Call it LOB East. Former Seattle Seahawks cornerbacks Byron Maxwell and Walter Thurmond signed with the Philadelphia Eagles, reuniting as a potential starting tandem as part of a defensive overhaul led by coach Chip Kelly.
Maxwell could make as much as $60 million on a six-year contract to join the Eagles. He was the No. 1-ranked cornerback in free agency. Maxwell and Thurmond were teammates in Seattle as part of the vaunted Legion of Boom secondary two years ago, primarily as backups until Brandon Browner was suspended by the NFL.
Thurmond, who signed a one-year deal, played 41 games at Oregon where Kelly last coached. He spent last season with the New York Giants.
In 2014, Maxwell was part of the defense that led Seattle to the past two Super Bowls, and the Eagles were competing with the Seahawks for his services. He would fill the vacancy left in Philadelphia by free agent cornerback Cary Williams, who was released but quickly signed to take Maxwell's spot in the Seattle defense at right cornerback.
Maxwell, 27, was the Seahawks' starting cornerback opposite Richard Sherman last season. He missed three games with injuries, and he had two interceptions and 12 passed defensed in 2014. He also played the nickelback spot on occasion.
Head coach Pete Carroll's scheme has a way of making stars out of cornerbacks opposite Sherman, and some teams were leery of overpaying Maxwell to play in a different type of defense. Philadelphia gave him top dollar, surpassing the highest contract given to a defensive back by the franchise -- cornerback Nnamdi Asomugha was a major bust after signing a $54 million contract as a free agent from the Oakland Raiders.
Maxwell could make as much as $60 million on a six-year contract to join the Eagles. He was the No. 1-ranked cornerback in free agency. Maxwell and Thurmond were teammates in Seattle as part of the vaunted Legion of Boom secondary two years ago, primarily as backups until Brandon Browner was suspended by the NFL.
Thurmond, who signed a one-year deal, played 41 games at Oregon where Kelly last coached. He spent last season with the New York Giants.
In 2014, Maxwell was part of the defense that led Seattle to the past two Super Bowls, and the Eagles were competing with the Seahawks for his services. He would fill the vacancy left in Philadelphia by free agent cornerback Cary Williams, who was released but quickly signed to take Maxwell's spot in the Seattle defense at right cornerback.
Maxwell, 27, was the Seahawks' starting cornerback opposite Richard Sherman last season. He missed three games with injuries, and he had two interceptions and 12 passed defensed in 2014. He also played the nickelback spot on occasion.
Head coach Pete Carroll's scheme has a way of making stars out of cornerbacks opposite Sherman, and some teams were leery of overpaying Maxwell to play in a different type of defense. Philadelphia gave him top dollar, surpassing the highest contract given to a defensive back by the franchise -- cornerback Nnamdi Asomugha was a major bust after signing a $54 million contract as a free agent from the Oakland Raiders.
