After years of having a plethora of veterans man the position, the Philadelphia Eagles decided to invest in their defensive secondary in the 2024 draft. This proved to be a smart move by Howie Roseman and company, as they walked away with a pair of talents who will lead the defense for years to come.
With their first-round pick, the Eagles selected cornerback Quinyon Mitchell 22nd overall. Then, early in round two, Philadelphia took another defensive back in Cooper DeJean pick No. 40.
It did not take long for these two to leave a strong impression on the Eagles. They both together impressive rookie campaigns, and nearly walked away with the Defensive Rookie of the Year award. Mitchell finished as the runner-up to Jared Verse, with DeJean coming in fourth.
Despite being rookies, Mitchell and DeJean both provided a boost on defense that helped the Eagles win their second Super Bowl in the last seven years. DeJean even managed to have a standout moment on the game’s biggest stage, coming away with a pick-six on Patrick Mahomes in the Super Bowl.
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Ahead of the 2025 season, the people at PFF put together a list of the NFL‘s top ten cornerback duos. Mitchell and DeJean made an appearance on this list, coming in at No. 3. The only duos put ahead of them were Christian Benford and Taron Johnson of the Buffalo Bills and Houston Texans defensive backs Derek Stingley Jr. and Kamari Lassiter.
Based on how they played as rookies, Mitchell and DeJean will have big expectations to meet in year two. Luckily for them, the proper pieces are in place for them to continue developing. Vic Fangio is returning as defensive coordinator, so they won’t have to learn a new system. Also, with a year of NFL action under their belt now, they know what they’re getting into and what they needed to improve in the offseason.
Still in the early stages of their respective careers, Mitchell and DeJean have the potential to be anchors for the Eagles’ defense long-term. The key for them will be to continue building off their strong play thus far. Having a full offseason to rest and recoup, the young defensive backs should be ready to hit the ground running.
Throughout his time running the Eagles’ front office, Roseman has put together a strong track record when it comes to the draft. With Mitchell and DeJean already viewed as a top CB duo, it appears he has struck gold yet again.
