The Philadelphia Eagles were absolutely dominant in pass coverage in 2024, leading the NFL in opponent yards per pass attempt (5.6) and per completion (9.0).
The Eagles could be hard-pressed to duplicate those elite numbers in 2025, however, as they will be banking heavily on a young crop of cornerbacks.
Quinyon Mitchell and Cooper DeJean played at a Pro Bowl level as rookies, but they’ll face serious pressure this summer as the 22- and 23-year-old leaders of a secondary that no longer includes veterans Darius Slay Jr., C.J. Gardner Johnson and Isaiah Rodgers. There are also question marks behind Philly’s pair of young stars, as Kelee Ringo enters camp as the favorite to start opposite Mitchell on the outside, and how much Adoree Jackson has left in the tank is anyone’s guess.
GM Howie Roseman has the Eagles set up to make a splash move, either in free agency or via trade. Philly’s salary cap situation — currently $30.7 million in available space — and 2026 draft capital have them in position to contend for just about any player who is, or becomes, available this summer.
Cleveland Browns cornerback Greg Newsome II and recently released EDGE rusher Ogbo Okoronkwo have been linked to the Eagles as potential fits for Vic Fangio’s defense. But if Philly does add to its thin cornerback room, analyst Anthony DiBona sees a clear favorite in free agent corner Asante Samuel Jr., who Jeremy Fowler of ESPN reported is “on their radar.”
“It’s clear that the Eagles have created a culture and reputation around the NFL that allows players to prove their worth,” DiBona wrote in a recent article for The Philly Special Show. “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.”
Samuel has been targeting a July-August timeline to land with a new team, as he continues to recover from offseason neck surgery. If cleared, those medical concerns could make him a prime candidate for one of Roseman’s famous prove-it deals, as Samuel is likely looking at a cheap, one-year contract in 2025 with an eye on cashing in during the 2026 league year.
The Eagles could definitely use more depth at cornerback. Ringo is poised to make a sizable jump this season, and both Mitchell and DeJean could be tested against tougher competition. Jackson, rookie Mac McWilliams and undrafted third-year pro Eli Ricks are the best options in reserve.
Samuel Jr. Has been talking with teams and biding his time this offseason, waiting on upcoming checkups before hopefully joining a team this summer. Philly’s a strong bet to be in the mix, given the team's history with Samuel's father, Asante Samuel Sr., who spent four seasons in the Eagles' secondary.
The potential wild-card here? Ringo, who could perform so well in camp that the team looks to use its leverage at other positions of need, like EDGE, wide receiver or tight end. Either way, cornerback will be among Philly's most intriguing position battles when training camp kicks off in a few weeks.
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