The Philadelphia Eagles built themselves a super team in 2022 but when the dust settled on a saddening Super Bowl defeat, it was assumed that many of those big names would test free agency. Some did, but two key names didn’t, and it’s now given Philadelphia one of the deepest cornerback groups in the entire NFL.
The starting trio for 2023…and beyond?
To the surprise of just about everyone, the Eagles were somehow able to not only retain James Bradberry, but Darius Slay too. The logical thesis by a lot of fans was that the Eagles would keep one of their dominant corners and use one of their two first-round picks to draft an heir to the throne. That didn’t happen, but that doesn’t mean the position isn’t set up for long-term success.
To start with, the contracts of both Slay and Bradberry expire in 2026, with team options in 2024. Avonte Maddox is contracted until 2025. That gives Philadelphia two guaranteed years with top-10 boundary corners at the helm, along with a stable nickel option, and time to develop younger talent.
They could of course add resources to the defensive backfield in that time, but they seem to be taking on a new approach.
The Eagles did draft a cornerback…
Before we get to the really interesting part, let’s not forget that Philadelphia did just draft Kelee Ringo. Another Georgia graduate, Ringo has been the top corner for the Bulldogs over the last two seasons. Pro Football Focus graded his 2022 season at an elite 71.4.
He’s a taller corner at 6’2 who excels in man coverage. Fiesty and aggressive, Ringo is known for his ability to jam wideouts at the line and bring a physical style of play to the table. It’s exactly the kind of corner the Eagles would covet to one day replace Darius Slay.
If that wasn’t exciting enough, he’s just the first cog in a very interesting new wheel.
A new prototype
The Eagles added two UDFA cornerbacks to their secondary last year in the way of Mario Goodrich and Josh Jobe – two names who many assumed would be taken in the heart of the NFL Draft and ultimately fell through the cracks.
A similar formula was applied to their 2023 UDFA haul. The Eagles signed former LSU standout, Mehki Garner alongside Alabama’s Eli Ricks. That’s four big-play corners from 3 big-name schools in just two years.
Each has their own strengths and weaknesses, but Jobe and Garner are renowned for playing a similar brand of football to Ringo. There’s a lot of height, tenacity, and ball production within that quartet of UDFA’s and it’s far from coincidental.
The Eagles placed a renewed focus on generating turnovers under Jonathan Gannon and that is in part why Darius Slay’s resurgence was so sharp. Now, Howie Roseman has been able to find players who play the same way, have done so at a high level, and can come in under what is a very strong starting trio and develop away from the spotlight as longer-term projects. Their aggressive mentalities would also benefit a largely deficient special teams unit.
Depth behind Slay, Bradberry and Maddox is thin when it comes to guys with NFL experience. But make no mistake, the Eagles have four underdogs who have competed at the highest CFB levels ready to make that step up to the plate.
How will it all pan out?
We don’t know. But what we do know is that Iron sharpens Iron and battling against a strong group of wide receivers is only going to help this talented group of underdogs. It may take a year, it may take three. But when the moment arrives, Sean Desai is going to have his pick of a very enticing litter when it comes to finding a potential starter or two.
Photo by Andy Lewis/Icon Sportswire
