th overall pick in the 2018 NFL Draft.
Avonte Maddox had eight career interceptions during his time at Pitt.
The former Pitt Panther recorded seven sacks during his college career, including four in 2017.
Maddox posted career highs in interceptions (3) and pass breakups (12) in 2015.
Avonte Maddox tallied 183 total tackles in college.
Avonte Maddox ran the 40-yard dash in 4.39 seconds at the NFL Scouting Combine.
Maddox leaped 125 inches in the broad jump.
The Eagles selected Josh Sweat with the 130th overall pick in the 2018 NFL Draft.
Josh Sweat played in at least 11 games in each of his three seasons at Florida State.
Sweat racked up 29 tackles for loss during his collegiate career, including 12.5 in 2017.
Sweat recorded 14.5 sacks while at FSU, including a career-high seven in 2016.
Josh Sweat recorded a time of 4.53 in the 40-yard dash at the NFL Scouting Combine.
The new Eagles DE did a vertical jump of 39.5 inches at the NFL Scouting Combine.
The Eagles selected Matt Pryor (64) with the 206th overall pick in the 2018 NFL Draft.
Matt Pryor (64) was named Second Team All-Big 12 by the head coaches and Associated Press in 2016 and 2017.
Pryor (64) started all 13 games at right guard as a junior in 2016.
Pryor (64) made five starts during his sophomore season at TCU.
The Eagles selected Jordan Mailata with the 233rd pick in the 2018 NFL Draft.
