CB Battle in Philly Could Spark Trade for Ex-Browns Star

Philadelphia, PA – June 21, 2025

Training camp hasn’t even started, but the competition at cornerback in Philadelphia is already under a microscope—and for good reason. With Vic Fangio’s defensive scheme placing immense value on discipline and anticipation, the margin for error is razor thin. And for one young Eagle, the pressure is mounting.

Kelee Ringo, the second-year corner out of Georgia, has all the physical traits teams covet: size, speed, and physicality. Drafted 105th overall in 2023, he flashed potential late in his rookie campaign when injuries ravaged Philly’s secondary. But 2024 saw him buried behind a reshaped depth chart, after the Eagles brought in Quinyon Mitchell and Cooper DeJean with premium picks. While DeJean seems destined for slot duties, Ringo was penciled in as the frontrunner to start opposite Mitchell on the outside—until now.

Enter Adoree’ Jackson, the veteran cornerback brought in to provide stability. And looming behind that, a potentially seismic shift: If Ringo can’t decisively win the job during camp, the Eagles could look to trade for former Browns first-rounder Greg Newsome II—a move that would add experience, polish, and a hefty $13.3 million price tag to the secondary.

ESPN’s Anthony DiBona was the first to float the idea, pointing directly to the Eagles’ joint practice with the Browns on August 13 as a potential inflection point. By that date, Philly will have already played its first preseason game. If Ringo hasn’t outperformed Jackson by then, Howie Roseman may see a narrow window to strike—leveraging the league’s highest cap space ($30.7 million) and a surplus of draft picks (13 projected in 2026) to secure a one-year rental with high upside.

Newsome, 24, has 41 career starts and has graded out well in both zone and press-man coverage. But with the Browns already invested in Denzel Ward and Martin Emerson, the former No. 26 overall pick might be the odd man out in Cleveland’s long-term plans. For Philadelphia, Newsome would bring immediate credibility to a unit still searching for post-Slay identity.

Still, the Eagles don’t make impulse moves. Ringo has reportedly impressed during OTAs and minicamp, earning praise for his understanding of Fangio’s playbook—no small feat, considering how methodical the veteran coordinator can be about handing out snaps. Last season, Fangio took six weeks to fully trust Cooper DeJean. That same patience could be Ringo’s saving grace… or a countdown clock.

For now, the ball is in Ringo’s court. If he locks down the CB2 job early, he’ll not only justify the Eagles’ internal investment in him, but also preserve valuable financial flexibility. If not, Newsome may be packing his bags before September.

Because in Philly, the battle for one starting spot might just trigger the trade that reshapes a defense.