The Philadelphia Eagles are staring down a defensive crisis as the 2025 NFL season looms, and their preseason opener against the Cincinnati Bengals exposed a glaring weakness in their secondary. With Joe Burrow, Ja’Marr Chase, and Tee Higgins slicing through their defense, the Eagles’ No. 2 cornerback spot opposite rising star Quinyon Mitchell looks like a liability. If this performance is a sign of things to come, general manager Howie Roseman and defensive coordinator Vic Fangio need to act fast before their Week 1 showdown with the Dallas Cowboys—or risk a collapse in their secondary.
Enter Asante Samuel Jr., a 25-year-old free agent with the pedigree and playmaking ability to transform Philadelphia’s cornerback room. A second-round pick by the Los Angeles Chargers in the 2021 NFL Draft, Samuel Jr. boasts six interceptions, 37 pass breakups, and 176 total tackles across his first four seasons. His big-game experience and ball-hawking instincts make him the ideal candidate to shore up a position where Kelee Ringo and Adoree’ Jackson have failed to impress during training camp and preseason action.
While Samuel Jr. is recovering from offseason neck surgery, a clean bill of health could make him the missing piece in Fangio’s defensive puzzle. His ability to lock down receivers and disrupt passing games would provide the Eagles with a dynamic duo alongside Mitchell, potentially elevating their secondary to elite status. The alternative—relying on unproven options like Ringo or Jackson, or shifting rookie Cooper DeJean to the perimeter—feels like a gamble Philadelphia can’t afford to take against a brutal NFC East slate.
While the secondary demands attention, the Eagles’ defensive line is quietly producing a breakout star in Moro Ojomo. The young defensive tackle has been a disruptive force throughout training camp, manhandling Philadelphia’s offensive line and making his presence felt in the preseason opener against Cincinnati. According to defensive line coach Clint Hurtt, Ojomo isn’t just a rotational player—he’s an every-down game-changer.
“He’s an every-down player,” Hurtt said. “We don’t see him as a role guy.”
Ojomo’s rise comes at the perfect time, as he steps into the void left by Milton Williams, who signed with the New England Patriots in free agency. Last season, Ojomo generated 31 pressures in just 268 pass-rush snaps, per Pro Football Focus, showcasing his ability to collapse pockets and disrupt plays. His football IQ is equally impressive, with Hurtt praising his ability to read blocking schemes, communicate protections, and even suggest adjustments on the sideline.
“He’s at the point now where he can come to the sidelines and say, ‘Hey, coach, they’re sitting on this, what about this?’” Hurtt noted. “That’s a coach on the field.”
With Ojomo poised for a significant role on one of the NFL’s premier defensive lines, his September surge feels inevitable. If he maintains this trajectory, he could become a cornerstone of Philadelphia’s front for years to come.
The clock is ticking for Roseman and Fangio to address the secondary’s shortcomings. Signing Asante Samuel Jr., if he’s cleared for Week 1, could be the move that solidifies Philadelphia’s defense and sends a message to the NFC. Meanwhile, Ojomo’s emergence offers a silver lining, proving the Eagles have the talent to dominate up front. But without a reliable No. 2 corner, their secondary risks being exposed against the league’s top passing attacks. The time to act is now—before the Cowboys come calling and the season spirals out of control.