Howie Roseman isn’t done putting together the Eagles’ 2023 roster, but he may have a head start on their 2024 roster.
The Eagles on Monday signed cornerback Isaiah Rodgers, who was suspended for at least the 2023 season on June 29 for violating NFL gambling guidelines. He was released by the Colts minutes later.
The Eagles immediately placed Rodgers on the suspended reserve list. He will not be on the team next year and will not be paid. He doesn’t count towards the Eagles’ adjusted 2023 salary cap of approximately $234.7 million, nor does he count towards the 53-man roster.
Rodgers signed a four-year, $3.44 million contract when the Colts drafted him in the sixth round of the 2020 draft. He should make $2.7 million this year.
In three seasons with the Colts, Rodgers played 45 games, starting 10 of them. He had three interceptions in 2021 and four fumble recoveries last year. As a rookie in 2020, he also hit a 101-yard kickoff return for a touchdown.
Rodgers’ Pro Football Focus score of 82.1 was the fifth-highest among 82 cornerbacks who played at least 250 snaps last year. His coverage of 81.5 was the sixth-highest and his run defense of 75.5 was the 20th-highest.
Rodgers, 25, played college football at UMass, where he was a teammate of current Eagles offensive player Jack Driscoll in 2016 and 2017 before Driscoll moved to Auburn.
Rodgers apologized for his actions in a tweet shortly after the allegations were made public.
“In light of the current reports, I want to take full responsibility for my actions. I know I made mistakes and I’m willing to do anything to improve the situation. The last thing I ever wanted to do was distract the Colts organization, my coaches and my teammates.
“I let down people who were important to me. I made an error of judgment and will work hard to ensure these errors are corrected through this process. It’s an honor to play in the NFL, and I never took it lightly. I’m all very sorry.”
Rodgers is primarily an outside corner player. In his three years at Indianapolis, he played 948 defensive snaps, and according to the PFF, only 31 of those were in the slot.
The Eagles already have a crowded running back room in 2024, with starting corners Darius Slay and James Bradberry both signing three-year deals this past offseason. Both are signed until 2025.
Additionally, Josh Jobe is signed until 2024 with the Eagles keeping his rights until 2025, Kelee Ringo is signed on his rookie four-year contract until 2026, and promising rookie Eli Ricks is signed until 2025 with the Eagles keeping his rights until 2026 retained Avonte Maddix is in the squad and Slot-Ecke is under contract until 2024. Zech McPhearson, who is out for this season with an Achilles tendon injury, is also under contract until 2024.