What Is the Eagles’ Contingency Plan at CB in 2025?
Philadelphia Eagles general manager Howie Roseman isn’t perfect. While he is rightfully viewed as a legend in the City of Brotherly Love, Roseman would be the first to admit that he has made mistakes throughout his career. Yet his ability to learn from those mistakes and make the necessary changes is one of Roseman’s best qualities.
While many Eagles fans have expressed their concerns about Kelee Ringo or Adoree’ Jackson starting in 2025, it isn’t time to panic. Roseman will likely let the position battle run its course through training camp and adjust accordingly, which he has shown the willingness to do in recent years.
In each of the last three years, Roseman has made a significant trade at a position of weakness. All three of those deals took place between August and October as Roseman continued to evaluate Philadelphia’s roster.
2022: The Eagles initially tried to start Anthony Harris at safety next to Marcus Epps. Yet that plan didn’t work and Roseman pivoted by trading for C.J. Gardner-Johnson in late August. It proved to be a key move that helped power Philadelphia to an appearance in Super Bowl LVII.
2023: Philadelphia entered the regular season with two new starters at safety. While Reed Blankenship proved that he belonged, Terrell Edmunds clearly wasn’t the answer. Roseman attempted to fix the issue by trading for former All-Pro safety Kevin Byard in October. Yet it was a little too late, as Philadelphia’s defense spiraled out of control.
2024: Many were concerned about the WR3 position in Philadelphia. Roseman eased those concerns by trading for Jahan Dotson in late August. While Dotson didn’t post the stats that many expected, he made plays in Super Bowl LIX and should have an increased role in 2025.
Now let’s shift our attention back to Philadelphia’s cornerback situation ahead of training camp. Quinyon Mitchell is going to start on the outside and Cooper DeJean is going to start in the slot, yet many are concerned about the competition between Ringo and Jackson.
Following a promising rookie year that included a few flashes, Ringo played just 129 total defensive snaps in 2024. It was clear that Victor Fangio didn’t quite trust him just yet, as Isaiah Rodgers served as Philadelphia’s top reserve cornerback. Although he seems to be trending in the right direction following an impressive performance at OTAs.
Jackson will turn 30-years-old in September and was a free agent all of last offseason before re-signing with the New York Giants on September 1st. While Jackson has plenty of starting experience, Philadelphia likely wants him to play a reserve role, similar to what Rodgers did in 2024.
Therefore, it’s easy to see how Eagles fans could be concerned about the options at cornerback beyond Mitchell and DeJean. Yet Roseman is likely prepared for any potential letdowns and has a few tricks up his sleeve.
Here are two potential options to watch for if Ringo and Jackson fail to impress in 2025:
Asante Samuel Jr.
The Samuel family obviously has ties to the Eagles organization. Asante Samuel Sr. played for four seasons in Philadelphia, where he was named to the Pro Bowl three times and a second-team All-Pro once. Now it could be time for his son to follow his father’s footsteps.
Many Eagles fans wanted to see the team draft Samuel in the second round of the 2021 NFL Draft. Yet the Eagles opted to select Landon Dickerson instead, which has obviously worked out great for Philadelphia. Now the Eagles have the opportunity to have both players on the team’s roster in 2025.
In four seasons with the Los Angeles Chargers, Samuel showed flashes of his potential, yet he hasn’t been able to put it all together. Samuel has struggled with missed tackles, with a career missed tackle rate of 16.7%, according to Pro Football Focus. He is also recovering from a shoulder and neck injury, which he suffered in October of 2024.
Despite the injury concerns, Philadelphia has reportedly shown interest in adding Samuel this offseason. According to Jeremy Fowler of ESPN, the Eagles have thought about potentially signing Samuel and it’s a move that is “on their radar.”
While Samuel remains a free agent due to concerns about his injury, it could serve as a blessing in disguise for the Eagles. It allows Roseman and Philadelphia’s coaching staff to evaluate the battle between Ringo and Jackson for a bit longer before being forced to make a decision about potentially signing Samuel.
It’s clear that the Eagles have created a culture and reputation around the NFL that allows players to prove their worth. If Samuel wants the chance to potentially start on a Super Bowl contender that will play plenty of nationally televised games, it feels like an ideal move for both sides.
Greg Newsome II
If Samuel signs with a team before training camp, Philadelphia could be forced to move in a different direction. Roseman isn’t afraid to make trades in August and there is one target at cornerback that would make a ton of sense for the Eagles in 2025.
Cleveland Browns cornerback Greg Newsome II is heading into the final year of his rookie contract after the team exercised his fifth-year option. Newsome has been involved in trade rumors dating back to last season’s trade deadline, yet he remains in Cleveland for now.
Despite being set to make $13.3 million in 2025, Philadelphia has plenty of cap space to potentially trade for Newsome. He is just 25-years-old and Roseman has shown a willingness to take a chance on former high draft picks in the past, similar to his trade for Dotson in 2024.
Newsome would provide Philadelphia with versatility at cornerback, given his usage in Cleveland. While Samuel has primarily played outside cornerback in the NFL, Newsome can play anywhere. He has played 1,428 snaps at outside cornerback and 1,163 snaps at slot cornerback, according to Pro Football Focus.
After three strong seasons to start his career in Cleveland, Newsome saw his role decreased in 2024. He was eventually demoted to the third cornerback spot before ending the season on injured reserve due to a hamstring injury. It’s clear that Newsome’s time with the Browns could be coming to an end.
It’s also worth noting that Roseman will get a closer look at Newsome when the Eagles host the Browns for a joint practice on August 13th. If he’s available and Roseman is unhappy with his options at CB2, the Eagles should consider trading for Newsome. He has the experience, attitude and versatility that would be a welcome addition to Philadelphia’s secondary in 2025.