Philadelphia Eagles cornerback Cooper DeJean became a big-play factory as a rookie, capped by an interception off Patrick Mahomes returned for a touchdown in Super Bowl LIX, but it might be the cornerback chosen a round before the former Iowa standout who is poised to breakout in 2025.
When general manager Howie Roseman and the Eagles managed to land DeJean in the second round, after selecting Quinyon Mitchell, out of Toledo, Philadelphia had not just secured two of the premier prospects in a deep class at the position but potentially the foundation of an elite secondary for years to come.
With one season, and this spring’s OTA and minicamp practices under his belt, Mitchell could be primed to make a Pro Bowl leap in 2025, according to NBC Sports Philadelphia’s Dave Zangaro.
“In the playoffs last season,” Zangaro writes. “Quinyon Mitchell finally got the first two interceptions of his NFL career. Had he done that in the regular season — and he had plenty of chances — he might already be a Pro Bowler. The Eagles’ first-round pick from last year had a great rookie season. He was so good that opposing quarterbacks stopped throwing his way. If that happens again, he’ll have to make the most of his limited opportunities to pick off passes.
“Mitchell last season, according to NextGen Stats, was targeted 76 times and gave up just 43 catches for 479 yard and 3 touchdowns. He consistently shut down some of the top receivers in the NFL. Last year’s NFC corners were Jaylon Johnson, Byron Murphy and Jaycee Horn.”
Nothing short of stellar last season, Mitchell played a brand of lockdown cornerback that was as advertised from his collegiate career and could be the floor for what the Eagles can expect from the six-foot and 193-pound cornerback.
Posting 46 tackles while holding opposing quarterbacks to a 93.8 passer rating as a rookie, according to Pro Football Focus, if Mitchell makes a major leap, it would go a long way towards the NFL’s top-ranked defense becoming even more difficult to move the ball on, in 2025.
NFL Insider Shoots Down T.J. Watt to Eagles Trade Speculation
Getty ImagesThe Philadelphia Eagles have been linked to a blockbuster trade for T.J. Watt in recent weeks.
Roseman and the Eagles may be among the best positioned teams to trade for former Defensive Player of The Year, Pittsburgh Steelers edge rusher T.J. Watt.
However, despite the Eagles’ resources, the way that Philadelphia has conducted this offseason by allowing Milton Williams, Josh Sweat, Darius Slay, and other key contributors to walk via free agency could telegraph a more conservative approach to adding from the outside from Roseman, at least in the short term.
That’s ESPN NFL Insider Adam Schefter’s read on the Watt-to-the-Eagles speculation.
“I think the Eagles are planning and budgeting to pay their own players,” Schefter said on 97.5 The Fanatic. “They’re going to have any number of young stars from Jalen Carter to the two cornerbacks [Cooper DeJean, Quinyon Mitchell] that they drafted last year they have to go pay in the future. They already paid Zack Baun, they paid Saquon Barkley. At some point they’re going to have to address the offensive side.
“There’s so many contractual situations that you have and it makes it hard to go trade for a TJ Watt and pay him upwards of $30 million dollars a year. It just doesn’t work. Would you love to have him? Of course. Every team would. But can you make it work feasibly, financially, structurally? That would be incredibly challenging for the Eagles to do.”
Schefter’s theory makes a lot of sense and is likely a window into Roseman and Philadelphia’s philosophy given that key young players such as Jalen Carter, Nolan Smith, and the two young corners who may quickly be becoming among the more dominant across the league.
Whether the Eagles ultimately make a move for Watt remains to be seen, and Roseman hasn’t shied away from bold and aggressive moves, but perhaps even a trade for Watt could be too big a lift if Philadelphia’s goal is to maximize its window with homegrown talent in place for the long-term.
Eagles Rookie Andrew Mukuba Turning Heads
Todd Kirkland | GettyPhiladelphia Eagles rookie Andrew Mukuba has been a standout this spring.
Eagles rookie safety Andrew Mukuba has his teammates buzzing.
Wide receiver DeVonta Smith recently singled out Mukuba as the rookie who stood out to him the most during this spring’s OTA and minicamp practices, but he isn’t the only Eagles star taking notice of the former University of Texas standout.
Mukuba, chosen in the second round of the 2025 NFL Draft by the Eagles, also made a strong impression on fellow safety Reed Blankenship.
“He’s great,” Blankenship recently told reporters, of Mukuba. “I feel we bring a lot of guys in that have the same personality; kind of what allows that room to be open. He came in, he’s shown his personality, and that’s what you wanna see.
“You want to see a rookie comfortable. He’s asking questions, he’s talking. …he’s checking all the boxes. Really excited to see him, too. He’s learning as much as he can.”
Mukuba’s versatility as a playmaker in coverage and his physicality likely drew the Eagles to prioritize selecting him, and if he’s able to parlay his strong spring into an impressive summer, there’s a chance he locks down a starting job in Philadelphia’s secondary Week 1.
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