Joining the Philadelphia Eagles this offseason, Walter Thurmond is set to make a position switch at this request, moving from cornerback to safety.
I chose to go to the safety because of the defense we play – there’s going to be a lot of opportunities to make plays on the ball. They felt confident in me to be able to move to that position.
Thurmond joined the Eagles from the New York Giants, but he was there for just one season (playing two games), and previously he was with the Seattle Seahawks, playing a part in their Super Bowl season.
The Eagles moved him to safety at his request. He’s played a lot of nickel back in his NFL career but also spent time as a safety at Oregon under Chip Kelly, which makes it quite natural for him to make that move in the pros as well, giving him an opportunity to make more plays at the ball and play less man to man coverage, something that isn’t his best quality.
He’s always around the ball. I think he’s had a lot of experience playing nickel, so he’s been an inside guy. He can see things. He’s very intelligent. He’s an intuitive football player. He is the first guy out of that corner mix that is getting a shot at inside.
Thurmond has been in the NFL since 2010. He has played in 36 games, picking up one interception and scoring one career defensive touchdown.