The Philadelphia Eagles have had quite a few good players suit up for them over the past few years. After all, that’s typically what you need to have happen if you are going to win two Super Bowls in a span of eight seasons, which is what the Eagles accomplished after winning a pair of championships in 2017 and 2024.
One of several diamonds in the rough the Eagles have unearthed over the past few years is defensive back Jalen Mills. The versatile cornerback/safety hybrid helped Philadelphia take down the New England Patriots in Super Bowl LII, and he made a big decision on his playing future on Sunday morning that quickly caught the attention of fans.
Jalen Mills Signs with Texans in Free Agency
The Eagles selected Mills in the seventh round of the 2016 NFL Draft, and he immediately earned a role in their secondary as a rookie. While he only started two games, Mills still racked up 62 tackles and seven pass deflections in 16 contests for Philadelphia. After a strong offseason of work, he ended up becoming one of the team’s starting cornerbacks in 2017.
Mills enjoyed the best season of his career that year, as he piled up 64 tackles, three interceptions (one of which he returned for a touchdown), and 14 pass deflections. When all was said and done, Philadelphia had pulled out an improbable Super Bowl victory over New England, giving Mills the first ring of his career.
After the 2020 season, Mills would latch on with the Patriots in free agency, where he played for three seasons before spending time with both the New York Giants and New York Jets last year. This offseason, Mills remained a free agent well after the start of training camp, but he finally has found a new home, as he signed a contract with the Houston Texans on Sunday morning.
“With Texans safety C.J. Gardner-Johnson suffering a knee injury and safety Jimmie Ward facing legal issues, Houston is signing veteran free-agent safety Jalen Mills, per his agents Drew Rosenhaus and Robert Bailey,” Adam Schefter of ESPN reported in a post on X.
Should the Eagles Have Signed Jalen Mills?
GettyJalen Mills #35 of the New York Jets looks on after facing the Seattle Seahawks.
The Texans certainly need some help at the safety spot, as another former Eagles player, C.J. Gardner-Johnson, is dealing with a leg injury, while Jimmie Ward has found himself in some legal trouble off the field. And yet, it’s fair to wonder if Philadelphia could have benefited from reuniting with Mills as protection for the unproven Sydney Brown, who is penciled in as the starter alongside Reed Blankenship.
Ultimately, the Eagles feel comfortable leaning on Brown, just as they once did with Mills, who stepped up and contributed to the team them back at the beginning of his tenure with them. Philly fans will surely keep tabs on Mills’ stint with Houston, and who knows, if he doesn’t pan out there, a return to the Eagles later on in the season could be in the cards.
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