Eagles Sign Cary Williams, Kenny Phillips

The Eagles made a couple additions to their secondary today, signing cornerback Cary Williams and safety Kenny Phillips.

Williams (6-1, 190) has been a two-year starter for the Ravens. He was originally a seventh-round pick by the Titans in 2008. The 28-year old had six interceptions (four in the regular season) and started all 16 games for the Super-Bowl champion Ravens in 2012. According to Pro Football Focus, quarterbacks completed 65.7 percent of their throws against him last year, and he yielded six touchdowns in the regular season.

Williams is used to a lot of action his way. He was targeted 102 times last year, 10th-most of any cornerback in the league, per PFF. And he’s one of only four players (Sean Smith, Tim Jennings, Tramon Williams) to be targeted over 100 times in each of the past two seasons.

One note Eagles fans will appreciate: Williams missed just three tackles last season; 87 cornerbacks (including Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie and Nnamdi Asomugha missed more).

Williams has started 33 games and appeared in 55 in his career.

Phillips (6-2, 217), meanwhile, was a productive player for the Giants. Originally a first-round pick in 2008, he’s got 41 starts under his belt. But Phillips has battled knee issues. According to the New York Daily News, a sprained right MCL sidelined Phillips for nine games last season. And he told the paper he was unhappy with the team had him rehab the injury.

“When we started our rehab we didn’t go about it the right way, and now here we are, we’re dealing with it right now,” Phillips said. “I don’t want to get into (specifics). It just didn’t work out the way we wanted it to.
”

Asked if he was angry, Phillips said “I mean, I wouldn’t say I’m mad about it. It is what it is. No one’s perfect. I just think we both felt that something needed to change. We needed to change up the rehab. We just felt like we weren’t doing the right things.

Williams also had left knee surgery in 2009, which the NYDN report deemed “major.”

In five seasons with New York, Phillips totaled eight interceptions, 26 passes defensed and 263 total tackles. He is a low-risk, high-reward option, depending on his health. The 26-year-old got a one-year deal.

Williams got a three-year deal, although financial details were not immediately available.

One last thing: Williams is known for his confrontational style. Looking forward to his first meet and greet with Eagles wide receiver Jeremy Maclin (see video below).

Tim McManus contributed to this story.