Eagles Sign Vic Fangio-Related Former Jets Draft Pick.
The Philadelphia Eagles announced on June 7 that they have signed veteran Parry Nickerson as a cornerback.
Nickerson, 29, collaborated with current Eagles defensive coordinator Vic Fangio while playing in five games for the Miami Dolphins in the previous season. The 5-foot-10, 179-pound defensive back was selected by the New York Jets in the sixth round of the 2018 NFL Draft. Since joining the league, he has been a member of five different teams’ active rosters.
In 2019, Nickerson—who had appeared in 16 games and started two—was traded to the Seattle Seahawks for a conditional seventh-round pick in 2021. But his time with Seattle was short lived, as he was dismissed before making an appearance in a Seahawks game.
Following a brief stay in Seattle, Nickerson spent time with the Green Bay Packers (2020), Jacksonville Jaguars (2019), and Minnesota Vikings (2021–2022) before joining the Dolphins for the 2019–20 season.
Max Scharping, an offensive lineman, is the other player the Eagles signed this week in addition to Nickerson.
Eagles New CB Parry Nickerson Was a Standout at Tulane
Nickerson was a standout defensive back with the Tulane Green Wave. He started 48 games at Tulane, amassing 188 total tackles (eight for loss), 47 passes defensed, 16 interceptions and three forced fumbles. Those numbers were good enough to earn him second place all-time at Tulane in interceptions and third all-time in pass breakups.
The product of Harvey, Louisiana, impressed NFL scouts with a quick 40-yard sprint time of 4.32. Competing in a crowded DBs room with young talent like Tyler Hall, an undrafted CB, Eli Ricks, Zech McPhearson, and Kelee Ringo will require that speed.
Throughout his career, Nickerson has mostly played in the spot; Philly should do the same. 271 of the 352 career snaps that Pro Football Focus has tracked have been in the slot.
Eagles Should Keep an Eye on Emerging Young CB Kelee Ringo
A young player who stood out at minicamp was Ringo, a second-year cornerback.
On June 7, Thomas R. Petersen of the Philly Voice wrote on X, “Kelee Ringo is entering his second season, started a couple games last year, and arguably was the best DB through OTA and mandatory camp.”
Ringo, a Philadelphia 2023 fourth-round selection, played in all 17 games during the previous campaign, starting four of them. In the end, he recorded 21 tackles, 1.0 sacks, two interceptions, a quarterback hit, and two pass breakups.
“I feel like the best thing that can help you with that is definitely reps,” Ringo said, via NBC Sports Philadelphia. “Having a year under my belt has definitely helped me be more calm with my play and also just seeing what offenses are doing against me and strategies and things like that.”
His teammates are also noticing Ringo’s on-field improvement.
“Kelee is difficult at times going against,” Eagles top receiver A.J. Brown said. “Because I go against him a lot. He’s definitely growing. You can see a different step with him. I”m not going to put too much pressure on him but you definitely see a different step with him. He’s hungry, he’s competing at a high level.”
With the vast amount of talent the Eagles currently have at cornerback, Nickerson has his work cut out for him when it comes to making the 53-man roster, but considering his ties to Fangio, he’s one to watch heading into training camp.
