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Tag: Quinyon Mitchell

  • A Fond, Dominant Remembrance. – Philadelphia Sports Nation

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    Photo Courtesy of Eagles Nation on X.

    Ok, full disclosure. Aside from the fact that we are in the midst of a frightful Philly January weekend — with nearly a foot of snow for most of us and no meaningful Eagles football scheduled until next September — I really have no reason for all of us to re-live the Eagles and Commanders NFC Championship Game from a year ago. 

    Let’s do it, anyway.

    The #2 seeded Eagles were in the NFC Playoffs after beating the Packers 22–10 in the Wildcard Round and the #4 seeded Rams 28–22 when they drew the #6 seed Commanders in the Championship Game in South Philly — who had throttled the top-seeded Lions in Detroit 45–21. The last time that the Eagles had faced a Division opponent in the NFC Championship was in 1981 —when they advanced to the first ever Super Bowl in franchise history by beating the Cowboys 20–7. 

    Now — it would be the Eagles who would put on offensive show.

    Jayden Daniels and the Commanders would open the scoring with a field goal on the first possession. Then — Cooper DeJean forced a Washington fumble after a hit on Dyami Brown and Reid Blankenship recovered. Saquon Barkley then scooted off the right side and into the end zone for a 14–3 Eagles advantage. Washington then rattled off nine straight points to cut Philadelphia’s lead to 14–12.

    After a pass interference penalty against the Washington secondary — preventing DeVonta Smith from catching a touchdown — Jalen Hurts plowed into the end zone from the one for a 20–12 advantage while Washington defensive backs Lattimore and Sainristil and A.J. Brown had a shoving match in the corner of the end zone. On the ensuing kickoff and a Jeremy McNichols fumble — the Eagles were on offense again and scored again thanks to a four-yard Jalen Hurts to A.J. Brown connection.

    Jan 26, 2025; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Philadelphia Eagles running back Saquon Barkley (26) runs with the ball against the Washington Commanders during the second half in the NFC Championship game at Lincoln Financial Field. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-Imagn Images

    In the third quarter — the Eagles padded the total by taking a 34–15 lead after a nine-yard Jalen Hurts touchdown run. Washington took momentum again and cut the lead to 34–23 with a Jayden Daniels touchdown run and a successful two-point conversion. 

    The Eagles stopped the Commanders comeback when Oren Burks stripped Austin Ekeler and Philadelphia recovered. Saquon Barkley then got tripped on the two yard-line to setup perhaps the most bizarre sequence of the game. The Eagles would run six Tush-Push plays with Washington jumping offsides a total of four times. The Commanders were advised by the referees that a touchdown could be awarded if the behavior continued — and subsequently Jalen Hurts scored on the sixth attempt for a 41–23 lead.

    Saquon then added a four-yard touchdown run after a Washington turnover on downs. On the next possession — Quinyon Mitchell would intercept Daniels in the endzone. Eagles rookie running back Will Shipley would then run eighty yards on the next drive to put the Eagles in front 55–23. 

    The first person to greet him was Saquon Barkley.

    Former Eagle Zach Ertz would haul in a total of eleven receptions for 104 yards for the Commanders. The Eagles would force four Washington turnovers before the game was over. And if you thought that this performance was impressive — the masterpiece of the Eagle’s season would be two weeks later — in Super Bowl LIX.

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    Michael Thomas Leibrandt

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  • Pro-Bowl, All-Rookie, and Now All-Pro. – Philadelphia Sports Nation

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    Photo Courtesy of Eagles Nation on X.

    Photo Courtesy of Eagles Nation on X.

    Quinyon Mitchell and Cooper DeJean have accomplished some truly incredible feats on the gridiron. They are two of the best defensive backs in the NFL and the first two starting rookie defensive backs ever on a team that won the Super Bowl. Now they are both All-Pro.

    When it comes to the 2026 NFL Pro Bowl — Quinyon Mitchell, Cooper DeJean, Cam Jurgens, Zach Baun, and Jalen Carter are representing the Eagles. For DeJean and Mitchell — two of the finest cornerbacks in the NFL — it’s tacid approval of a an incredible start to two young careers.

    Photo Courtesy of Eagles Nation on X.

    For the Eagles — last season was the first time in modern NFL playoff history that a team with two rookie starting defensive backs has reached the playoffs and a Super Bowl appearance. Last season was also is also the first time in the over ninety-two years of the Eagles franchise’s existence that two rookie defensive backs have been nominated for the AP Rookie of the Year in the same season.

    This season — Mukuba — who was the last rookie to sign a four-year contract worth $7,160,538, including $4,196,063 guaranteed money. The prospect of starting Mukuba is that his combination with Cooper DeJean and Quinyon Mitchell would make the Eagles’ defensive backfield one of the youngest starting in the NFL. He joins the Eagles secondary that was the only team in NFL history to start two rookie defensive backs in the Conference Championship Game and subsequently — the Super Bowl.

    The Eagles aren’t disillusioned with the possibility of some growing pains in the defensive backfield. Last season , Mitchell and fellow rookie Cooper DeJean were the perfect complement to Darius Slay and CJ Gardner-Johnson.

    This year — they are the best DB combination in the NFL. Perfectly complimenting each other.

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    Michael Thomas Leibrandt

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  • Eagles regular season awards: Who is the Birds’ MVP?

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    The PhillyVoice sports staff gives its end of season Eagles awards, including MVP, top assistant coach, and top breakout performer.

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    Geoff Mosher

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  • Pro Bowlers and Padding A Point Total? Well, Perhaps. – Philadelphia Sports Nation

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    Photo Courtesy of Eagles Nation on X.

    Photo Courtesy of Eagles Nation on X.

    Selection for the 2026 NFL Pro Bowl are in — and the Eagles have five invitations. Quinyon Mitchell, Cooper DeJean, Cam Jurgens, Zach Baun, and Jalen Carter are representing the defending World Champions (sorry, Jordan Mailata — I know that you don’t like the title.) For DeJean and Mitchell — two of the finest cornerbacks in the NFL — it’s tacid approval of a an incredible start to two young careers.

    Photo Courtesy of Eagles Nation on X.

    Last season was the first time in modern NFL playoff history — that a team with two rookie starting defensive backs has reached the playoffs and, then — a Super Bowl appearance. This year is also the first time in the thirty-two years of the Eagles franchise’s existence that two rookie defensive backs have been nominated for the AP Rookie of the Year in the same season.

    In the final edition of the Carson Wentz transaction last year, after already having drafted rookie-of-the-year finalist Quinyon Mitchell from Toledo, the Eagles would trade two 2024 second-round picks and a fifth-round pick. They would use one of the three picks that they got back from the Washington Commanders, including the 40th pick overall, to draft — you guessed it — Cooper DeJean.

    The Pro Bowl selections come on the heels of an Eagles game in Washington that took an unfortunate turn in the 4th quarter. After the two-point play was successful and Barkley was slammed to the ground — Darius Cooper and Commanders Defensive Back Will Harris got into a shoving match which then escalated. Washington had two players ejected (Javon Kinlaw and Quan Martin) as well as Steen in the 29–18 Eagles win.

    After the game was over — the Eagles were accused of utilizing the two-point conversion attempt to run up the score at Washington. 

    But hey — for an Eagles offense that has struggled over several games this season — do I object to an additional two-point play? Not one bit.

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    Michael Thomas Leibrandt

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  • Philly sports’ top 10 figures of 2025

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    Geoff Mosher

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  • Stepping Away — To Come Back Better? – Philadelphia Sports Nation

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    Packers at Redskins 09/23/18

    Last season — in the winter chill of a January Wild-Card Playoff Game at Lincoln Financial Field — Jaire Alexander offered a gesture to Eagles fans that was not — shall we say — exactly made out of love. Now the next chapter of Alexander’s All-Pro Career will be right here in Philly — after acquiring him in a trade with the Baltimore Ravens in exchange for a seventh-round Draft Pick in 2027 and a sixth-round Pick in 2026.

    Photo Courtesy of Wiki Commons.
    Packers at Redskins 09/23/18

    This week — the Eagles placed Alexander on the Reserve/Retired list while he steps away from the game to focus on himself. It means that while he is stepping away from football right now — he could potentially return amid an Eagles post-season run. The move also means that the previous trade will between the Ravens and the Eagles will stand.

    Not long after the Eagles won the Super Bowl in 2018 — Alexander was selected with the 18th overall selection by the Green Bay Packers. Last June — after being released by Green Bay — Alexander signed a one-year deal with the Baltimore Ravens.

    A step back from the game that he loves may be a needed rejuvenation. It may also allow him to rejoin the Eagles at a critical point. A postseason run which would be the second of consecutive back-to-back Super Bowls.

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    Michael Thomas Leibrandt

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  • Jaelan Phillips’ addition helps Vic Fangio, Eagles defense cover up a different deficiency

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    Eagles defensive coordinator Vic Fangio has made it clear in the past that all personnel moves – including but not limited to free-agent signings and trades – are executed by Howie Roseman, the team’s executive vice president of football operations, with very little input, if any, from Fangio.

    “Miniscule,” Fangio said last week when asked about his influence on the team’s roster decisions.

    You could understand why Fangio has distanced himself from many of Roseman’s moves on his side of the ball, going back to last year’s big free-agent spend on Bryce Huff, who clearly didn’t fit the scheme, and one-year flier on linebacker Devin White, another head-scratcher who didn’t last.

    This year’s newcomers haven’t fared much better – Adoree’ Jackson won a starting cornerback job by default, lost it, then got it back before suffering a concussion; Azeez Ojulari was inactive for the first four weeks, played two games, then landed on IR with a hamstring injury; Ogbo Okoronkwo made minimal impact before going on IR with a pectoral tear; and trade acquisition Jakorian Bennett, who dealt with a shoulder injury in Las Vegas that needed surgery, is still on injured reserve as of Monday while he comes back from a Week 3 pectoral injury.

    On Jackson, Fangio admitted in a press conference at training camp that the cornerback’s signing was Roseman’s call and that Fangio didn’t even watch tape on the former Titans and Giants defensive back before the Eagles signed him.

    About the only positive free-agent or trade addition on defense so far has been Josh Uche, who has played well as a rotational edge rusher, but not well enough for the Eagles to feel great about the overall state of their pass rush. When asked last week if Uche had exceeded expectations, Fangio could only say “neutral.”

    Which is why on Monday, Roseman went out and executed his third trade for a defensive player since Wednesday, landing former Dolphins edge rusher Jaelan Phillips for a third-round pick, a move that should satisfy his candid, fickle defensive coordinator even if Fangio had little or no say in it.

    Phillips isn’t a game-wrecker in the mold of Myles Garrett, has never made a Pro Bowl, and has battled several severe injuries throughout his college and pro career – at one point, he even gave up playing – but there’s no question that his best season came in 2023, in Fangio lone season presiding over the Dolphins’ defense.

    That season, Phillips racked up 6.5 sacks in just eight games – including a stretch of at least one sack in five consecutive games from Weeks 7-12 – before become tearing his Achilles at MetLife Stadium, the league’s annual graveyard for healthy tendons and ligaments.

    Phillips made it back for the start of 2024 but suffered a friendly fire partial ACL tear in Week 5 when his knee collided with teammate Jordan Poyer’s helmet in a game against the Titans, again ending Phillips’ season prematurely.

    This year, Phillips has come back strongly. He had three sacks and seven QB hits playing for a terrible Dolphins defense. More importantly, he played more than 70% of the defense’s snaps, showing that his health and conditioning are up to speed despite the lower-leg injuries he sustained in consecutive seasons.

    This is one move Fangio won’t want to distance himself from, as Phillips’ addition theoretically gives the defensive coordinator more ammo in the edge rush but perhaps more importantly covers up the defense’s other blemish at cornerback opposite Quinyon Mitchell.

    If the trio of Phillips, Jalyx Hunt and Nolan Smith (also soon to come off injured reserve) do its job, along with a solid rotational piece in Uche, Fangio can scale back on the blitzing that he’s done at a much higher rate this year to compensate for the losses of Josh Sweat and Milton Williams in free agency.

    Fangio’s blitz rate so far through eight games is between 22-23 percent, depending on the stat-tracking site. Some analytics sites chart SIM pressures or “exchange pressures,” which is a four-man rush but blitzes a second-level defender while dropping a front-line defender, as a blitz, while some don’t.

    Either way, 22 to 23 percent puts the Eagles at the middle of the pack in the NFL, at 15th. Last year, the Eagles ranked 28th in blitz percentage, per both NFL Pro and Pro Football Reference.

    Fangio’s history shows that he typically doesn’t like to blitz at rates higher than 20 percent. He’s famous for shutting down Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs in the Super Bowl last year without calling a single blitz.

    This season, Fangio only blitzed about 14 percent in the season opener against the Cowboys, and watched Dak Prescott connect with CeeDee Lamb seven times for 110 yards – mostly against Jackson – in a near-upset. The Eagles won because Lamb dropped several balls, including a deep pass late in the fourth that could’ve changed the outcome.

    The Eagles had just the 16th-best pressure rate in Week 1 along with a -0.02 EPA per pass and didn’t record a single sack, per NFL Pro, causing Fangio to reverse course by Week 2, when his blitz rate jumped to 29%, followed by 38% in Week 3 against the Rams, seventh-highest that week among NFL teams.

    Every time Fangio rushes five or more, he devotes at least one less body to coverage, which has at times exposed the Eagles’ deficiency at the cornerback spot across from the superstar Mitchell, who has often been asked this season to shadow the opponent’s top receiver. Multiple sites that track coverages show that Fangio has played a much higher rate of man coverage this season than zone, leaving their corner opposite Mitchell in some dangerous 1-on-1s. 

    The Eagles have acknowledged this deficiency time and again, first signing the veteran Jackson in March to compete with 2023 fourth-rounder Kelee Ringo but quickly trading for Bennett in August after Fangio made it clear in his press conferences that neither Jackson nor Ringo had blown him away.

    Fangio also decided that defensive back Cooper DeJean is his best option opposite Mitchell when the Eagles are in base defense, about 20% of the time, and Roseman continued to pad the secondary last week, trading for Jets slot cornerback Michael Carter II and for toiling Ravens cornerback Jaire Alexander.

    It’s clear that Roseman believed his best shot at helping Fangio produce the best defense possible was to upgrade the pass rush with the closest thing to a sure thing that he could attain while continuing to make dart throws at the secondary.

    If the Eagles can lean heavier on a four-man rush going forward, especially against opponents like the Packers on Monday night, the Lions in Week 11, Cowboys in Week 12, Chargers in Week 14, Bills in Week 17 and in the postseason, they can better masquerade their issues at cornerback.

    Maybe even enough to win another Super Bowl.

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    Geoff Mosher

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  • Eagles Youth – Assembled. – Philadelphia Sports Nation

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    Photo Courtesy of Eagles Nation on X.

    The Philadelphia Eagles have made a big commitment. It’s just not a commitment to longevity. It’s a commitment to youth. Another move toward that roadmap specifically in the secondary was made this week when the Eagles traded wide receiver John Metchie III and a six-round draft selection (2027) for New York Jets Cornerback Michael Carter II as well as a seventh-round pick (2027.) The addition of Carter makes the Eagles secondary one of the youngest in the NFL with Quinyon Mitchell, Cooper DeJean, Reed Blankenship, and rookie safety Andrew Mukuba.

    Selected in the fifth round of the NFL Draft (2021) by New York — the 5 foot 10 one hundred eighty-four pound Carter. In September of 2024 —New York signed Carter to a three–year ($30.75) million contract extension that includes ($13.61) million in guaranteed money. The result was that he became the highest paid slot cornerback in the entire National Football League.

    For the Eagles — last season was the first time in modern NFL playoff history — that a team with two rookie starting defensive backs has reached the playoffs and, perhaps — a Super Bowl appearance. This year is also the first time in the thirty-two years of the Eagles franchise’s existence that two rookie defensive backs have been nominated for the AP Rookie of the Year in the same season.

    This season — Mukuba — who was the last rookie to sign a four-year contract worth $7,160,538, including $4,196,063 guaranteed money.The prospect of starting Mukuba is that his combination with Cooper DeJean and Quinyon Mitchell would make the Eagles’ defensive backfield one of the youngest starting in the NFL. He joins that Eagles secondary that was the only team in NFL history to start two rookie defensive backs in the Conference Championship Game and subsequently — the Super Bowl.

    The Eagles aren’t disillusioned with the possibility of some growing pains in the defensive backfield. Last season — Mitchell and fellow rookie Cooper DeJean were the perfect compliment to Darius Slay and CJ Gardner-Johnson. So much so that Slay and Gardner-Johnson are now gone — and Defensive Coordinator Vic Fangio trusts Mitchell as isolation on the opponent’s best receiver.

    A commitment to a cohesive unit for years to come doesn’t come without the need for some patience. But if last season is any indication — this winter could be full of pleasant playoff surprises.

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    Michael Thomas Leibrandt

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  • In Eric Allen’s Career — Quinyon Mitchell Can Find A Model of Excellence. – Philadelphia Sports Nation

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    Photo Courtesy of Eagles Nation on X.

    Nearly 70,000 fans in South Philadelphia at Lincoln Financial Field on Sunday bore witness at halftime of one of the finest cornerbacks in the 90+ years of the Eagles history who had attended the game as an honorary captain become inducted into the Eagles Ring of Excellence. That cornerback was none other than Eric Allen.

    This past summer, one of the greatest defensive backs ever to don the Kelly Green in Philadelphia was finally inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Allen had a (thirteen-year) career, including nine seasons with the Eagles. He and Waters were part of Buddy Ryan’s Eagles’ secondary that didn’t protect against hard hits — it promoted them. On the podium , Eric Allen spoke extremely fondly of his days wearing green in Philadelphia.

    Nearly thirty-five years ago in December of 1992 — the Eagles had a week sixteen matchup across the South Philadelphia Sports’ Complex with Washington. The winner would get a berth in the NFC Wildcard Playoffs — the loser would be home for them. As Washington quarterback Mark Rypien sprinted out, avoided contact, and threw the ball toward a diving Gary Clark. Eric Allen knocked the ball away and galloped down the Veteran’s Stadium sideline in celebration.

    Photo Courtesy of Eagles Nation on X.

    On the field — Eric Allen got a front row seat to the Eagles in their iconic Kelly Green and Philadelphia’s current number one cornerback. Last season — Mitchell and fellow rookie Cooper DeJean were the perfect compliment to Darius Slay and CJ Gardner-Johnson. So much so that Slay and Gardner-Johnson are now gone — and Defensive Coordinator Vic Fangio trusts Mitchell as isolation on the opponent’s best receiver. 

    Last season was the first time in modern NFL playoff history — that a team with two rookie starting defensive backs has reached the playoffs and, perhaps — a Super Bowl appearance. This year is also the first time in the thirty-two years of the Eagles franchise’s existence that two rookie defensive backs have been nominated for the AP Rookie of the Year in the same season.

    Last February — in the midst of a cold Super Bowl Championship Parade when Darius Slay stepped to the podium outside of the Art Museum — he didn’t talk about his decade plus NFL career. He didn’t talk about the culmination of his NFL accolades in the nearly complete defensive shutdown that was Super Bowl LIX.

    Nope. He let Philly know that they now have two young lockdown NFL cornerbacks in Mitchell and DeJean for years to come. 

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    Michael Thomas Leibrandt

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  • A Blown Chance To Get Back In The Saddle. – Philadelphia Sports Nation

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    You’d think the Eagles would’ve taken things personally after coming up short to the Denver Broncos at home. Losing 21-17 in Week 5. A short week that would see their second NFC East match of the season, against a 1-4 Giants squad that just struggled to keep a close game against the New Orleans Saints. The opportunity to go 5-1 was right in front of them.

    And then disaster struck. 

    Injuries On Injuries On Injuries 

    Jalen Carter was held out of Thursdays game as a precaution. An unfortunate pre-game loss but it shouldn’t have been as detrimental to the team as it was. Hopefully the Week 7 injury report comes with good news for his availability against Minnesota. 

    Add on top of that a Quinyon Mitchell hamstring injury held him out for the remainder of the game (we’re still waiting on an update for Week 7). 

    With Landon Dickerson finally being given much needed time off to recover from a plethora of injuries. The Eagles aren’t looking as healthy as they did for last seasons run.

    Another Week Of Sloppy Offense

    The Eagles can’t seem to pick which quarter they struggle the most in. From 3 points in the 2nd half of week 1. 7 points in the first half against the Rams, and only 7 points in the 2nd half against the Buccaneers and Broncos. The Eagles were shutout against the Giants and were picked off the first time in the 4th quarter of Week 6.

    If the Eagles plan on winning more games, they’ll need to get the offense in a more consistent rhythm that is able to score more than 17 points against some of the best (and worst) defenses. 

    A Weekend Of Successful Hate Watches.

    While the Eagles dropped an important division game against a bottom feeder Giants team. That didn’t stop more teams in the NFC from also having very unfortunate ends to their Week 6 matches.

    • The Cowboys fell to 2-3-1 as Rico Dowdle stacked up 239 total yards against his former team. 
    • The 49ers(4-2)lost their 2nd game to the Buccaneers(5-1), but both teams racked up more injuries, including Fred Warner & Emeka Egbuka. 
    • The unstoppable Lions were held to only 17 points to a Chiefs team that started the year 0-2. 
    • The Bears struggled to take down the Commanders, but a late 4th Quarter fumble gave the Bears the opportunity to come out on top. 

    After a very long week being disappointed in an Eagles loss. They still finish Week 6 atop the NFC East with a 1 game lead on the Commanders. 

    Perhaps things aren’t that bad after all?

    The post A Blown Chance To Get Back In The Saddle. appeared first on Philadelphia Sports Nation.

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    Tyler L’Heureux

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  • A Second Half Gap – Philadelphia Sports Nation

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    For Eagles fans — one of the NFL’s oldest franchises might be identified as the Dallas Cowboys — but you’d be hard pressed to find a matchup with as many great memories as the Eagles and Giants since 1933. Last evening — in the autumn chill of October — was not one of them.

    From a 56–0 thrashing at the hands of New York in their first ever game at the Polo Grounds to multiple Miracles at the Meadowlands — the matchup has always been Epic. It’s been fifteen years since DeSean Jackson returned a Giants punt 65-yards to win the game and silence New York fans. While many of us were all waiting for an incredible comeback in order tto overcome the seventeen-point deficit — it never happened.

    On that crisp Thursday night in New York — the Eagles faced yet another young quarterback in Jaxson Dart. In the early going the Eagles offense looked rejuvenated with both a Tush-Push touchdown and also a Hurts to Goedert 3-yard score. But shortly thereafter are where the Eagles highlight’s ended.

    Trailing 20–17 at halftime — the Eagles looked listless the second half. The defense — struggling with the loss of Quinyon Mitchell in the first half — surrendered two Bo Skattebo touchdowns. The Eagles did appear to capture momentum in the 4th quarter only to lose it with the combination of an AJ Dillon fumble and a Jalen Hurts interception returned by Giants DB Cordale Flott and was returned 68-yards.

    The Eagles also squandered a good first half of offensive football to lose with a poor second half for the second game in a row.

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    Michael Thomas Leibrandt

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  • Predicting the 2025 Eagles: Do they have what it takes to make a Super Bowl repeat?

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    On Thursday night, under the bright lights and roaring sound of Lincoln Financial Field, the Philadelphia Eagles will raise their second-ever Super Bowl banner. 

    Then they’ll immediately begin the chase after another.

    Do they have what it takes to repeat as champions? Will Saquon Barkley remain as the rushing champ, too? And will Jalen Hurts be in the NFL MVP picture?

    Here are the PV staff’s predictions for the Eagles’ 2025 title defense…

    Will the Eagles make it back to the playoffs?

    Nick Tricome (staff writer): Yes. Their roster is more than good enough to make it back.

    Geoff Mosher (deputy editor): Yes. Too much blue-chip talent not to be in the postseason.

    Evan Macy (managing editor): Yes. There aren’t seven teams in the NFC better then they are even on a bad day.

    Will they finally make for a repeat NFC East champion?

    Tricome: Yes. This one’s tricky, because it’s somehow been avoided since the prime Donovan McNabb-Andy Reid days, but I think the streak of no repeat division champions finally breaks here. The Eagles, even if their defense took a hit, are still a really good team. Everyone else in the NFC East? The Giants are better but they’re still the Giants, the Cowboys have been coasting off mediocrity for a good while now (and really just traded Micah Parsons), and the Commanders I think are in for a rude awakening – all that talk about how much cap space they’ll have coming off patchwork, short-term deals for old guys and they used it all on…more patchwork, short-term deals for old guys..sure…

    Mosher: You can look at this two ways. One, history says they won’t, and the sample size isn’t small. Nobody has repeated in the past 20 seasons. Two, the law of averages declares that eventually this streak has to end. The Eagles will have a chance to win the division entering Week 18 – but won’t. The streak stays alive. 

    Macy: I am not going to buck history. The football gods will not allow a repeat. They’ll go 11-6 and make a deep run as a Wild Card.

    Will an Eagle be in the conversation for MVP, OPOY, DPOY, or any other awards?

    Tricome: Jalen Hurts will be in the running for MVP with a more balanced offense this time around between the run and the pass. I really want to see Jalen Carter in the Defensive Player of the Year picture, but I think the reality is he just won’t have the numbers for it. He’ll be a game wrecker each and every week, don’t get me wrong. But he’ll be a game wrecker in the sense that two O-linemen have to hold him all the time, which is going to end up spreading the glory (i.e., sacks) elsewhere, much like it did last year.

    Mosher: I like what I heard from A.J. Brown about not being satisfied by a Super Bowl win. I think he has a monster season – more than 1,400 receiving yards and double-digit TD catches. He’ll be in the mix for Offensive Player of the Year but won’t win it. Agree with Nick that Jalen Carter will be among the top defensive players in the game but won’t have the stats to win an award. 

    Macy: It’s really really hard to win those awards. Saquon Barkley had basically the best season a running back has ever had and it wasn’t enough. Zack Baun was as good as a linebacker can be in modern football and it wasn’t enough. Quinyon Mitchell was better than Jared Verse but it didn’t matter. The usual suspects will win all the awards again, Lamar Jackson, Myles Garrett and so forth.

    Will Saquon Barkley repeat as rushing champ?

    Tricome: No, because I think the Eagles are going to stay hyper aware of his usage, on top of being comfortable enough to give the ball to Will Shipley a good bit to balance things out. I still expect Barkley to have a great season and to remain as the focal point for a dominant rushing attack, it just won’t be to the extent of a high-carry, 2,000-yard season again. If the Eagles want to get him through the whole season and then some, it can’t be.

    Mosher: Nope. I’d put my money on Ashton Jeanty. 

    Macy: I think he’s going to produce a solid 1,400 yards and be in the mix but I don’t think he’ll be close to 2,000 again.

    MORE: Barkley isn’t aiming for 2,000 yards again — he’s after another Super Bowl

    Which Eagle do you see breaking out?

    Tricome: Jahan Dotson. Earlier in camp, he talked about the benefit of getting a full offseason with the Eagles to better learn the playbook and develop a stronger chemistry with Jalen Hurts, and you could see that during practices. Hurts was going to him a lot more, and overall, Dotson’s awareness and route running just looked a lot sharper. He wants to be a bigger part of the offense this season, and if he can be, that’ll spread opposing defenses that much thinner after already needing to worry about A.J. Brown, DeVonta Smith, Dallas Goedert, and of course, Saquon Barkley.

    Mosher: Will Shipley brings more to the table than Kenneth Gainwell in terms of explosion, and I suspect he’ll be used more in the pass game and give Barkley some rest as a ball-carrier. I could also see a double-digit TD season from DeVonta Smith. On defense, it wouldn’t surprise me if Moro Ojomo has more sacks than Milton Williams did last season. 

    Macy: I really liked what I saw from Jihaad Campbell in training camp. He’s my pick on defense. On offense, Hurts, Brown and Smith and Barkley will be studs as they always are — so I am not sure if that is a true breakout.

    Which former Eagle from 2024 will be missed the most?

    Tricome: Darius Slay. The starting cornerback spot opposite Quinyon Mitchell is the obvious weak point in the Eagles’ defense right now. They seem prepared to live with Adoree’ Jackson out of the gate while finding other ways to compensate for his shortcomings on that side of the field, but if the scenario were ideal, maybe the Eagles could’ve found a way to keep Slay or even Isaiah Rodgers for one more.

    Mosher: Say what you want about C.J. Gardner-Johnson, but he was an Eagle in 2022 and 2024. Guess what those seasons have in common? Vic Fangio’s heavy reliance on zone means he needs playmakers on the back end to create turnovers. Do the Eagles currently have one like CJGJ was?  

    Macy: I’m worried about the pass rush. Brandon Graham, Milton Williams, Josh Sweat — that’s 16.5 sacks right there gone to free agency. I am not particularly confident in anyone besides Nolan Smith on the edge right now. 

    By Week 10, after the bye, the Eagles’ CB2 will be…

    Tricome: Barring any trades, I will say Jakorian Bennett on the presumption that he just needs time to settle in. Kelee Ringo went backwards in the camp battle for the starting job, and Bennett got to the team midway through, so he was instantly starting from behind, which left Jackson as the winner without ever convincingly taking the job. I don’t think the Eagles are going to fall into a Cooper DeJean situation like they did last year, but I’m going to give Bennett time and the benefit of the doubt that he can be the most serviceable option by early November.

    Mosher: Last year, Vic Fangio pulled the plug on Avonte Maddox after four games because Cooper DeJean was ready for the job – and boy was he ever. This year, the assumption is that Adoree’ Jackson is similarly place-holding a few weeks for Jakorian Bennett, which makes a lot of sense. Except that Bennett isn’t Cooper DeJean. Wouldn’t shock me if the guy everyone thinks won’t be the starting CB come Week 10 is actually the guy who is.   

    Macy: I know Cooper DeJean is not an answer to this question but he’s the second best cornerback on the roster, and I don’t really think there’s another serviceable guy right now. I think in general, the defense is going to drop off from last year. There is a lack of depth and experience. The team will still be successful but I believe it’ll be an offense that overcomes a defense with holes.

    MORE: Eagles have tons of blue chip talent, but depth will be concern in 2025

    Who poses the biggest threat in the conference?

    Tricome: I’m looking at “what” here and saying health. At full strength, I don’t think there’s any team in the NFC that the Eagles can’t keep up with, and that includes the Packers with Parsons now. But they have to be healthy, or as close as they can be to it.

    Mosher: Total homer answer by Tricome there. (Just kidding, Nick.) But I do think the Eagles have some formidable competition in the NFC, starting with the Lions and Packers, followed by the Rams, Commanders and Bucs. If I squint hard enough, I could see the 49ers having a bounce-back season.  

    Macy: Probably the Packers if they can stay healthy, with a shout out to the Rams… if they can stay healthy. Really, whichever of last year’s NFC playoff teams is able to have its core close to 100% healthy come January is going to be the biggest threat to the Eagles.

    Will the Eagles make it back to the Super Bowl?

    Tricome: Yes, and they’ll win a nail-biter against the Lions to do it.

    Mosher: No. I like their young core on defense but losing Milton Williams, Josh Sweat, Brandon Graham, CJGJ and Darius Slay is a lot. Wouldn’t shock me if they were back in the Super Bowl in 2027. 

    Macy: No. This team is built for the long haul, and I think they’ll have an easier schedule, a better roster and more experience next season.

    Will they repeat?

    Tricome: Yes, in a Kansas City rubber match.

    Mosher: Nope.

    Macy: They will not.

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  • Eagles Secondary is in Good Hands – Philadelphia Sports Nation

    Eagles Secondary is in Good Hands – Philadelphia Sports Nation

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    It’s been a while since the Eagles have been in such a good position in their secondary.

    They’ve always had issues there, and aside from 2022, they’ve never really had a trustworthy secondary.

    With their talent back there, they should be in good hands for the foreseeable future.

    Other than Darius Slay, whose veteran presence is valuable for the other defensive backs, the Eagles are extremely young at that position. The next oldest players in the secondary behind Slay are CJGJ and Isaiah Rodgers, who are only 26 years old.

    Everyone else is 25 and younger and has a ton of time to create chemistry with one another.

    The two rookies, Quinyon Mitchell and Cooper DeJean looked like they would be the future of the defense halfway through their rookie years.

    Oct 13, 2024; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Cleveland Browns wide receiver Elijah Moore (8) is tackled by Philadelphia Eagles cornerback Cooper DeJean (33) during the fourth quarter at Lincoln Financial Field. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-Imagn Images
    Oct 13, 2024; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Cleveland Browns wide receiver Elijah Moore (8) is tackled by Philadelphia Eagles cornerback Cooper DeJean (33) during the fourth quarter at Lincoln Financial Field. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-Imagn Images PHOTO: Eric Hartline/Imagn Images

    Quinyon has locked up some of the best receivers in the league so far, and Dejean has brought much-needed physicality to the team. Both have upgraded the secondary from what the Eagles had at the end of last season and seeing young players pan out this well is exciting.

    The other young guys, including Reed Blankenship, Kelee Ringo, Eli Ricks, and Sydney Brown, have also played well. Sydney Brown seems like he could be a starting safety for the Eagles for the next 5+ years, and the other guys look like they can be valuable to the team, too.

    The biggest thing this young group needs to work on is forcing some interceptions. They only have two as a group so far, and Reed Blankenship has both. Once they can figure that out, they will be a menace to the league for years.

    This young group is full of talent. This is rare for the Eagles, and we should all be excited about their bright futures.
    The Eagles’ secondary is finally in good hands.

    PHOTO: Eric Hartline/Imagn Images

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    Nate Schweitzer

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  • A Chess Match of Epic Proportions – Philadelphia Sports Nation

    A Chess Match of Epic Proportions – Philadelphia Sports Nation

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    Photo Courtesy of Eagles Nation on X.

    When the Giants Selected Malik Nabers Sixth in the NFL Draft — the Eagles Had An Answer.

    Not long when an afternoon of confusing Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson and the Browns offense on an October afternoon — Quinyon Mitchell and Cooper DeJean swapped jerseys. It wasn’t just a sign of friendship for the two rookies that were drafted one round apart in April of 2024 — it was the sign of a partnership for years to come.

    NFL rosters are like a timed chess match. When you have a chance to lock up young pieces to fill positions of need, you do it. When your oldest NFC East rival goes for the big play receiver — you prepare a counter move. When the New York Giants drafted Malik Nabers out of LSU with the sixth overall pick — the Eagles countered by selecting Quinyon Mitchell and Cooper DeJean. It wasn’t just to neutralize Nabers — but also to contend with CeeDee Lamb and Terry McLaurin.

    When the Eagles selected the pair in the NFL Draft of April 2024 — the franchises plan was to lock up the secondary for the future. DeJean was Tatum-Woodson Big Ten Defensive Back of the Year, a Rodgers-Dwight Big Ten Return Specialist of the Year, and a unanimous consensus All American at the University of Iowa. Quinyon Mitchell was a two-time All Conference Selection at the University of Toledo.

    With Nabers now active for Sunday’s matchup in New York — the stage is set for a battle this Sunday and beyond as an epic heavyweight fight between Nabers and the Eagles secondary. Mano a mano. Rookie vs. Rookie. 

    Franchise players vs. franchise player.

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    Michael Thomas Leibrandt

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  • Securing the Slot – Philadelphia Sports Nation

    Securing the Slot – Philadelphia Sports Nation

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    Cooper DeJean’s Spot In the Slot Inspires A Hope that the Eagles Have Locked Up the Secondary for Decades to Come.

    Coming out of the week 5 bye and into a game against the Cleveland Browns, the Eagles are expected to start rookie cornerback Cooper DeJean in the slot, replacing Avonte Maddox.

    The move comes as Philly’s defense ranks 27th after four games, giving up approximately 365.8 yards each. It also places the Eagles’ top two 2024 Draft selections together in the defensive backfield for the first time ever. Hopefully, the first time is for a long time.

    When the Eagles selected cornerback Cooper DeJean alongside Quinyon Mitchell in the NFL Draft of April 2024 — the franchise planned to lock up the secondary for years to come.

    DeJean was a Tatum-Woodson Big Ten Defensive Back of the Year, a Rodgers-Dwight Big Ten Return Specialist of the Year, and a unanimous consensus All-American at the University of Iowa.

    PHOTO: WikiCommons

    Twenty-two years earlier — in the NFL Draft of 2002 — the Eagles selected Sheldon Brown alongside Lito Sheppard to help anchor Jim Johnson’s secondary. Sheppard was taken in the first round, Brown in the second. The result of both additions helped to produce one of the finest Eagles’ defenses since the early 1990s — an attacking defense with innovative blitz packages from the creative mind of defensive coordinator Jim Johnson, whose defensive schemes made opposing teams feel like the Eagles had twenty-five defenders on the field instead of eleven. As a team — those Eagles would advance to three more NFC Championship Games and one Super Bowl before both players were no longer on the team.

    Through four games of the 2024 NFL season — Quinyon Mitchell has been targeted and singled out by opposing defenses. By en-large, he has not only shown his ability and skills as a defender but also his fiery will to compete. For fellow draft-class member Cooper DeJean — the road to his first NFL action has been a little more tenuous. DeJean injured his hamstring before Training Camp. Thrust into action on special teams due to a shoulder injury to returner Britain Covey, last week DeJean fumbled a punt return when the officials picked up a flag for kick-catch interference after Isaiah Rodgers, Jr. blocked a Tampa Bay Player into him. Later, Kelle Ringo plowed in DeJean on another return opportunity.

    Avonte Maddox — selected in the fourth round of the 2018 NFL Draft one year removed from the Eagles Super Bowl Championship— has been to five playoff appearances with the Eagles, including Super Bowl LVII in 2023. After a string of injuries over the next four years, Maddox was released by the Eagles in March of 2024 and re-signed with the team one month later.

    For the Eagles — the hope is that starting the future of the secondary now can help solidify a Vic Fangio defense that has yet to battle NFC East receivers such as Malik Nabers, CeeDee Lamb, and Terry McLaurin in 2024.
    If the secondary doesn’t make those plays in 2024 — they won’t be playing into the winter of 2025.

    PHOTO: Philadelphia Eagles/Twitter/X

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    Michael Thomas Leibrandt

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  • What they’re saying: Quinyon Mitchell looked right at home in Eagles’ Week 1 win

    What they’re saying: Quinyon Mitchell looked right at home in Eagles’ Week 1 win

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    The Eagles are back in Philly, and now that we’re a few days removed from the 34-29 opening win over Green Bay down in Brazil, there’s been a good amount of time to process how Week 1 played out – from the good to the bad and the ugly. 

    Obviously, Saquon Barkley stole the show. Jalen Hurts had his moments, but then a few where he even admitted that he put the team in a bad spot. Zack Baun became one of the early unsung heroes, and Mehki Becton ran people over in the trenches, which all led into the Eagles holding on against the Packers, even if it was from pretty. 

    Now it’s on to Kirk Cousins and the Falcons on Monday night, and properly at home at the Linc. 

    But before the focus fully shifts to Atlanta, here’s a bit more of what they’ve been saying from Friday night in São Paulo…

    Welcome to the show

    Fran Duffy | PHLY

    Rookie cornerback Quinyon Mitchell was challenged all training camp with regular reps against DeVonta Smith and A.J. Brown, and we found out right away on Friday night if that work carried over into the real thing. 

    The Packers tested Mitchell immediately when Christian Watson took off streaking down the sideline and to the end zone. Jordan Love lofted up the big pass for his receiver, but Mitchell stuck to Watson the whole way, turned his head around to the ball, then watched it sail out of reach for an incompletion and to force a fourth down. 

    It was only his first NFL game, yet Mitchell looked and played like an established NFL pro who had been there for years.

    There was zero fear in his play, as Fran Duffy’s film breakdown highlights:

    It’s the chirping after, too, that really does it. Opposing offenses are going to hate this guy, hopefully for years to come.

    Here’s the torch

    Brian Baldinger | X (Twitter)

    Becton was wreaking havoc for the Packers in his Eagles debut, but so was Cam Jurgens on his left and finally at his natural position as a center. 

    Now, Jurgens did have the slip-up of an early snap that led right to a fumble to start, but he recovered pretty well from it after, creating space that opened up holes for Barkley to zip straight through and walls that provided Hurts with a clean pocket to find his passing lane. 

    Here’s Brian Baldinger breaking down Jurgens’ tape from Friday night:

    We’ve had a couple of years now to brace for Jurgens stepping in as the successor to Jason Kelce at center. The moment arrived Friday night, and so far so good for the most part.

    MORE: Smith in the slot, Hurts’ rushing ability, more Eagles thoughts

    No go in the red zone

    Reuben Frank | NBC Sports Philadelphia

    Two turnovers from the offense on the first two possessions, while pinned back deep in their own end, could’ve easily buried the Eagles Friday night had the Packers capitalized with some quick touchdowns. 

    But the defense stood tall, holding the Packers to just two field goals through the first quarter and only one touchdown for the game when Green Bay was within the red zone. 

    Jordan Love and the Packers’ offense did take up a lot of field, but when they were knocking on the door, the Eagles’ defense did pretty well to stop them short, as Rebeun Frank wrote in his observations:

    The Packers ran 20 offensive plays inside the Eagles’ 20-yard-line and netted 24 yards. Add in penalty yards and the Packers had seven net yards on 20 plays – about 12 ½ inches per play. Critically, the Eagles hounded Jordan Love into 0-for-3 passing on third down in the red zone (although Avonte Maddox’s DPI also came on third down) and Josh Jacobs ran six times for seven yards inside the 20. Last time the Eagles faced at least four red-zone drives and only allowed one TD was a 2022 win over the Steelers at the Linc (TD, INT, FG, FG). I thought Zack Baun in particular was tremendous down at the goal line. He’s credited with an incredible five of his 15 tackles inside the 20 alone. Obviously, you’re not going to win a ton of games giving up 414 yards and a bunch of big plays. But taut red-zone defense can overcome a lot of problems, and Friday night it sure did. [NBCSP]

    MORE: 10 awards from the Eagles-Packers

    Picking up the blitz

    Tim McManus | ESPN

    Hurts didn’t have an outright spectacular game under center, but in the end, he did enough to get the Eagles by, especially when it came time to drain a serious amount of clock late with a slim lead. 

    But one of the key points of interest going into Week 1 was seeing how well he would handle the blitz, because he struggled with it a ton last season. 

    After one game, it actually isn’t looking to bad, as Tim McManus noted over at ESPN:

    Hurts and the Eagles struggled against the blitz last season, but Friday’s performance offered promise that things could be turning around. Hurts was 6-of-8 for 91 yards and a touchdown against the blitz while also scrambling once for 8 yards and a first down. With center Jason Kelce retired, Hurts has assumed more of the protection responsibilities. He passed his first test. [ESPN]

    But there are many more to go.

    MORE: The early odds for Eagles-Falcons

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  • Training Camp, Hall Of Fame and 2024 Preseason: The NFL Is Back! – Philadelphia Sports Nation

    Training Camp, Hall Of Fame and 2024 Preseason: The NFL Is Back! – Philadelphia Sports Nation

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    Today marks the first day of the NFL season with an actual game being played.
    I was lucky enough to share that day with the Eagle’s open practice. 

    Hall Of Fame Game

    The Eagles might not have had any relations to this year’s Hall of Fame class, including Steve McMichael and Devin Hester, giving the Bears their second appearance at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium in the last six years. But they might soon, with some Eagles greats who have recently retired, like Fletcher Cox and Jason Kelce.

    Perhaps the Eagles will end their 18-year absence one day, with 17 nominees in the 2024 class. Or once either of these recently retired players hits eligibility five years from now.

    And for those who think 62 or 91 might not make the hall one day, here’s a glimpse at their resumes.

    • Fletcher Cox: 6x Pro Bowl / 1x All-Pro / HOF All-2010’s Team / Super Bowl 52 Champ
    • Jason Kelce: 7x Pro Bowl / 6x All-Pro / Eagles-Record 145 Consecutive Starts / Super Bowl 52 Champ

    Open Practice!

    On the other side of Thursday was the Eagles open practice, and if you’ve been as impatient as I have for football season, then today was a pretty good day.

    Nearly 50,000 fans showed up at Lincoln Financial Field on Thursday, and almost 75% of the Linc was filled for practice. 

    And the offense didn’t disappoint, with Hurts posting the following stat line to end the day.

    We’re only five weeks out from the Eagles opening the season against the Packers in Brazil.

    And while they still have plenty to make up for last season’s disastrous end, we still have preseason games to get through before we get there.

    Preseason

    The Eagles will have three preseason games in the coming weeks:

    • @ Baltimore Ravens
    • @ New England Patriots
    • @Minnesota Vikings

    For once, the Eagles won’t host the Vikings in the regular season to start their year; instead, it’ll come one week earlier in their final preseason match.

    Regardless if the Eagles starters see any real action in the coming weeks, there are plenty of names to look out for, but they might not even see much of the playing field this season.

    Jalyx Hunt

    After cutting Barnett late last season, the Eagles’ defensive line depth weakened. After acquiring Huff and moving on from Reddick, they would need more insurance in the defensive end position. Enter the Eagles’ third-round pick.

    If Vic Fangio is committed to playing those who deserve playing time, we may see more rookies play than we have in the past. While that opens the door for the rookies, it could also limit some of the other playmakers on the roster.

    Isaiah Rodgers

    The Eagles had Rodgers tucked away on the suspended list for most of last season, and now that the year is beginning, we’re finding out the Eagles have a massive logjam in the secondary.

    Multiple rookies, Mitchell and DeJean(injured), as well as plenty of other sophomores and veterans, are vying for a roster spot. 

    However, Rodgers is getting reps with the first team, so there are even more questions about who might play in the preseason.

    If Rodgers is penciled in as a starter, we won’t see much from a player who hasn’t seen playing time in almost 18 months.

    We’ll find out next week which Eagles will get to suit up for their first preseason game, less than a week away.
    Football is back!

    PHOTO: Philadelphia Eagles/Facebook

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    Tyler L’Heureux

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  • Philadelphia Eagles’ Defense Is Ultimate X-Factor for 2024 – Philadelphia Sports Nation

    Philadelphia Eagles’ Defense Is Ultimate X-Factor for 2024 – Philadelphia Sports Nation

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    Last season, the Philadelphia Eagles had one of the worst defenses in football. They had one of the best offenses to combat that, so they were still a great team, but their upside was capped as a result.

    With a new defensive coordinator as well as some more pieces to work with, that unit is the ultimate X-factor of the Eagles’ 2024 season.  It has the potential to be great, but can it? What might that actually do for Philadelphia?

    Eagles’ Defensive Woes in 2023

    In terms of expected points average (EPA) per play last season, the Eagles had the third-worst rushing defense and the fourth-worst defense overall. With their EPA per play allowed being nearly seven times higher than the closest playoff team (0.058 versus the Green Bay Packers 0.009), Philadelphia’s offense did all of the heavy lifting in 2023—ideally, that can’t be happening again.

    The Eagles, while going 11-6 and threatening to boast the best record in the NFC before an abysmal six-game stretch to end the season, were 30th in points against across the NFL and seventh in points for. The offense kept them in games, but they were never able to win in a blowout because the whole 53-man roster was never able to put it together. Whether it was the offense or defense not doing their fair share, something always went wrong—that is poised to change.

    Can the Eagles Return to Form with Fangio?

     PHOTO: —

    We can’t say for certain how much the Eagles’ defense will improve—if at all—but overhauling the coaching staff on that side of the ball and emphasizing the secondary in the 2024 NFL Draft should definitely help. Bringing in Vic Fangio, a long-time defensive guru and Pennsylvania native, a voice like his should definitely change some things around. Seeing as he hasn’t manned a bottom-27 defense in terms of points since 2005, it’s safe to say he’ll be an upgrade for the Birds.

    He should do especially well (or, at least, not as poor as Sean Desai and Matt Patricia) because of one big reason: the potential in the group he is taking over. There is simply too much talent to be outdone by 29 or more teams in the league.

    When the Eagles went to the Super Bowl in 2022, they had the fourth-best defense in EPA per play but did rank 23rd against the run. With their elite pass defense, they had the eighth-best points-against rate in the league—it should come as no surprise that they went 14-3, as they coupled that with the league’s third-best offense.

    Considering the fact that the Eagles added Saquon Barkley during the 2024 offseason, there isn’t too much of a reason to believe their offense will actively get worse. Yes, they lost Jason Kelce, but a player of Barkley’s talent would rather inspire that Philadelphia’s offense can be better—that unit should soar no matter what.

    But the defense? That’s where everything is a complete mystery. Going from 70 sacks to a measly 43 from 2022 to 2023 and severely regressing in pass defense, having a bolstered secondary with Quinyon Mitchell, Cooper DeJean, and C.J. Gardner-Johnson could help out more than words can describe.

    The sky is the limit for Fangio here, but can he put it all together? Will the Eagles’ defense be poor again? Will it be around average (which would be a significant upgrade from last season)? Or can it be great, perhaps taking Philadelphia back to their Super Bowl expectations from 2022? That’s what’s on the line.

    Fangio doesn’t need to field the NFL’s best defense, because that would be asking for far too much. However, he has the tools to work with to help the Eagles shine in 2024. He has never won a Vince Lombardi Trophy partially due to a lack of roster talent through the years—the 65-year-old finally has it.

     

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    Justin Giampietro

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  • Eagles Cornerback Carousel: Who Will Make the Final Cut? – Philadelphia Sports Nation

    Eagles Cornerback Carousel: Who Will Make the Final Cut? – Philadelphia Sports Nation

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    The Eagles wrapped up their third and final day of minicamp today. The team will hold a training camp closer to the end of July.
    Final 53-man rosters won’t be due until August 29th, but an overcrowded position noticeably stuck out throughout the week.

    How Many Corners Are Too Many Corners?

    The Eagles announced this morning that they have finally signed Quinyon Mitchell to his rookie contract.

    Quinyon was the final rookie of the Eagles 2024 draft class to be signed.

    With 14 Corners under contract and over 2 months before any final roster decisions, the Eagles will have a deep secondary. But who will make the cut?

    Similar to the last few seasons at defensive tackle, the Eagles have made acquisition after acquisition in the secondary to revamp a defense that gave up 252.7 passing yards a game, ranking 31st in Passing Yards against.

    Even with the draft picks, the Eagles will have most of the same secondary they did last season, with the following players returning.

    • Darius Slay
    • James Bradberry
    • Avonte Maddox
    • Kelee Ringo
    • Zech McPhearson
    • Eli Ricks
    • Josh Jobe

    With the additions of Quinyon Mitchell, Cooper DeJean, and Isaiah Rodgers, there will be a few odd men out unless something changes with those already under contract.

    Having too much depth isn’t a bad thing.

    During the last training camp, the Eagles had 5 options at running back before only using 3 throughout the entire season. (We’ll still never know why Swift didn’t play week 1)

    But for the Eagles’ corners, things changed throughout the last 3 days, as we’ve seen Kelee Ringo and Isaiah Rodgers at CB2 already. With Mitchell, DeJean, and Rodgers sharing 2nd team throughout the week, the Eagles might finally have the depth if multiple injuries occur once the season picks up.

    So, Who’s Out?

    During the Eagles minicamp, multiple things came up.

    The Eagles seemed to already have assessed the Safety position this offseason, bringing back C.J. Gardner-Johnson on a three-year deal. And if Maddox is ‘learning the safety position,’ that will end up being another depth piece behind those penciled-in starters.

    If Bradberry is also getting a change of scenery on the field, perhaps this is the end of the road before getting traded or cut. We’ll have to wait and see, as Bradberry went to the medical tent at the start of the minicamp and wasn’t a participant for the rest of the week.

    While I’m sure, there are plenty who may want Bradberry off the team as soon as possible. The Eagles have the cap space committed to the player, and he was a ‘part of the plans‘ (12:04) during the Combine. If there’s a team in desperate need of a corner, Bradberry might be on the block to make room for the new additions to the Eagles.

    With another month plus break before more Eagles football. Who do you have making the roster in the secondary?

    PHOTO: Philadelphia Eagles

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    Tyler L’Heureux

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  • The Pick Is In! The Eagles Select CB Quinyon Mitchell With The 22nd Pick – Philadelphia Sports Nation

    The Pick Is In! The Eagles Select CB Quinyon Mitchell With The 22nd Pick – Philadelphia Sports Nation

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    Speculation has come and gone. And now we finally have an answer to who the Eagles would select in the first round of the 2024 Draft.

     

     

    The now former Toledo Rocket was the first corner taken in the draft.

    Talk about having your choice of pick at #22!

     

    Things took an amazing turn for the Eagles when 14 picks had gone by and all of them were offensive players.

    The bad news at the time, was the first defensive player taken off the board was Laiatu Latu. Notably at the top of my list for the birds to hopefully land (see more here). Fortunately, the best option for the Eagles was a Cornerback at 22, and with every option available. Quinyon became the surprisingly easy choice.

     

    Tons of mock drafts were shaken up when the first 12 picks included 6 Quarterbacks. The below mocks had Quinyon projected to go at the following picks:

    CBS (Prisco): Jaguars @ 17th
    NFL (Jeremiah): Jaguars @ 17th
    ESPN (Yates): Eagles @ 16th, acquiring 81 in exchange for 22 and 50
    Bleacher Report: Falcons @ 8th

     

    Stats From Toledo

    In the past 2 seasons, Mitchell was productive for the Rockets.

    With 41 Tackles each year. 6 Interceptions (5 in 2022). And 37 Passes Defended. (Stats From Sports-Reference)

    Mitchell was a lockdown corner in Toledo, allowing a 44.7 QBR when targeted.

    Coming in at 6’0, 197lbs, Mitchell posted a 4.33s 40-yard dash at the combine and turned heads at the Senior Bowl. Getting praise tonight from Nick Saban and Howie Roseman about his performances going up against some of the NCAA’s best.

    While some worry might come from the level of competition faced in the MAC. The same concern was voiced when the Jets drafted Sauce Gardner, and I don’t think they’re complaining about his play in MetLife.

     

    2 More Draft Days, 7 More Picks

    We’ve only gotten through 32 picks of the Draft. And the Eagles already made another standout pick. Even after tonight, big names like Kool-Aid McKinstry and Cooper DeJean are still on the board. And even with some other positions of need available as we’ll approach the middle of the 2nd round. The Eagles have already addressed plenty of question marks in the roster during the off-season with their plethora of free agent moves. Even if they’re not looking for Year 1 starters, below are a few picks I could see the Eagles making tomorrow (subject to availability)

    • S Javon Bullard, Georgia
    • TE Ja’Tavion Sanders, Texas
    • LB Edgerrin Cooper, Texas A&M
    • LB Junior Colson, Michigan
    • Edge Marshawn Kneeland, Western Michigan

     

    Who do you think the Eagles will take with their Day 2 draft picks?

    Go Birds!

     

     

    Photo Credit: University of Toledo

     

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    Tyler L’Heureux

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