Sep 29, 2024; Tampa, Florida, USA; Philadelphia Eagles cornerback Cooper DeJean (33) looks on against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during the second half at Raymond James Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement Neitzel-Imagn Images
Good defensive backs are hard to find. Nobody understands that better than the Eagles.
But the Birds grabbed a pair of them in the 2024 NFL draft, selecting Quinyon Mitchell with the 22nd overall pick and Cooper DeJean with the 40th.
How in the world did the @NFL allow the Philadelphia Eagles to get the BEST 2 DB’s in the draft???
Cooper DeJean & Quinyon Mitchell pic.twitter.com/3JHbw1qKzu
Expectations for the duo were high. But even the most optimistic Eagles enthusiasts didn't foresee both players sitting top-five in NFL Rookie of the Year odds. From one popular U.S. sportsbook:
Odds via FanDuelMitchell, in particular, has been phenomenal.
#EAGLES ROOKIE CB QUINYON MITCHELL IS ON A LEGENDARY RUN TO START HIS CAREER…
Week 13: Zay Flowers/Ravens -2 Rec, 5 Yards
Week 12: Puka Nacua, Cooper Kupp - 3 Rec, 27 Yds
Week 11: Terry McLaurin - 0 Rec, 0 Yds
Week 10: CeeDee Lamb - 2 Rec, 14 Yds
Week 9: Jaguars - 1 Rec, 11… pic.twitter.com/SXLlGxkExe
— MLFootball (@_MLFootball) December 2, 2024
DeJean, meanwhile, probably created one of the most enduring images of the 2024 Eagles season in Sunday's game against the Ravens:
FORM TACKLE BY THE ROOKIE 😤 @Eagles pic.twitter.com/qpWET5dnWx
And together, the two have helped transform the Eagles' defense. The Birds entered Week 13 allowing 283 yards per game, the fewest in the NFL.
Quinyon Mitchell and Cooper DeJean are up to 101 combined targets this season without allowing a TD. pic.twitter.com/FHTDExehaG
"I see two guys that love the game of football and are willing to do everything they can to get better at it," Nick Sirianni recently said about the rookies. "Highly competitive guys. Very serious about football. Good teammates. Work really hard. All those things you see out of these guys on a daily basis. And it’s good to have their youth and energy out on the field."
The ramifications of these draft picks extend beyond the secondary and beyond the season. By all (admittedly early) indications, the Eagles landed long-term two anchors at premium positions on rookie contracts. Eliminating perennial concerns about the secondary would free up draft-pick capital and free agency cash for other positions.
© Gary A. Vasquez | 2024 Nov 24Time will tell whether Mitchell and DeJean continue their success. But thus far, Eagles fans certainly couldn't ask for anything more.
