The Philadelphia Eagles have done it again and pulled off another outstanding draft. They made nine selections in the 2024 NFL Draft and tied an NFL record with eight trades during the draft, including getting draft capital for 2025.
The Eagles also signed seven undrafted free agents- the smallest UDFA class of General Manager Howie Roseman’s tenure - but it was also part of the plan not to sign as many.
Round 1, Pick 22: Quinyon Mitchell, CB, Toledo
Year after year, the Eagles seem to have the perfect player fall right into their laps during the NFL Draft. That has been the case for at least the last several years and happened again this year as they selected cornerback Quinyon Mitchell on Thursday night in the first round of this year’s draft. General Manager Howie Roseman was once heavily scrutinized for his draft decisions, i.e., Nelson Agholor, but has become a cult hero during draft season. Last year it was Jalen Carter and Nolan Smith in the first round. In 2022, it was Jordan Davis; in 2021, it was Devonta Smith. This year, the Eagles came into the draft with cornerback as their most significant need after they were severely exposed there last season.
You would think they would have had to trade up from the 22nd pick to end up with the corner they got in Mitchell out of the University of Toledo, who had been viewed as either the top or second-best corner in the draft. He and Alabama’s Terrion Arnold were 1A and 1B. Mitchell was the first cornerback taken, and Arnold went two picks later to the Detroit Lions, who traded up with the Dallas Cowboys to get him.
Drafting a cornerback, or any defensive back for that matter, in the first round is rare for the Birds. The last time they took a corner in round one was in 2002 when they selected Lito Sheppard from the University of Florida. Philadelphia selected just two other defensive backs in the first round in their history - Ben Smith out of the University of Georgia in 1990.
Mitchell has the athleticism to match up against any receiver in man or zone coverage, and he set school records for passes defended in a season (25) and career (52) for Toledo. He will challenge for a starting spot from day one, even with veterans Darius Slay and James Bradberry on the roster. After a disastrous 2023 season, Bradberry is on thin ice, anyway.
Grade: A+
Round 2, Pick 40: Cooper DeJean, CB, Iowa
Roseman took last season’s secondary struggles personally and stopped DeJean's fall any further in the second round. Expected to be a late first-round pick (I mocked him to Philadelphia in round one), the former Iowa defensive back continued to fall. Roseman jumped on it as he traded up with the Washington Commanders to pick 40 while departing with picks 50, 53, and 161 in exchange for picks 40, 78, and 152. In an identical first two rounds as 2002, the Eagles took two corners with their first two picks as they drafted Sheldon Brown after Sheppard 22 years ago. Since then, Philadelphia had only drafted two corners within the first two rounds - Eric Rowe in 2015 and Sidney Jones in 2017, both in the second round.
DeJean recorded two interceptions, five pass breakups, and two tackles for loss this past season after a breakout 2022 season in which he posted five picks, eight pass breakups, and three tackles for loss. While he never played safety in college, DeJean provides versatility with the ability to play outside and in the slot and could potentially drift back to safety. The reigning Big Ten Defensive Back of the Year has plus-plus ball skills, is uber-athletic, and brings an extra level of physicality to the corner position.
Jalen Mills, a seventh-round pick in 2016, has been the only outside cornerback that the Eagles have drafted in the last 20 years to become a regular starter. Over that time, they have almost strictly relied on veteran corners. They are beginning to rebuild the position with young bucks who can learn from the aging Slay and Bradberry. Behind those two, Mitchell and DeJean join 2023 rookies Kelee Ringo and Eli Ricks, who began to come into their own this past season, and Isaiah Rodgers and veteran slot corner Avonte Maddox, who they welcomed back this offseason.
Grade: A
Round 3, Pick 94 (From San Francisco): Jalyx Hunt, EDGE, Houston Christian
The Eagles traded back twice before taking small school edge rusher Jalyx Hunt to close out day two of the draft. Roseman, or as Hunt called him, “Big Pimpin’,” loves his developmental defensive ends. Hunt is very raw as he started his college career as a safety at Cornell before transferring to Houston Christian and sliding up to the edge. But he has solid tools and does many things that pop on tape. That includes bend, closing speed, length, and a high football I.Q. He is a perfect developmental edge rusher to add to their depth chart, which will see Brandon Graham go through his final season in 2024. Hunt led the Huskies in 2022 with 11.5 tackles for loss, seven sacks, and three forced fumbles and followed that up with 6.5 sacks and nine tackles for loss in 2023 to earn Southland Conference Defensive Player of the Year honors. On top of the football skills, Hunt also has a beaming personality and a heart of gold, which will shine in the Philly locker room.
Grade: B+
Round 4, Pick 127 (From Houston): Will Shipley, RB, Clemson
Focusing on defense in the first three picks, Philadelphia shifted to adding to their already stacked offense as they took Kenneth Gainwell’s potential replacement in Shipley. Of course, Gainwell is still on the roster, but he hasn’t moved the needle since being drafted in the fifth round of the 2021 draft. Already signing Saquon Barkley in free agency and now drafting the explosive Shipley proves that Gainwell is on a short leash for the Birds.
Shipley is a versatile back who can make plays as a running back, receiver, and kick returner. Over three years at Clemson, he recorded 3,249 yards of offense and 34 total touchdowns. Shipley was also the lead kick returner for the Tigers and tallied 904 return yards while averaging 26.6 yards per return. While not quite at his level, Shipley brings the Christian McCaffery type of playmaking and versatility to the field. He is jittery, smooth, and has excellent vision in the open field. The Eagles now have an offense built like the San Francisco 49ers with no weaknesses.
Grade: B+
Round 5, Pick 152 (From Washington): Ainias Smith, WR, Texas A&M
Versatility and explosiveness are the name of the game for the Eagles in this year’s draft. Adding Ainias Smith to the receiving core led by the recently extended A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith gives them options in the receiving, rushing, and special teams games. The 5-foot-9 receiver should contest with Parris Campbell to start at slot and be a Swiss army knife for the Birds. He became the first player in SEC history to surpass 2,000 yards receiving and collect at least 250 yards on rushes, punt returns, and kickoff returns. Smith runs various routes well and is a dynamic, ankle-breaking playmaker. Adding players from all over the field who could make plays happen is key to continuing to build a scary offense.
Grade: A
Round 5, Pick 155 (From Indianapolis): Jeremiah Trotter Jr., LB, Clemson
Welcome home, Junior. Jeremiah Trotter Sr. played eight of his 11 NFL seasons in Philadelphia after they drafted him in the third round of the 1998 NFL Draft and was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2016. Now, Axe Man’s son, Jeremiah Jr., comes home to the City of Brotherly Love, where he was born and raised, and they are welcoming him back with open arms. The Eagles traded up with the Indianapolis Colts to get him at pick 155, sending picks 164 and 201 to Indy.
"Man, the emotions. Unbelievable. Extremely happy. Extremely relieved. We finally got that phone call," Trotter Sr. said shortly after the pick was made. "Only thing was, I didn't know who he was talking to for a minute so, when he told me, I mean, it's unbelievable. To get that phone call from my Philadelphia Eagles, unbelievable.”
Trotter Jr. led Clemson in tackles (88) and tackles for loss (15) in 2023 and was tied for the team lead with 5.5 sacks. He was a first-team All-ACC selection. He was also one of just three Power 5 players to record 10-plus sacks, at least four interceptions, three or more forced fumbles, and two-plus pick-sixes over a two-season span since 1996.
Roseman noted that they stuck to their board and didn’t just pick a player based on name or because they liked them.
“I make a joke a lot of times,” said Roseman. “The best person I know in the world is my wife, and I don’t want her playing linebacker for us either.” He said that it’s about skill set at the end of the day, and that’s what they draft players based on, not based on the story.
“We just started that story, but it's got to be skill set, and he has a skill set, and that's why we drafted him,” he said. “He has a mentality. That's why we drafted him. We're looking forward to him being his own person and not having to walk in anyone's footsteps, but creating his own legacy."
Like his father, Trotter Jr. consistently plays with high effort and motor while having great instincts on the ball. He can lay the wood on ball carriers going downhill and is best fit as an off-ball linebacker, but he can also hold his own as a pass rusher with his athletic ability. Junior also has the ball skills to play well back in coverage. One issue with his game is a weaker point-of-attack tool, as he struggles to shed blocks as a more undersized linebacker. That makes him need some work on his run defense.
Grade: A-
Round 5, Pick 172: Trevor Keegan, iOL, Michigan
As I mentioned in my seven-round mock draft, the Eagles wouldn’t leave the draft without addressing the offensive line. They waited until day three and snagged a key interior lineman from the defending National Champion Michigan Wolverines. Keegan provides them with crucial depth after they lost top backups Sua Opeta and Jack Driscoll to free agency and future Hall of Fame center Jason Kelce to retirement. Starting 37 games as a left guard at Michigan, Keegan is limited in his athleticism but is physical and improved in his senior year. Late-round offensive linemen, however, have worked out for the Eagles in the past. Offensive line coach Jeff Stoudland can develop virtually anyone into a starting-level lineman, and Keegan can undoubtedly learn in his first season while providing depth off the bench.
Grade: B-
Round 6, Pick 185: Johnny Wilson, WR, Florida State
The second receiver the Eagles drafted, Wilson, is very raw but has solid upside with tools worth taking a shot on in the late rounds. At 6-foot-6, 231 pounds, Wilson is a monster with a large catch radius. The former Seminole could move to tight end, but Roseman said he would stick at receiver as he moves like a receiver, not a tight end. Wilson has top speed for a guy his size and has a feel for picking up yards after catch and yards after contact. He is undoubtedly a project, as he is yet to learn to play to his traits, but he is worth a late-round pick.
Grade: B
Round 6, Pick 190: Dylan McMahon, iOL, NC State
Stop me if you’ve heard this before. The Eagles drafted a center in the sixth round. However, it is doubtful that McMahon will turn out like Kelce, and there is no comparison to anyone who is a future Hall of Famer. McMahon is undersized for his position, and while he also played left and right guard in college, he is likely to stick at center at the next level. He lacks the desired length and play strength but could be served well by his football I.Q. and technique. Perhaps Stoutland can also work his magic here and help McMahon play to his strengths and develop his weakest traits. It’s a sixth-round pick, so there’s no way to give this too bad of a grade.
Grade: C+
Overall Draft Grade: A
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