With reports that Devin McCourty will return to the New England Patriots, could the Eagles be turning their eyes west in the search for a safety to pair with Malcolm Jenkins?
That's the idea being floated by a pair of Philadelphia reporters who mention former San Diego Chargers safety Marcus Gilchrist as an option for the Eagles.
Gilchrist, 26, entered the league as a second-round pick of the Chargerrs in 2011. In his four NFL seasons, he has started 40 games, included all 16 games each of the last two seasons, and recorded five interceptions.
NFL Films senior producer Greg Cosell provided the scouting report on Gilchrist in our Film Room segment, singling Gilchrist out as a player with unique ability.
"Gilchrist played safety in San Diego's base defense, and then when San Diego went to their sub packages, nickel or dime, he played in the slot and he also played a lot of corner in college at Clemson," Cosell said. "So he has a multiple skill-set. He can play safety, he can play at the line of scrimmage, he can play deep safety, he can play man-to-man in the slot. He is a very intriguing prospect to me – does not get a lot of attention in San Diego with Eric Weddle and other aspects of that team, but I think Marcus Gilchrist is a really good player, maybe after McCourty could be the best safety in this class."
