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Kelee Ringo has been waiting his turn since getting selected with the 105th overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft by the Philadelphia Eagles.
Ringo saw some action late during his rookie year due to injuries in Philly’s secondary, but he took a back seat in 2024 after the Eagles hired a new defensive coordinator in Vic Fangio and drafted a pair of early-round defensive backs in Quinyon Mitchell and Cooper DeJean.
Entering just his age-23 season, Ringo now has the inside track to start opposite Mitchell on the boundary in 2025, with DeJean back in the slot. He’ll need to prove himself during training camp, however, as insider Anthony DiBona sees Howie Roseman staying active in the trade market this summer, especially at potential trouble spots on the depth chart like safety and cornerback.
Depending on how the looming positional battle between Ringo and veteran Adoree' Jackson plays out early in camp, DiBona predicts the Eagles could target former Cleveland Browns first-rounder Greg Newsome II via trade to help solidify Fangio’s secondary. Here was DiBona’s take:
Despite being set to make $13.3 million in 2025, Philadelphia has plenty of cap space to potentially trade for Newsome. He is just 25-years-old and Roseman has shown a willingness to take a chance on former high draft picks in the past, similar to his trade for Dotson in 2024.
Newsome would provide Philadelphia with versatility at cornerback, given his usage in Cleveland. While Samuel has primarily played outside cornerback in the NFL, Newsome can play anywhere. He has played 1,428 snaps at outside cornerback and 1,163 snaps at slot cornerback, according to Pro Football Focus.
After three strong seasons to start his career in Cleveland, Newsome saw his role decreased in 2024. He was eventually demoted to the third cornerback spot before ending the season on injured reserve due to a hamstring injury. It’s clear that Newsome’s time with the Browns could be coming to an end.
— Anthony DiBona, The Philly Special Show
As for a potential timeline, DiBona highlighted Philadelphia’s Aug. 13 joint practice session with the Browns as a date to circle on the calendar. That practice will come the week after Philly’s preseason opener, so if Ringo hasn’t won the starting job outright from the aging Jackson by then, the chances for a bold move like this will increase.
It’s worth noting that Newsome’s $13.3 million contract for 2025 is fully guaranteed, so the Eagles would be paying a healthy sum for what potentially could be a one-year rental. Newsome is scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent in 2026.
It’s also notable that Ringo has reportedly impressed during OTAs and minicamp this spring. Given how stingy Fangio can be about playing time — it took him six weeks to put DeJean in the starting lineup last season — Philly's decision makers likely love Ringo, with a full year in Fangio's scheme under his belt, making the jump to CB2 this season, at least to start.
Still, Newsome is an intriguing player to watch, as the Browns could be looking to recoup some value for him if he’s not in their long-term plans. No team in the NFL has the salary cap space ($30.7 million) and draft capital (13 projected selections in 2026) that the Eagles currently have at their disposal, so it would be crazy to rule a move like this out either in August or prior to this year’s trade deadline.
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