Philadelphia Eagles Acquire Talented DB in Last-Minute Move

The Philadelphia Eagles quietly addressed a need in the secondary on Tuesday by signing former Baltimore Ravens cornerback Robert Longerbeam to the practice squad.

The move, first reported by NFL insider Jordan Schultz, comes after the Eagles had spent recent weeks canvassing the league for additional help at the position.

Longerbeam, a 2025 sixth-round pick out of Rutgers, became available when the Ravens were forced to trim a deep and talented cornerback group to 53 players. Rather than wait to see if Baltimore would try to reclaim him after he cleared waivers, the 5-foot-11, 174-pound defender chose Philadelphia, where he believes he has a more realistic chance to work his way onto the field.

That decision makes sense from both sides. Longerbeam missed his entire rookie season after tearing his patellar tendon and only recently returned to full health. He used the extra time productively.

During Baltimore’s OTAs, with several veterans sitting out, he intercepted a pass and broke up another, leaving a strong impression on those watching the younger players in the secondary.

He followed that with a solid second training camp, yet still could not crack a crowded Ravens roster that had little room for another developmental piece.

The Eagles are betting that the same traits that first attracted Baltimore will translate in a new scheme. Longerbeam ran a 4.39-second 40-yard dash at the NFL Scouting Combine, a time that helped lock in his draft stock at pick 212.

In college, he started for three seasons at Rutgers and earned All-Big Ten recognition twice. As a senior in 2024 he led the Scarlet Knights with 11 pass deflections and added two interceptions. Those numbers, combined with his recovered health and recent on-field flashes, give Philadelphia a low-risk, high-upside body to evaluate throughout the season.

Looking ahead, the timing is also favorable. Kelee Ringo, Jonathan Jones and Riq Woolen are all scheduled to hit free agency after this year. A productive stretch on the practice squad and in limited opportunities could put Longerbeam in position to compete for a more permanent backup role as early as next summer.

For a franchise that has long specialized in finding contributors on the margins, this is another dart throw worth taking.

The Eagles did not need a headline-making veteran addition; they needed another fast, competitive corner they can develop.

In Longerbeam, they have one who already knows how to produce when given the chance.