Cooper DeJean, Mitchell Hyped as Elite CB Duo by Eagles Fans After NFL Draft Picks
Timothy Rapp@@TRappaRT
Featured Columnist IVApril 27, 2024
The Philadelphia Eagles had one of the worst pass defenses in football last season, so general manager Howie Roseman decided to do something about it.
On Thursday, Toledo cornerback Quinyon Mitchell fell into his lap at No. 22. On Friday, he traded up to nab Iowa defensive back Cooper DeJean.
And both Eagles fans and pundits alike lauded the moves:
Ralph Vacchiano @RalphVacchianoSo basically the Philadelphia Eagles had the best CB in the draft, Toldeo's Quinyon Mitchell, fall into their laps at 22 last night.<br><br>And then they find a way to get Cooper DeJean, the CB they probably would have taken at 22 if Mitchell wasn't there, in the second round.<br><br>Howie: <a href="https://t.co/v8f8qiMRdx">pic.twitter.com/v8f8qiMRdx</a>
Robert Griffin III @RGIIICooper Dejean's game ain't no joke. When you watch his tape, you would think he was playing offense because he tracks the ball like a WR. He contests everything but is always trying to take the ball away. <a href="https://twitter.com/Eagles?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Eagles</a> are adding youth, competition and versatility to their secondary. <a href="https://t.co/jyc4wlEzIh">pic.twitter.com/jyc4wlEzIh</a>
Chris Simms @CSimmsQBOh here we go the <a href="https://twitter.com/Eagles?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Eagles</a> and there yearly domination of the draft. I mean are u kidding me. Quinton Mitchell last night who is a special cb!! And now they get the best safety/nickel hybrid in the nfl draft in Cooper Dejean. His Return value with new kickoff rules is real!!
The B/R NFL Scouting Department had Mitchell ranked as its top cornerback and No. 10 prospect overall on its final big board, while DeJean was considered the fourth-best cornerback at the draft and No. 27 player overall.
By those metrics, the Eagles got enormous value, and at their biggest position of need. That's an unbelievable win-win for Roseman and new defensive coordinator Vic Fangio.
In the B/R NFL Scouting Department's breakdown of DeJean, it described him as "one of the elite athletes in this year's draft." He has the potential to play either corner or safety, with the "size and physicality to play safety in the NFL" but the "ball skills and movement skills to play cornerback."
The Eagles now have a crowded cornerback room, headlined by Darius Slay, James Bradberry, Mitchell and slot corner Avonte Maddox, among others. C.J. Gardner-Johnson will hold down one of the starting safety positions after returning to the team in free agency following a one-year hiatus in Detroit, while Reed Blankenship and Sydney Brown are candidates for the other starting role.
It will be interesting to see if the Eagles view DeJean as more of a cornerback or safety. If it's the former, a few players aren't going to make the cut after the additions of Mitchell and DeJean. If it's the latter, he'll have the chance to immediately start alongside Gardner-Johnson in Fangio's system, and the Birds will have excellent depth at the position.
Either way, a team that was torched in the defensive backfield last season now has brought on some very exciting reinforcements.
