After lifting the Lombardi Trophy last season, the Philadelphia Eagles saw their key contributors poached by the rest of the league, losing veterans like Josh Sweat, Milton Williams, and Isaiah Rodgers in free agency and moving Bryce Huff and CJ Gardner-Johnson in trades. The defensive side of the ball will look very different for the Eagles in 2025 after enjoying incredible success in Vic Fangio's first season as a defensive coordinator.
While offseason departures present an opportunity for a few Eagles lower on the pecking order, the very high bar the 2024 Eagles defensive unit set makes it difficult to crack the rotation.
Eli Ricks May Be Moved Before Eagles Training Camp
This applies to Eagles cornerback Eli Ricks perhaps more than any other player on the roster. The former undrafted free agent who managed to stick around on the roster for the past two seasons against all odds finds himself on the outside looking in once again. With OTAs and minicamp over, Ricks is facing an uphill battle to make the 53-man roster ahead of training camp.
Even though the Eagles lost Isaiah Rodgers and Avonte Maddox in the offseason, they replaced them with Adoree' Jackson from the Giants and rookie Mac McWilliams in the fifth round of the 2025 NFL Draft. Kelee Ringo has been one of the stars of OTAs for the Eagles, cementing his spot on the active roster. Quinyon Mitchell and Cooper DeJean are coming off excellent rookie seasons. This leaves Ricks without a place in the rotation.
Considering how little Philadelphia used Ricks last season, it's safe to assume that he is not a must-keep for Fangio or the coaching staff. The 23-year-old Alabama product is a good developmental success story for the Eagles, but it's hard to imagine that he will be a big part of this roster going forward.
That is why the Eagles should and presumably will consider trading him before the end of the summer. Trading a young player with upside for a depth piece in another position that the Eagles need makes plenty of sense. Whether GM Howie Roseman feels the same way and what the future holds for Ricks remains to be seen.