Eagles GM Howie Roseman Hints There's More Work to Do at Cornerback

The Philadelphia Eagles have added some pieces to the back end but still need more.

Eagles CB James Bradberry / Mitchell Leff/GettyImages

The Philadelphia Eagles are still a work in progress at cornerback with the only certainty for the 2024 season being five-time Pro Bowl selection Darius Slay.

Despite his advancing age, Slay, who turned 33 on New Year's Day and will be 34 if the Eagles reach the postseason for a fourth consecutive time in January of 2025, is still excelling at a young man's position and the organization feels that the veteran is still performing at a high level.

“Obviously, you look at the year Slay had — another Pro Bowl year for him,” Roseman said at the NFL's Annual Meetings earlier this week. “One of our captains. He’s still got explosiveness tools in his body. Did an unbelievable job when we had him on No. 1 receivers last year."

The Eagles' other starters from last season were James Bradberry and slot CB Avonte Maddox, the latter of which was already released after a second consecutive injury-plagued season.

Bradberry remains for now after badly underachieving in 2023. He may or may not be back depending on what happens in April's draft and/or the rest of what Roseman describes as talent-gathering season.

Philadelphia Eagles v Dallas Cowboys / Kevin Sabitus/GettyImages

Bradberry will turn 31 in August and the Eagles' would lose just under $11 million in cap space if they simply released the veteran immediately as some fans hoped. That number goes down to a more tenable $6.1M post-June 1 so Roseman can remain patient as things unfold.

If an upgrade is in the cards down the line, Roseman could move on from Bradberry. However, if the veteran remains the best option the belief is that Bradberry will be motivated to show that his 2023 season was a negative outlier.

"I think it’s obvious to everyone, including [Bradberry], that JB didn’t have the year that he was expecting and that we were expecting," Roseman said. "I think, obviously, he understands that and he is driven to show that he is the player that he was in 2022."

Bradberry was a second-team All-Pro in 2022 which earned him a three-year, $38 million contract with $20 million in guarantees.

In-house, the Eagles are very high on second-year outside CB Kelee Ringo, a year after giving up a 2024 third-round pick to go up to get him at the top of the 2023 fourth round. Ringo was a difference-maker on special teams as a gunner and showed his speed and length when forced into action at corner late in his rookie season.

The undrafted Eli Ricks also flashed natural coverage skills as a rookie but needs to get stouter in run support before being considered for a larger role while Zech McPhearson, who has some inside/outside versatility, will return from a torn Achilles in an effort to help on the final year of his rookie contract.

Outside additions are ex-Indianapolis CB Isaiah Rodgers, who is expected to be reinstated from a year-long gambling suspension as well as free-agent signing Tyler Hall, a player the Eagles once wanted to sign off Las Vegas' practice squad and is a natural slot option.

There could be some mixing and matching from new secondary coach Christian Parker with many of the projected backups as he attempts to figure out what each does best.

Ricks played quite a bit in the slot out of necessity last season but his 6-foot-2 frame better projects outside. McPhearson spent his first two seasons as a backup on the outside before attempting to transition to the slot last year before he was injured and Rodgers played outside with the Colts but has a physical makeup better suited for the slot.

Despite the optionality, however, Roseman left things open-ended and hinted there's more to come.

"Again, it’s [only] March 25. We’ll see where it ends up here as we go through the process," the GM said.