Eagles' plan with young secondary becomes clear after shocking Jalen Ramsey trade

Another potential Philadelphia Eagles target, another missed opportunity for Philly. Or is it?

The Miami Dolphins traded Jalen Ramsey, Jonnu Smith, and a 2027 seventh-round pick to the Pittsburgh Steelers in exchange for Minkah Fitzpatrick and a 2027 fifth-round pick. Ramsey is coming off a season where he missed the Pro Bowl for the first time since his rookie season in 2016 with the Jacksonville Jaguars.

Over the last two months, the Eagles has been a common name mentioned as a potential trade partner for the Dolphins to acquire Ramsey. Now with Ramsey off the board, what does it mean for Philadelphia's secondary?

The aftermath of the Eagles' secondary after missing out on Ramsey

In simplest terms, nothing. There is nothing that is going to change. Nothing may ever change before the regular season.

All the talk about guys like Ramsey and Jaire Alexander being perfect spots for the Eagles: the reality is, they aren't perfect fits. They shouldn't be in Philadelphia.

It has nothing to do with their skill set, as Ramsey and Alexander are very talented defensive backs. The truth is, they are too expensive and too old.

Philadelphia wants to be young. The Eagles are looking to see what they have in guys like Quinyon Mitchell, Cooper DeJean, and Kelee Ringo. Mitchell and DeJean are already elite, but Ringo can be special if given the reps and opportunities to play.

Ramsey and Alexander are going to command too much money for the Eagles' liking. Eagles general manager Howie Roseman wants the younger players to play because they are cheaper, and it'll give them an idea of how to plan for the 2026 offseason.

The plan for the entire offseason was not to spend money, but instead to get the roster younger. It's why guys like Darius Slay, C.J. Gardner-Johnson, and James Bradberry were either released or traded from the team. Adding Josh Sweat and Milton Williams to that conversation, the Eagles have too expensive or too old players to put on the field.

Philadelphia is still ready to win in 2025. Just because they aren't making the calls that some fans want doesn't mean they aren't all in. This season is about developing the young players to be the future of the franchise, and the future looks bright in Philadelphia.