The Philadelphia Eagles are preparing to defend their 2024 Super Bowl title with their attention focused on a pivotal Week 18 matchup against the Washington Commanders. However, it is easy for fans to look towards the offseason and consider players who have earned a second chance. This can be due to a lack of other options or simply showing enough to believe that there is room for 2026 contributions.
Regardless, the Eagles will have no shortage of interesting decisions to make with a trio of players already appearing to secure their 2025 future.
1. K Jake Elliott
In the middle of a heated playoff race, Eliott went 0-for-2 on field goal attempts against the Washington Commanders. This led to head coach Nick Sirianni doubling down on his kicker, not only making it clear that Elliott was the starter, but refusing to even consider bringing in competition. This is clear a sign that, barring a playoff collapse, Elliott is going to be back for the 2026 season. While this can be understandably questioned, it is worth noting that the kicker responded by going 2-for-2 on field goal attempts in harsh conditions in a Week 17 victory over the Buffalo Bills.
Now, the Eagles are going to head into the playoffs and into the 2026 season with a kicker who simply isn't performing at the levels he once did. While this is frustrating for the fan base, it is clear that Sirianni believes better days are ahead. Considering the fact that Philly won a Super Bowl with Elliott a season ago, this is an understandable take.
Elliott has made huge kicks in his career, and there is every reason to believe that this season is simply an outlier. A strong playoff run will help wipe all of this away and make it clear that Elliott is here to stay, putting a rough 2025 behind him.
2. CB Kelee Ringo
Ringo is a rare example of a Georgia alum that Howie Roseman drafted and hasn't worked in Philadelphia's favor. Still, the corner is under contract for the 2026 season and remains affordable and experienced depth. There have been questions around Ringo's future based on a lack of guarantees in the final year of his deal. However, cutting the defensive back with the current lack of depth would be a clear mistake.
The corner deserves another chance in the 2026 season based on the fact that he has a $1 million scheduled cap hit. He also offers far more upside than anyone else Philly can acquire at this rate. It is important to note that while Ringo has struggled, there have been flashes of capability throughout his career, allowing the corner to play out the final year of his deal and hoping to enjoy a breakout season is the right call.
While Jordan Davis was far more productive earlier in his career, the defensive lineman is enjoying a breakout year of his own after being a question mark heading into the 2025 season. This is the perfect example of the unknown when it comes to development and why Ringo should return next season.
3. EDGE Josh Uche
Uche was brought in on a one-year deal after a failed stint with the Kansas City Chiefs. The hope was that the veteran pass rusher could find the form he did with the New England Patriots during the 2022 season, when the defender appeared to be a breakout star with 11.5 sacks. Instead, the numbers fell in the wrong direction, and the Patriots parted ways with the pass rusher, trading him to the Chiefs ahead of the 2024 trade deadline.
While the story has been the same in each of Uche's last two landing spots, the defender should be given another chance in Philly. The Eagles are looking at paying a number of key defenders in the offseason, and can use all the cheap veteran depth they can acquire. Re-signing Uche falls under this umbrella and still leaves an outside shot of finding a productive pass rusher.
Uche has gotten hot before, and if forced into action, will be playing alongside Jalen Carter and Jordan Davis, who do much of the heavy lifting for the defensive line. Uche's past performance and a few glimpses of capability early in the season are enough to earn the pass rusher another one-year pact.