Taking a closer look at cornerback competition in 2025 training camp

Taking a closer look at cornerback competition in 2025 training camp originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

We're getting close to Eagles training camp 2025 so we're taking a look at some notable camp competitions.

The Eagles this season bring back Quinyon Mitchell and Cooper DeJean as second-year players and that's a really good start to their cornerback group. Both Mitchell and DeJean were excellent as rookies and form 2/3 of the Eagles' starting cornerback trio.

But in the offseason, the Eagles moved on from Darius Slay and Isaiah Rodgers left in free agency. So the Eagles have to find another outside cornerback to finish off the trio.

During the spring, Mitchell took over for Slay as the left cornerback and DeJean was at right cornerback in the base package before sliding inside on sub packages. Even if that continues during the season, that still leaves about 85% of the Eagles' snaps for another outside corner.

Here are the candidates:

Kelee Ringo
Age: 23
Experience: Year 3
Size: 6-2, 207

The Eagles were really excited when they moved up into the early portion of the fourth round of the 2023 draft to pick Ringo after he slid way further than they expected. Ringo was an extremely young and talented cornerback that the Eagles were excited to develop. As a rookie, Ringo played in every game and actually started four. He had some really good moments. But last year, the Eagles drafted Mitchell and DeJean and got Rodgers back off suspension so Ringo slid down the depth chart. During last summer, Ringo was seemingly competing with Rodgers for a starting job that eventually just went to Mitchell from the jump. Ringo is a physical freak - he ran a sub 4.40 in the 40-yard dash at 200+ pounds - but his game needed refinement. During the spring, he and Adoree' Jackson split reps with the starters. Ringo finished off his spring with a really strong day in mandatory minicamp.

Adoree' Jackson
Age: 29
Experience: Year 9
Size: 5-11, 185

Back in 2021, the Eagles had interest in Jackson as a free agent and even had a visit scheduled with him. But Jackson ended up signing with the Giants first. After four years in New York, Jackson has finally made it to Philly on a one-year deal. Last season, Jackson played in 14 games with 5 starts for the Giants. While it looks like Jackson is past his prime, Eagles GM Howie Roseman this offseason said Jackson's best football is still ahead of him. It seems more likely, though, that Jackson is in Philly to offer veteran depth and to push Ringo in this competition.

Mac McWilliams
Age: 23
Experience: Rookie
Size: 5-10, 191

The Eagles drafted McWilliams out of UCF in the fifth round in April. It seems unlikely that McWilliams will really compete for a starting job but he should play special teams and provide depth at both outside corner and nickel corner this season. While McWilliams is under 6-foot, he was primarily an outside corner in college at UAB and then at UCF. He did go to the Senior Bowl and show an ability to play both spots.

Eli Ricks
Age: 23
Experience: Year 3
Size: 6-2, 188

We probably shouldn't completely forget about Ricks. Like Ringo, Ricks ended up buried on the depth chart last season but the Eagles still kept him around. The former UDFA from Alabama played in just seven games last season after playing in 16 as a rookie.

Outlook

The Eagles have to be rooting for Ringo to win this job, right? Ringo is a former draft pick and still just 23 years old, while Jackson is in Year 9 and is seemingly past his prime. The Eagles won't just hand this job to Ringo but it would be a tad disappointing if he didn't win it. Could this be a spot where the Eagles try to add a player? They'll probably at least want to take a long look at Ringo in training camp first.