The Philadelphia Eagles entered the 2025 season with a clear question mark at corner with Adoree' Jackson and Kelee Ringo competing for the third spot. It seemed that Ringo was the odd man out until injuries and poor play from Jackson reopened the door.
Now, it seems that the trade deadline moves have firmly put Ringo into a reserve role and have the defender on his way out of Philly. Philly's trade with the Baltimore Ravens for CB Jaire Alexander, as well as the deal that landed Michael Carter II from the New York Jets, pushed Ringo from starting for a starting job to an afterthought. As disheartening as this might be individually, it was the right move for the Eagles to replace an underwhelming veteran who's frustrated more often than not.
Furthering this point is a 58.2 Pro Football Focus grade that ranks in the lower half of corners in the league. Ringo has been a complete frustration, and now he is out of the lineup. Adding Alexander was the right decision for a franchise that now appears perfectly set up to defend last season's title.
Kelee Ringo's Time with Eagles Is On Life Support
Ringo has one year remaining on his contract, making him an obvious offseason trade or cut option. The defensive back is a rare example of a former Georgia Bulldog defender who hasn't worked out perfectly for general manager Howie Roseman. With Alexander and Carter now in the mix and a fresh draft class arriving before the 2026 season, it seems very probable that Eagles fans will see the last of Ringo sooner rather than later.
Barring injuries or a surprising implosion from any of the current starting options, there simply isn't a reason to believe in Ringo anymore. He had his opportunity already and failed to live up to expectations. The trade deadline sent this message, bringing in a starting option and likely leaving Jackson as the primary backup.
For the Eagles, this is a huge potential upgrade and patches the one remaining concern in the lineup. If the franchise can manage to avoid any more drama down the stretch of the season, it is hard to envision any bigger threat in the NFC. It is again Philly's conference to lose, and the team's Super Bowl odds might improve even more if the struggling CB's snap count is limited.
Despite the latest setback, there is still plenty of road ahead for Ringo to revive his career. He's only 23 years old and has every reason to believe his best seasons are still ahead. It simply seems that the Eagles aren't the right fit, so if he wants to turn his career around, it'll likely be outside the City of Brotherly Love.