Under the guidance of savvy general manager Howie Roseman, the Philadelphia Eagles always have a plan, both for the short and long term.
There’s no way, however, that Philly’s plan for the 2025 season opener included Adoree’ Jackson as its starting No. 2 cornerback.
The Eagles’ CB situation is the biggest red flag on an otherwise stacked roster entering Thursday night's season kick-off game against the Dallas Cowboys. The early hype around third-year pro Kelee Ringo dissipated quickly in the preseason, when over two game appearances the 23-year-old allowed a 153.8 passer rating when targeted, per Pro Football Focus.
Roseman quickly added depth at the position by acquiring Jakorian Bennett from the Las Vegas Raiders, but he’ll be playing catch-up in Vic Fangio’s defense over the first month of the season. It’s possible rookie Mac McWilliams could emerge, but he feels closer to Cooper DeJean’s backup at the nickel spot than he does a starting outside cornerback.
The Eagles could have a plan in place that no one sees coming, similar to the 2024 opener, when then-rookie Quinyon Mitchell moved outside as a starting CB and backup safety Avonte Maddox surprisingly switched to nickel. But for now, the Eagles will try to hold down the fort with Jackson, who turns 30 later this month, as their No. 2 corner, opening the door for a major trade at the position if struggles ensue.
Cleveland Browns CB Greg Newsome II continuous to be linked to the Philadelphia Eagles in trade speculation
If Roseman opts to go bold before this year’s NFL trade deadline, former first-round pick Greg Newsome II of the Cleveland Browns could be the target.
Newsome has the versatility to play either outside or in the slot, and Kris Knox of Bleacher Report views the 25-year-old star as a potential solution to Philly’s cornerback problem.
“Given Cleveland's need to rebuild — and possibly chase a quarterback in the 2026 draft — Newsome should be available for the right price. Expect him to command a bit less than the Kansas City Chiefs got for L'Jarius Sneed last offseason.”
Knox predicts a conditional fourth-round pick as the trade compensation for Newsome, and the Eagles are positioned perfectly to make a deal in that range thanks to their projected 12 selections in the 2026 draft. But there’s a clear sticking point here, and that’s the contract.
Newsome is currently playing on the fifth-year option of his rookie deal. His price tag entering 2025 was $13.3 million fully guaranteed, according to Spotrac, and he’s scheduled to hit free agency in 2026. While it’s easy to see Newsome’s skill set being attractive to the Eagles, it would be hard to justify a trade without a multi-year extension attached to the deal. If Philly’s offseason told us anything, it’s that committing future money to outside players is not part of the plan for 2025.
Read more: CBS Sports analyst drops bold take on Eagles’ young defense for 2025
Would the Eagles spend a conditional fourth-round pick on a one-year rental? Anything is possible, as Roseman has collected plenty of draft capital and cap space for a big, in-season move like this. But with Newsome’s contract situation, it would take something drastic on the field for Philly to justify B/R’s trade proposal.