What ought to the Eagles do at cornerback?

The Philadelphia Eagles’ Tremendous Bowl season is over and the 2025 NFL offseason is formally right here. We’re persevering with our Eagles roster outlook collection by inspecting the cornerback place. PREVIOUSLY: Quarterback | Operating again | Tight finish | Broad receiver | Offensive sort out | Offensive guard | Heart | Edge rusher | Defensive sort out.

QUINYON MITCHELL

STATS: 955 snaps, 46 complete tackles, 0 interceptions, 12 passes defensed, 87.2 passer ranking allowed

PLAYOFF STATS: 204 snaps, 14 complete tackles, 2 interceptions, 4 passes defensed, 33.3 passer ranking allowed

REVIEW: Mitchell completed the 2024 season second in Defensive Rookie of the 12 months voting, solely behind winner Jared Verse. He additionally completed the season as Professional Soccer Focus’s eighth-highest graded cornerback. The Eagles’ first-round choose commonly locked down broad receivers to the purpose the place quarterbacks averted throwing his means. Q dropped some picks throughout the course of the season, which led to his first interception not coming till the Wild Card spherical. Even so, he was wonderful.

OUTLOOK: Mitchell’s future seems to be vivid; the 23-year-old may conceivably earn All-Professional recognition as quickly as his second NFL season. Changing extra of his breakups into interceptions will go a good distance in the direction of serving to his fame.

MY TAKE: Keep.

DARIUS SLAY

STATS: 699 snaps, 49 complete tackles, 3 TFLs, 0 interceptions, 13 passes defensed, 81.9 passer ranking allowed, 1 pressured fumble

PLAYOFF STATS: 248 snaps, 14 complete tackles, 1 interceptions, 5 passes defensed, 92.5 passer ranking allowed

REVIEW: Regardless of turning 34 in January, Slay was in a position to stave off decline and switch in one other robust season. He did cope with some harm points that led to him lacking two begins and going out and in of the lineup inside video games at occasions. Finally, the three-time captain was a significant contributor to the Eagles’ Tremendous Bowl LIX victory season.

OUTLOOK: The Eagles are reportedly going to launch Slay with a post-June 1 designation. As of me typing this sentence, they haven’t made that transfer official. It’s nonetheless doable he’ll return to Philly. However the feeling right here is the Eagles ought to transfer on. Not as a result of Slay can not play … however as a result of relying on a 34-year-old to proceed to play at a excessive stage isn’t an awesome wager, particularly when there’s a primary alternative to maneuver ahead with youthful and cheaper cornerback choices. Slay will at all times be remembered fondly in Philly nevertheless it’s time to maneuver on.

MY TAKE: Go.

COOPER DEJEAN

STATS: 627 snaps, 51 complete tackles, 3 TFLs, 0.5 sacks, 0 interceptions, 6 passes defensed, 80.1 passer ranking allowed, 1 pressured fumble

PLAYOFF STATS: 254 snaps, 18 complete tackles, 1 interception, 4 passes defensed, 61.1 passer ranking allowed, 1 defensive TD

REVIEW: DeJean suffered a hamstring harm final offseason that induced him to overlook most of coaching camp. That gradual begin led to Vic Fangio not trusting the rookie to play early within the common season. DeJean lastly obtained the nod at nickel cornerback in Week 6, taking on for a struggling Avonte Maddox. Although he wasn’t the only real motive for the turnaround, it wasn’t a mere coincidence that your entire protection began to play higher as soon as DeJean was inserted within the lineup. DeJean had an awesome rookie marketing campaign, ending 2024 as Professional Soccer Focus’s top-graded cornerback. He arguably made the largest play of the season when he learn Patrick Mahomes’ eyes for a pick-six to present the Eagles a 17 to 0 lead in Tremendous Bowl LIX.

OUTLOOK: It’ll be fascinating to see the place DeJean performs in 2025 and past. With DeJean having a lot success because the Eagles’ slot cornerback, why transfer him out of that position? However perhaps DeJean needs to maneuver outdoors. And/or perhaps the Eagles need him to maneuver outdoors if there’s a necessity. Possibly DeJean performs on the surface in base protection (which the Eagles didn’t play a lot in 2024) and shifts inside in nickel. The sensation right here is that the Eagles ought to journey with DeJean within the slot once more in 2025. And although he has the talent set to be a superb punt returner, it’d be excellent to not have him taking hits as a ball provider. The Eagles ought to attempt to discover a completely different main punt returner with DeJean obtainable as a backup possibility.

MY TAKE: Keep.

AVONTE MADDOX

STATS: 345 snaps, 20 complete tackles, 0 interceptions, 5 passes defensed, 77.4 passer ranking allowed

PLAYOFF STATS: 13 snaps, 1 complete sort out, 0 interceptions, 1 go defensed

REVIEW: Maddox started the season because the Eagles’ nickel cornerback. Groups clearly picked on him from the soar, which finally led to DeJean changing him within the slot. Maddox then noticed some occasional snaps because the dime cornerback however he even struggled in these appearances, resulting in him dropping that position as nicely. Maddox did transfer up the depth chart as a backup security possibility later within the season. Maddox additionally did have a cool redemption second with an enormous fourth down go breakup on a Patrick Mahomes go in Tremendous Bowl LIX. One play later, Jalen Hurts hit DeVonta Smith for the dagger that gave the Eagles a 34 to 0 lead.

OUTLOOK: Maddox, who turns 29 this month, is about to be a free agent. If the Eagles need to deliver him again on the veteran minimal to compete for a roster spot, wonderful. He’s a popular man within the locker room and he provides good effort. However bringing him again will hardly be a precedence.

MY TAKE: Go.

ISAIAH RODGERS

STATS: 328 snaps, 26 complete tackles, 0 interceptions, 4 passes defensed, 82.1 passer ranking allowed, 1 pressured fumble

PLAYOFF STATS: 92 snaps, 6 complete tackles, 0 interceptions, 3 passes defensed, 84.4 passer ranking allowed

REVIEW: Rodgers primarily noticed enjoying time each time Slay was out of the lineup. There was typically no main defensive drop off each time he needed to play. The Eagles have had MUCH worse beginning choices prior to now than Rodgers was as the highest outdoors backup. Rodgers additionally overtook Maddox’s position because the Eagles’ dime cornerback throughout the season. Going from lacking your entire 2023 season resulting from a playing suspension to successful the Tremendous Bowl in 2024 needed to be a reasonably cool turnaround for Rodgers.

OUTLOOK: Rodgers is about to be a free agent. If the Eagles don’t retain Slay, it’d be excellent to re-sign Rodgers and have him compete with Kelee Ringo for the beginning outdoors cornerback job throughout from Mitchell with DeJean remaining within the slot. If Slay is re-signed, Rodgers will in all probability be in search of a brand new staff that would supply him extra enjoying time. It’ll be fascinating to see what Rodgers’ market appears to be like like.

MY TAKE: Keep.

KELEE RINGO

STATS: 112 snaps, 15 complete tackles, 0 interceptions, 1 passes defensed, 137.5 passer ranking allowed, 1 pressured fumble

PLAYOFF STATS: 15 snaps

REVIEW: Ringo had some good moments in offseason practices and preseason video games however he spent many of the season as CB5. Ringo embraced his particular groups position and particularly shined as a gunner on punt protection.

OUTLOOK: Ringo, who’s signed by 2026, doesn’t flip 23 till June. There’s motive to imagine he might be a beginning cornerback for this staff as quickly as 2025. It’d be excellent for the Eagles to re-sign Rodgers and have him and Ringo compete for a beginning cornerback job with the loser of that battle serving as a top quality backup. If neither Slay nor Rodgers are again, Ringo is the highest contender to begin throughout from Mitchell if DeJean stays within the slot. The sensation right here is that the Eagles want to present Ringo an actual likelihood to earn main enjoying time subsequent season.

MY TAKE: Keep.

ELI RICKS

STATS: 14 snaps, 2 complete tackles

REVIEW: After enjoying a big position as a rookie, Ricks was a wholesome scratch for 14 of the Eagles’ 21 video games throughout the 2024 season. He typically had six cornerbacks forward of him on the depth chart.

OUTLOOK: The Eagles refusing to threat dropping Ricks alerts they nonetheless have some stage of hope for the 23-year-old cornerback. He’ll want to make use of this offseason to show he belongs on the 2025 roster. Relying on how different strikes shake out, he’s realistically competing for a CB4/CB5/CB6 position.

MY TAKE: Keep.

JAMES BRADBERRY IV

REVIEW: The Eagles tried changing Bradberry to the protection place however that transition didn’t actually go nicely previous to him struggling an harm that stored him on injured reserve for your entire 2024 season.

OUTLOOK: The Eagles will probably be shifting on from Bradberry, who was wonderful in 2022 (second-team All-Professional) earlier than metaphorically falling off a cliff in 2023. He’ll signal with a brand new staff and that’ll in all probability be his final likelihood to show he can nonetheless play.

MY TAKE: Go.

PARRY NICKERSON

REVIEW: Nickerson frolicked on the Eagles’ offseason roster final 12 months earlier than returning to Philly on the follow squad in mid-October. He signed to the Eagles’ offseason roster after Tremendous Bowl LIX.

OUTLOOK: Nickerson is hardly a developmental participant; he turns 31 in October. However he has some NFL expertise beneath his belt and he may compete for a roster spot as a backup nickel cornerback and particular groups contributor. Ideally, the Eagles will discover a youthful choice to beat him out.

MY TAKE: Go.

TARIQ CASTRO-FIELDS

REVIEW: The Eagles signed TCF to their follow squad in mid-October. They reduce him in late December solely to re-sign him 5 days later. TCF signed to the Eagles’ offseason roster after Tremendous Bowl LIX.

OUTLOOK: TCF is combating an uphill battle to make the 2025 common season roster. The 26-year-old will get an opportunity to show himself throughout offseason practices and preseason video games.

MY TAKE: Go.

NFL FREE AGENCY OR TRADES

Slay will be capable of signal with any staff if/when the Eagles formally launch him. The door on a return to Philly reportedly isn’t closed. We’ll see.

Retaining Rodgers on an inexpensive deal appears excellent. Much more so if Slay isn’t again.

The Eagles gained’t be seeking to spend large cash on an exterior cornerback addition. A veteran minimal flier on former first-round choose Caleb Farley might be fascinating.

NFL DRAFT APPROACH

It’d be shocking to see the Eagles draft one other cornerback earlier than Day 3. Including somebody with slot expertise might be good for the sake of getting extra depth there.