Corner Conversations

The Eagles last season correctly identified two pieces for a reshaped cornerback contingent, selecting Quinyon Mitchell and Cooper DeJean in the first and second round of the NFL Draft, respectively.

Mitchell provided smothering coverage and unwavering poise in his first season and headlines the group entering his second season, while DeJean supplied the nickel position with athleticism, instincts and playmaking ability. It isn’t a stretch to proclaim that the 22-year-old is already among the top players at his position after nine regular season starts and four postseason contests.

While the top of the pecking order is settled, the unit did lose a key component in veteran Darius Slay, now a member of the Pittsburgh Steelers, setting the stage for a highly anticipated position battle between an intriguing third-year pro and an established veteran.

With so many new faces on the roster, and with competition in key areas at play, now is the time to begin brushing up on the various position groups.

Our position preview series concludes with a comprehensive look at what’s beyond Mitchell and DeJean in the cornerback room, along with a glance at the specialists.

GETTY IMAGES: The Eagles appear to be in good hands for now and years ahead after hitting on Quinyon Mitchell (27) and Cooper DeJean in last year’s draft.

Kelee Ringo

Among the players most under the microscope this summer, Ringo is in contention for the most prominent one. The 22-year-old, entering his third season, heads a two-person position battle for a starting job on the outside opposite Mitchell. While Ringo’s defensive snap distribution decreased from 199 as a rookie to 112 last season, the Georgia product developed into one of the league’s top gunners, garnering Pro Bowl and All Pro consideration. Unlike his first two seasons, however, Ringo has his best opportunity to make the leap from reserve to starter. It’s never been a question of tools or athleticism with Ringo; what remains to be seen is whether or not he can put it all together and become more technically sound. Technical refinement and situational awareness will likely go a long way in determining his role in coordinator Vic Fangio’s defense.

Adoree’ Jackson

A veteran free-agent addition, Jackson will be competing with Ringo for a starting role on the outside. Jackson, a first-round pick of the Tennessee Titans in 2017, brings 97 games (82 starts) of experience, adding an interesting dynamic to the position battle. The speedy, 5-foot-11, 185-pound Jackson last season played in 14 games for the Giants, making five starts. A confident player who isn’t taking his newfound opportunity for granted, Jackson boasts added value due to positional versatility. The competition between the two cornerbacks is legitimate – they enter training camp on fairly level playing field – but at worst Jackson should be the favorite to fulfill the Isaiah Rodgers role of last season.

Mac McWilliams (R)

McWilliams, drafted by the Eagles in the fifth round this spring, started all 11 games in his lone season at Central Florida, producing 32 tackles (6.5 for loss), three passes defended, a sack and an interception. He spent his first four seasons at UAB. The 23-year-old has the ability to play inside or outside – McWilliams manned the perimeter last season at UCF – but primarily projects as a nickel, where he repped at UAB. Long-time nickel/S Avonte Maddox departed in free agency, so perhaps McWilliams fulfills that role while also providing special teams value.

Eli Ricks

Ricks, who logged 301 defensive snaps and played in 16 games as a rookie, was a minimal on-field contributor for the 2024 Eagles, logging 14 snaps at cornerback and another 51 on special teams over seven games. The 23-year-old does, however, carry appeal as a rangy cover corner with good size, who also happens to be playing on a team friendly contract. It’s also worth noting that while Ricks largely spent his game days watching from the sideline, his roster status remained unaffected throughout the season despite the frequent toggling of personnel. That, to me, suggests the team sees value and potential that should manifest in a long look this summer. I’m expecting Ricks, an outside corner by trade, to once again answer the bell following a full year in Fangio’s defense.

Parry Nickerson

A sixth-round pick of the New York Jets in 2018, Nickerson has appeared in 30 games (three starts) over stints with the Jets, Jaguars, Packers, Vikings and Dolphins. The Eagles are his seventh team. Nickerson, who had some overlap with Fangio in Miami, returns for his second summer in Philadelphia after spending the majority of the 2024 season on the Eagles’ practice squad. For a vivid memory of Nickerson, I rewound back to last summer, when the veteran returned a Tanner McKee redzone interception 99 yards for a score. Judging by spring practices, Nickerson will open camp as DeJean’s backup at nickel, but McWilliams could eat into those opportunities fairly early.

Tariq Castro-Fields

Castro-Fileds, 26, entered the NFL three years ago as a sixth-round pick of the San Francisco 49ers. The Penn State product didn’t make it out of camp and has bounced around since, appearing in 12 games (one start) in stints with the Washington Commanders and Carolina Panthers. At 6-foot-1, 197 pounds, Castro-Fields boasts the prototypical frame coveted in a perimeter corner and showcases football smarts and physicality but his college experience and minimal offerings at the pro level indicate his game likely requires some technical refinement. Curious to see whether a full offseason, coupled with an extended stay on the Eagles’ practice squad, gives him a boost.

A.J. Woods

Originally a rookie free agent signing of the Commanders last spring following a decorated career at Pittsburgh, Woods joined the Eagles’ practice squad in September and remained there for the entirety of the 2024 season. Woods offers inside-outside ability, but his frame and skill set has relegated him to the nickel role with the Eagles. I was a fan of Woods’ game at the college level, where he exhibited short-area quickness, a knack for playing bigger than his frame (5-9, 186), and sticky coverage. He’ll need to impress early and often to realistically factor into the roster conversation but could conceivably hang around for another year on the practice squad. It would appear that Nickerson is his primary hurdle.

B.J. Mayes

Mayes, 6-foot-1, 195 pounds, was a post-draft signing after going undrafted in April. Mayes, who originally began his collegiate career at UAB, played in 11 games last season for the Texas A&M Aggies, including four starts. He finished the season fourth in the SEC in interceptions (4). At his best in man coverage, Mayes already showcased this spring his physicality and knack for being around the football. He’ll probably need to tighten up the technical side and be mindful of his over-aggressive tendencies, but he’ll be one I’m interested to monitor during one-on-ones.

Brandon Johnson

The 5-foot-10, 185-pound Johnson signed with the Eagles this spring as a rookie free agent out of Oregon. In his lone season with the Ducks – Johnson spent his first three seasons at Duke – the versatile defensive back appeared in all 14 games, starting eight. He logged 45 tackles, an interception and five passes defended, while also finding the end zone on a fumble recovery. Reps will be limited for Johnson, who slots in as a deep reserve at nickel, but the rookie does have a special teams background, where he’ll also need to make his mark to warrant staying power in some capacity.

Specialists

K Jake Elliott

A year removed from being named to the Associated Press All-Pro team, Elliott experienced a shaky 2024 campaign, connecting on 28 of 36 regular season field goal attempts (77.8%). Normally showcasing a big leg and flair for delivering in critical moments, the most pronounced aspect of Elliott’s struggles occurred on field goals of 50-plus, where he converted just 1 of 7 opportunities. It’s worth mentioning that Elliott connected on 10 of 11 field goal attempts (90.8%) in the postseason, including a long of 50. The 30-year-old converted 13 of 16 extra point attempts over the four-game stretch after missing two in the regular season.

LS Charley Hughlett

Hughlett, signed to a 1-year deal in free agency, replaces long-time long-snapper Rick Lovato. The 35-year-old bounced around to multiple teams after originally signing with the Dallas Cowboys as a rookie free agent in 2012, but eventually caught on with the Browns in 2015, appearing in 152 regular season games.

P Braden Mann

First signed to the Eagles’ practice squad in Sept. 2023, Mann has gone on to punt in 32 regular season games and five postseason contests for the Eagles. Last season, Mann averaged 48.8 yards per punt – second-highest average of his career – and landed 20 inside the 20-yard line. Mann was critical to the Eagles’ 24-19 win over the Baltimore Ravens, a performance that earned him the distinction of NFC Special Teams Player of the Week.

– Andrew DiCecco (@AndrewDiCecco) is a Staff Reporter/Content Producer for InsideTheBirds.com.