Eagles

So.. How About Kelee Ringo?

By Kevin Kinkead

Published: Dec 27th, 2023 · 10:58 AM EST

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We’ve come a long way from Kelee Ringo being that rookie who somehow committed two penalties on one play:

In the last two games, Kelee Ringo has only given up two catches for nine yards on five targets, according to @PFF. He was the #Eagles highest-graded defensive back against the Giants.

Eli Ricks has given up one catch for just one yard on six targets in the same span as well.

— EJ Smith (@EJSmith94) December 27, 2023

The #Eagles full defensive grades from the victory over the Giants per PFF
Kelee Ringo 👀
Ben VanSumeren 👀👀 pic.twitter.com/GqrwfzlGds

— Shane Haff (@ShaneHaffNFL) December 26, 2023

He’s been really solid, hasn’t he? 51 snaps against the Giants and 32 against the Seahawks. He’s CB2 playing in a variety of looks, be it straight up nickel or that “big dime” package with three safeties and three corners. Ringo also has 280 special teams snaps, which is tied with Josh Jobe for the team lead.

Dave Zangaro at NBC Sports Philadelphia had a good story from Christmas Eve in which Darius Slay is quoted talking about Ringo’s potential:

“I actually went up to my DB coach and was like, I don’t know but I’ve been watching Kelee in practice against A.J. (Brown),” Slay said. “I see his fundamentals and technique was improving each and every day. I was like man, he’s been doing good.”

…

“I watch all the reps of all the guys just because when I’m coaching them, I do want to help them as in what they doing wrong that I see,” Slay said. “So I try to help them the best way I can. So me doing that, I gotta watch what they do. Just watching the plays he was making on A.J., with A.J. being one of the best receivers in this league.

“For a young guy like that, I just told him right now you’re on the scout team, it’s not really truly your responsibility. You’re just out there playing free because you’re not working our defense. But that’s what you got to do when you’re in our defense. He’s taking along with it and he’s doing well.”

They’re gonna need a CB replacement soon, because Slay turns 33 next week and Bradberry hasn’t had a great year. He’s also on the wrong side of 30. The Eagles went the trade/free agent route for both of those guys, and they haven’t had a fantastic recent track record of drafting and developing corners. Zech McPhearson tore his Achilles and Avonte Maddox has had his injury struggles, so bad luck has played a part. Sidney Jones and Rasul Douglas didn’t stick in Philadelphia. Jalen Mills is the last guy they drafted and turned into a starting-caliber corner, and even then, he was a hybrid who switched to playing safety a season or two after the Super Bowl. If they can turn Kelee Ringo, a 4th round draft pick, into a legit player, then that’s a really nice job by Howie Roseman and the coaching staff. Believe it or not, Nolan Smith has only played 24 more defensive snaps than Ringo this season. Did anyone see that coming back in training camp?