The Philadelphia Eagles secondary is tossing the keys to its young players.
Cornerback Darius Slay is a Pittsburgh Steeler, Safety C.J. Gardner-Johnson was traded to the Houston Texans, and both second-year standouts Cooper DeJean and Quinyon Mitchell are expected to take on outsized role in coordinator Vic Fangio‘s second season at the helm of the Eagles’ defense.
There also might be another young cornerback poised to make a legitimate run at stealing a starting job over the next several weeks.
As the Eagles prepare to open training camp in preparation of defending the franchise’s second Lombardi Trophy this fall, ESPN NFL analyst Aaron Schatz suggests Kelee Ringo could be a young player who could emerge with a starting job in tow come September.
“Cornerback Kelee Ringo. Ringo hasn’t gotten on the field much since the Eagles took him in the fourth round of the 2023 draft,” Schatz writes for ESPN. “He played only 10 snaps or more in three games last season. But he has shown promise in limited playing time, with above-average coverage DVOA in both seasons. He has got the physical tools at 6-foot-2 with 4.36 speed, but he’s inconsistent. If veteran Adoree’ Jackson falters, Ringo could earn the starting spot, replacing Darius Slay.”
The Eagles not prioritizing adding a veteran cornerback in free agency or investing another early round draft choice at the position could telegraph a confidence that Ringo is primed to take the next step.
Ringo, 23, has just 36 tackles through his first two seasons with one sack and one interception, but given the level of uncertainty at quarterback for the Eagles, could seize an outsized role this season if he puts together a strong training camp this summer.
Cooper DeJean’s Role in Flux in Eagles’ Secondary
GettyPhiladelphia Eagles cornerback Cooper DeJean’s Versatility could create opportunities for other young players.
Former second-round draft choice Cooper DeJean became an immediate contributor in the Eagles’ secondary and forged an immediate reputation as one of the rising young cornerbacks in the league, as a rookie.
Pulling down a pick-six in Super Bowl LIX as a capstone to the second-round draft choice’s dominant season, DeJean posted 51 total tackles in 2024.
This season, thanks to his versatility to play cornerback or contribute as a safety, training camp this summer could play a vital role in determining where exactly Fangio deploys DeJean from when the season kicks off in September.
“We’d like to keep him at nickel, and then in our base package we’ll find a spot for him, either at corner or safety,” defensive coordinator Vic Fangio told reporters regarding DeJean. “A lot of it will end up depending on how the other guys develop and where we most need him. It will be determined by what’s best for him and what’s best for the team—and what’s best for the team will win out in that decision. But he’s capable of playing corner and he’s capable of playing safety.”
Former Eagles Running Back Released by Tennessee Titans
Mitchell Leff | Getty Former Philadelphia Eagles running back Tyrion Davis-Price was released by the Titans.
Former Eagles running back Tyrion Davis-Price was released by the Tennessee Titans, as training camp gets underway.
Davis-Price, 24, appeared in one game for the Eagles last season, rushing for seven yards on three carries.
The former third-round pick of the San Francisco 49ers in the 2022 NFL Draft will now look to latch on elsewhere for the 2025 season.
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