In order for the Philadelphia Eagles to return to mount a legitimate Super Bowl title defense in 2025, they will probably need some unexpected, big time contributions off their current roster.
In 2024, that boost came from players like starting offensive guard Mekhi Becton, a discarded first round pick from the New York Jets. It came from rookie cornerback Cooper DeJean, who became the team’s starter at nickel about halfway through the season and took off like a rocket ship — one that didn’t land until he returned an interception off Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes for a touchdown in Super Bowl LIX.
The biggest and most unlikely contribution last season came from inside linebacker Zack Baun, who signed a 1-year, $1.6 million free agent contract in March 2024 then went on to earn NFL All-Pro and Pro Bowl honors after a position switch from edge rusher.
Baun’s big year was followed by a big payday – he signed a 3-year, $51 million free agent contract with the Eagles on March 5.
The Ringer’s Sheil Kapadia predicted that unexpected hero for the Eagles in 2025 might be third year cornerback Kelee Ringo, who could step in and fill the starting role vacated by veteran Darius Slay, who signed a 1-year, $10 million free agent contract with the Pittsburgh Steelers on March 12.
“You gotta hope one of them is the next Zack Baun,” Kapadia said while handing out NFC East grades on “The Ringer NFL Show” on June 18. “Maybe it’s Kelee Ringo.”
Winning Part of Ringo’s Football DNA
Whatever teams Ringo has been a part of during his football career to this point all have one thing in common — they win championships.
Ringo won a state championship at Saguaro (Arizona) High School on the way to becoming the nation’s No. 1 rated cornerback recruit in 2020. He went on to win 2 College Football Playoff national championships at Georgia in 2021 and 2022, when he was an All-SEC pick and sealed the win over Alabama in the CFP National Championship Game with a 79-yard interception return for a touchdown in the fourth quarter.
Over Ringo’s final 2 college seasons, the Bulldogs went 29-1.
The Eagles selected Ringo in the fourth round (No. 105 overall) of the 2023 NFL draft and he’s played every regular season game and every playoff game over the last 2 years, with 5 starts. After last season, he’s also got a Super Bowl ring — his fourth championship in 6 seasons dating back to his junior year of high school.
He’s currently listed above free agent signee Adoree Jackson on the Eagles’ depth chart at the starting outside cornerback spot opposite Quinyon Mitchell.
“This coming offseason represents Kelee’s best chance to win a starting job since his arrival,” Eagles Wire’s Geoffrey A Knox wrote on June 16. “He’s had to wait behind Slay and (Isaiah) Rodgers, but Vic Fangio and his defensive coaches will provide him with ample opportunity to win a starter’s role. Nothing will be handed to him, and he knows that. … For Kelee, this coming training camp is as much about competition as it is cooperation. He’s looking to slide his nameplate into one of those starting positions on the Eagles’ depth chart.”
