Former Philadelphia Eagles corner Darius Slay was claimed off waivers earlier this week, with the Buffalo Bills landing the veteran defender. It is a frustrating development for Philadelphia fans who had hoped that a return to the Eagles would be the key to improving his level of play. Regardless, there is a reason why the Pittsburgh Steelers parted ways with the veteran, and a reunion in the offseason may still be possible if it makes sense. With this in mind, the Bills' choosing to claim Slay serves as an opportunity for one Philly corner.
It isn't a secret that Kelee Ringo has been a consistent source of frustration since joining the franchise. What makes watching the Georgia product so frustrating is the flashes of capability followed by irritating mistakes. Ringo isn't a clear-cut liability, but he hasn't proven he can consistently perform at a high level.
The Eagles' failure to land Slay serves as one last opportunity for Ringo to stick on the roster and find a way to contribute. The franchise has already attempted to replace Ringo's impact once this season with a failed trade for Jaire Alexander. This is yet another example of a move that Philly appeared to want to make and was denied the opportunity.
Kelee Ringo Given One Last Opportunity After Eagles Fail to Land Darius Slay
Now, Ringo not only has his roster spot safely locked away but will likely get a chance to contribute to the lineup. It will be an elusive opportunity for the defensive back to once again prove he is capable of handling starting reps. While there is no reason to believe the results are going to change, it wouldn't be the first time this season that a Philly corner has improved without warning.
Turning back the clock to the start of the season, veteran corner Adoree' Jackson was facing a lot of the same issues that Ringo is today. Jackson wasn't consistently playing at any predictable level and had fans ready to turn the page. However, before his recent injury concerns, the veteran drastically improved his level of play. This is the path that fans hope to see Ringo take over the final weeks of the season.
It is fun to imagine what the ceiling of the Philly secondary might be if Ringo were to become a consistent contributor. With that said, this is likely the defender's final opportunity to do so with the playoffs and the offseason on the horizon. There is very little time for the corner to prove that he belongs in Philly's plans for the future.
Making it clear that while missing out on Slay provided an opportunity, it is only viable if Ringo can defy what fans have seen thus far and find a way to be a more consistent performer.