Eagles 2025 Position Group Report Cards: Cornerbacks

Part 8 of our 10-part series grading every Eagles position group from the 2025 season. Today: the cornerbacks.

The Big Picture

The Eagles entered 2025 with a massive question mark at cornerback. Darius Slay, the six-time Pro Bowler who anchored the secondary for five seasons, was released as a post-June 1 cut to save $4.3 million against the cap. James Bradberry was already gone. The old guard was officially out the door, and the future was entirely in the hands of second-year players Quinyon Mitchell and Cooper DeJean, plus a patchwork of veterans and developmental pieces behind them.

That future arrived ahead of schedule — and it looks spectacular.

Quinyon Mitchell: A Star Is Born — Grade: A+

There's no sugarcoating this: Quinyon Mitchell was the best cornerback in the NFL in 2025. Not top-five. Not "promising." The best. His 41.6% completion percentage allowed led all cornerbacks since 2022 according to Next Gen Stats — a staggering number for any corner, let alone one in just his second season. He faced the opposition's No. 1 receiver on a league-high 103 snaps this season, matching up with the best wideouts in football week after week and locking them down.

Mitchell earned his first Pro Bowl selection, and frankly, he deserved First-Team All-Pro. ESPN ranked him among the top cornerbacks in the league entering 2026, and that feels almost conservative. His ball-hawking rate of 15.8% — deflecting 12 of 76 targets — showed a player who doesn't just cover receivers, he takes them completely out of the game.

The 2024 first-round pick has become exactly the kind of cornerback you build a defense around. Vic Fangio trusted him from day one as a rookie, and Mitchell rewarded that trust by becoming the best player in the secondary. At 24 years old, he's just scratching the surface.

Cooper DeJean: The Swiss Army Knife — Grade: A-

Cooper DeJean's rookie year was special. His second year was even better. Operating primarily from the slot but flexing outside when needed, DeJean posted an overall PFF grade of 82.7, ranking fourth among all NFL cornerbacks. His run defense grade of 90.8 ranked second — a reminder that DeJean isn't just a coverage player, he's a complete defensive back who brings physicality and instincts against every phase of the opposing offense.

DeJean finished 2024 with 51 tackles, six pass deflections, three tackles for loss, three fumble recoveries, a forced fumble, and half a sack. He built on that foundation in 2025 by refining his coverage technique and becoming one of the most reliable slot corners in football. His versatility — capable of playing outside, in the slot, and even contributing on special teams — makes him an invaluable piece of the defense.

The Mitchell-DeJean tandem is the best young cornerback duo in the NFL. That's not hyperbole. Name another team with two corners under 25 performing at this level. You can't.

The Depth: Work in Progress — Grade: C-

Behind Mitchell and DeJean, the picture gets murkier. Kelee Ringo, the 2023 fourth-round pick from Georgia, was one of the bigger disappointments of 2025. Given multiple opportunities to start on the outside — particularly when Adoree' Jackson missed time — Ringo couldn't establish himself as a reliable option. His struggles were significant enough that the Eagles explored trading both Ringo and Jackson during the season.

Adoree' Jackson, signed in free agency after being released by the Giants, was brought in as a veteran safety net. He ended up with a 47.1 PFF grade — the fifth-worst among 108 qualifying cornerbacks. That's not what you're looking for from your CB3. Ringo posted a 58.2 PFF grade, ranking in the bottom 40% of the league. Neither player inspired confidence when Mitchell or DeJean needed a breather.

The lack of reliable depth meant Vic Fangio had to lean heavily on his top two corners, playing them on an extraordinarily high percentage of defensive snaps. That's sustainable when your starters are 24 and 23 years old, but it's not ideal. One injury to Mitchell or DeJean and this secondary could have gone from elite to vulnerable in a heartbeat.

Overall Grade: B+

The top of this cornerback room is elite. Mitchell is a legitimate star, DeJean is a Pro Bowl-caliber player in his own right, and together they form the foundation of what should be a dominant secondary for years to come. The transition from the Slay era didn't just go smoothly — it went better than anyone could have imagined.

But the depth drags the overall grade down. Ringo's inability to seize his opportunity and Jackson's subpar play mean the Eagles need to address the CB3 spot this offseason, whether through the draft, free agency, or internal development. The starters get an A. The depth gets a D. Split the difference and you land at B+, which feels right for a unit that was carried by two exceptional young players and not much else.

Offseason Outlook

The priority is clear: find a reliable third cornerback. Mitchell and DeJean are locked in as starters for the foreseeable future, but this team can't afford to roll into 2026 with the same depth chart behind them. Whether it's a mid-round draft pick with starting experience, a veteran free agent on a prove-it deal, or Ringo making a dramatic leap in his third year, something has to change at the bottom of this rotation.

The good news? The two most important corners on the roster are homegrown, young, and getting better. That's the dream scenario for any NFL franchise. Now Howie Roseman just needs to surround them with competent depth, and this secondary goes from very good to truly elite.

Next up in the series: Part 9 — Safeties.