Scouting reports for new Eagles Cornerback Kelee Ringo
We have joked about this a few times. Now, we’re a little more serious. The Georgia Bulldogs need to either send Uga to Lincoln Financial Field to hang out with Swoop for a home Philadelphia Eagles football game, or they need to plant a few hedges around the end zone, or both. Howie Roseman has rebuilt Georgia’s 2021 College Football Playoff National Championship-winning defense and reinserted it into Philly’s defensive roster. Kelee Ringo is the selection at 105.
What’s that? You weren’t aware that Philly owned the 105th overall selection? Yep! Before announcing the first pick in Round 4, they made a deal with Houston. They shipped a 2024 third-round selection to the Texans for the right to make the third selection in Round 4. You can never accuse Howie of being passive.
Some called Ringo a Day 2 prospect. The Eagles land him early on Day 3. That’s the definition of ‘value’. Call us crazy, but Philly’s defense might be better than last year.
Here are a few important nuggets about new Eagles corner Kelee Ringo as well as a look at what some of the experts are saying.
Kelee Ringo is talented. Let’s get that straight, but he still needs some polishing. There’s nothing wrong with that. NFL teams employ position coaches for that very reason.
Though he has the speed to keep up with anyone (he ran a 4.36-second 40-yard dash at the most recent NFL Scouting Combine), there were questions about a shoulder injury during the pre-draft process. Some Georgia sources have even mentioned there are questions about his work ethic.
As far as what we see from a skill standpoint, there’s some stiffness in tightness. Some argue, at this stage of his development, he’s probably best suited to play press corner. There are questions about whether or not he changes direction well enough to hang with some of the shifter corners at the professional level.
No one should worry as of yet. Darius Slay and James Bradberry will start, and the most important thing here is this 2022 Second-Team All-SEC nod gives Philly something they most certainly need, depth in the secondary.
During 29 games over the past two Georgia Bulldogs football seasons, he racked up 76 tackles and a sack. He also broke up 15 passes, forced one fumble, and intercepted four passes, one of which he returned for a touchdown in his first of two CFP National Championship Game appearances to seal the deal and finally help UGA topple the Alabama Crimson Tide.
Here’s what the experts are saying:
Pro Football Focus
PFF ranked Ringo as their tenth-best cornerback and their 66th-highest-ranked player overall n their big board. Here’s a quote.
"Ringo is a mammoth cornerback at 6-foot-2 and 210 pounds. He’s built to play in a press-heavy defense on the outside. He’s just a touch inconsistent on his breaks and allowed 552 yards this past fall."
Say what you will about PFF, their grading system, and some of their theory. They are always an intriguing read. From where we’re sitting, they may be spot on here.
NFL.com
Lance Zierlein, NFL.com’s draft wiz, gives Kelee Ringo a draft grade of 6.39, meaning he’ll eventually become a plus starter. Here’s some of Chad Reuter’s theory for Zierlein stating so.
"Ringo was a top-10 national recruit and first-team USA Today All-American at Saguaro High School in Arizona, also winning state titles in the 100- and 200-meter dashes. The five-star recruit redshirted the 2020 season. Ringo stood out his first year on the field for the Bulldogs, earning SEC All-Freshman Team notice and starting the final 12 games (34 tackles, one sack, two interceptions, eight pass breakups) of the team’s national championship season. His pick-six against Alabama in the title game basically clinched the win. Ringo garnered second-team All-SEC honors after leading Georgia with seven pass breakups (also posting 42 tackles and intercepting two passes) and starting all 15 games of their second straight title-winning campaign."
Shortly after the announcement of Ringo’s addition, he met with select members of the Philly media. This one is definitely worth a watch.
Kelee Ringo speaks with the media. https://t.co/0Vc87dC7sq
— Philadelphia Eagles (@Eagles) April 29, 2023
It has also been announced that the Birds and Detroit Lions have agreed on an arrangement to swap seventh-round picks in a deal that sends D’Andre Swift to the City of Brotherly Love. The Lions will also receive a 2024 fifth-round draft choice in the deal.
Kudos are in order for Howie Roseman. It’s hard to argue with much he has done during the selection meeting up until this point.
