The Philadelphia Eagles are putting significant trust in two young cornerbacks — Cooper DeJean and Quinyon Mitchell — to lead their secondary into the future.
So confident are general manager Howie Roseman and head coach Nick Sirianni in the duo that they allowed veteran cornerback Darius Slay to sign with the Pittsburgh Steelers in free agency and dealt star safety C.J. Gardner-Johnson to the Houston Texans.
Although DeJean and Mitchell appear poised to become key pieces of the Eagles’ defense, it could be wise for Philadelphia to consider adding a veteran presence as a safety net. One potential option is a familiar face: free agent cornerback Rasul Douglas.
Douglas, who has 19 career interceptions, began his NFL journey with the Eagles and was part of their Super Bowl-winning team as a rookie in 2017. In 2024, he started 15 games for the Buffalo Bills.
Bleacher Report’s Kristopher Knox highlighted Douglas’ ability to adapt quickly to new defensive schemes, noting his immediate impact after joining the Packers in 2021 and again following his 2023 trade to Buffalo. Knox emphasized that Douglas would be a valuable addition for any team with serious playoff ambitions.
That description fits the Eagles perfectly as they aim to repeat as Super Bowl champions in 2025.
Douglas Went From Eagles to NFL Journeyman
Rasul Douglas earned All-Big 12 honors at West Virginia before being selected by the Eagles in the third round of the 2017 NFL Draft (99th overall). As a rookie, he started five games, recorded two interceptions, and helped the team capture a Super Bowl title.
He spent three seasons in Philadelphia as a part-time starter before being waived in September 2020. That move marked the beginning of a journeyman phase in Douglas’ career, during which he spent time with several teams — including the Carolina Panthers, Las Vegas Raiders, Houston Texans, Arizona Cardinals, Green Bay Packers, and Buffalo Bills.
Despite bouncing around the league, Douglas has been a consistent starter at every stop since his departure from Philadelphia. By the end of the 2024 season, he had earned roughly $25.2 million in his career, most of it from a three-year, $21 million deal signed with the Packers in 2022.
6 days until Packers football. Here’s Rasul Douglas’s pick 6 against the Rams last season 🥳 pic.twitter.com/gYeUIZ9NBn
— sam. (@sammwichh) September 5, 2022
PFF Labels Douglas Top ‘Bounce Back’ Candidate
PFF analyst Zoltán Buday named Rasul Douglas one of the NFL’s top “bounce-back” candidates for 2025 — and notably, he’s the only free agent included on the list.
While Spotrac projects Douglas’ next contract to be a hefty three-year deal worth $35.7 million, that figure appears unrealistic. Given his current market, the Eagles could likely sign him for a one-year deal in the $5 million range.
“His lackluster performance in 2024 may explain why he’s still on the market,” Buday wrote on May 26. Douglas earned a 53.9 overall grade from Pro Football Focus, ranking 102nd out of 116 qualifying cornerbacks, with a coverage grade of just 51.6 — 103rd overall. Still, Buday emphasized that Douglas’ previous success and the fact he’ll be just 30 at the start of the season make him a viable rebound option for teams in need of veteran help in the secondary.
Playoff experience is another area where Douglas stands out — a factor the Eagles should value. He’s competed in the postseason with three different franchises and has reached the playoffs in six of his eight NFL seasons.
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