The NFL Draft is already in the rear-view mirror and the Philadelphia Eagles leave Detroit with 9 new players to integrate into their team this Summer. How did they do? It’s time to grade each selection.
Grading the Eagles 2024 Draft Class
Quinyon Mitchell: A+
There isn’t much more the Eagles could’ve done in the first round. They sat tight while the board somehow fell perfectly into place and instead of over-leveraging or jumping the gun early, they waited for the perfect opportunity to strike.
Their patience paid off greatly, with arguably the most NFL-ready corner in the Draft ending up in Philadelphia. Quinyon Mitchell blends the best of a taller corner with the speed of a fluid nickel DB. He’s extremely instinctive and productive at the catch point and has plenty of room to go in terms of his development.
Many assumed that Mitchell would be gone by the teens, so getting him at 22 is not only a steal, but the moved filled one of the few long-term holes on the roster.
Cooper DeJean: A+
Another situation where playing the waiting game paid off. The Eagles watched as Cooper DeJean slipped through the opening cracks of the second round and then pulled the trigger on a move up to snag him with the 40th overall pick.
DeJean is a versatile DB who can play inside, outside, and displays eccentric traits at Safety. Given that the Eagles will likely have questions at Safety and Nickel in the coming years, having a player who is already proficient at both spots is a huge win. DeJean will be able to be plugged in all over a defense that is at its best when masking coverages, and he almost feels like the perfect fit for Philly. Getting him in the second round might well be the biggest home run of the Draft.
Jalyx Hunt: B-
This is the pick that’s been causing the most confusion among Eagles fans, and I get it. Hunt is a small-school player who didn’t really shine at the Senior Bowl against better competition, but context matters.
If you watch any of his games from Houston Christian, he’s used as a stand-up edge rusher who usually drops back into coverage and occasionally rushes the passer. At the Senior Bowl, he was down in 3-point and 10-point stances, which he was very rarely asked to do.
The beauty of this pick is getting a freak athlete who can drop back into coverage, which is something we’ll see much more of from guys off the edge under Vic Fangio. It’s a smart pick and if the Eagles can develop those raw pass-rushing traits, they could have a real game changer on their hands.
Will Shipley: C+
Kenny Gainwell is in the final year of his rookie deal and Saquon Barkley is obviously going to get the Lion’s share of carries in this backfield. Adding a running back who shares a similar skill tree to that of Gainwell makes plenty of sense here, and while Shipley doesn’t jump off the screen, his decisiveness and versatility as a runner is bound to be valuable if used and developed in the right way.
Ainias Smith: A
I love this pick. Smith was one of my highest-graded receivers in the class when it comes to fits for the Eagles. His clean route-running and beautiful ability to make catches away from his body make him a perfect weapon to compliment DeVonta Smith & A.J Brown.
Getting him as late as they did is a huge win. It’s a low-risk, high-reward punt on a player who flashed plenty of upside as a route-runner during his time with the Aggies.
Jeremiah Trotter Jr.: B
If Trotter was drafted in the second round, as he was initially projected to go, this grade would be a lot lower. He does have a lot of raw traits that need to be developed and mortgaging a high-value pick on him would’ve been risky. But down in the depths of day 3, there is some real value on adding a player of his intensity and physicality.
Trotter is of course the son of Eagles legend, Jeremiah Trotter, and the moment Jr. Got drafted by Philly is one that fans will cherish forever.
Drafting Trotter Jr. down here takes a lot of the pressure off of his young shoulders. There’s no emphasis on being an instant playmaker, and the Birds can instead develop him away from the spotlight and allow him to find his own path.
Trevor Keegan: B
Keegan started 37 games for Michigan at Left Guard and, according to PFF, he only allowed one QB hit in 2023 – not giving up a single sack in the process. That has to count for something.
The Eagles love their low-risk offensive linemen, especially on the interior. Guys like Nate Herbig and Matt Pryor became valuable depth pieces in Philadelphia and there’s no reason why a freak athlete like Keegan can’t follow in their footsteps.
Johnny Wilson C+
A 6’6 wide receiver who lacks some of the needed polish to sustain an NFL career on the outside, the FSU product feels like a natural project to Tight End. The Eagles need some developmental depth behind Dallas Goedert, but with guys like C.J Uzomah now on the roster, there’s no real pressure to get Wilson up to speed out of the gate if they choose to go down that path…and if they don’t, having a 6’6 wideout who can make catches down in the red zone is hardly a bad outcome.
Dylan McMahon B-
Nothing says an Eagles draft pick like a deep-value offensive lineman who has started at every spot on the interior. McMahon is a little undersized, but another monstrous athlete who absolutely decimated agility drills this past offseason. A perfect enrolment to Stoutland University, the Eagles have a long-term project who could well become a valuable backup down the line.
AP Photo/Jacob Kupferman, File
