With Cooper DeJean, Philadelphia Eagles get first-round playmaker at second-round price

IOWA CITY — Officially, Cooper DeJean was a second-round pick in the 2024 NFL Draft.

But as the Philadelphia Eagles see it, they drafted a second first-round-caliber player, just at No. 40 overall instead of No. 22.

“It’s rare for us to be picking in the 20s and to get two first-round players,” Eagles general manager Howie Roseman said of DeJean and his first-round selection, Quinyon Mitchell. “Both those guys were first-round players for us, and we didn’t have 32 first-round guys.”

Roseman said the Eagles viewed DeJean as “one of the best defensive players in the draft, and the Iowa star was a “consideration” when the Eagles made the 22nd overall pick. They instead selected Mitchell, a cornerback from Toledo who ran a 4.33-second 40-yard dash at the NFL Combine.

“Obviously we took a guy that we loved as well yesterday,” Roseman said of Mitchell.

The Eagles were not supposed to pick again until late in the second round — after other teams with defensive back needs such as the Packers, Cardinals and Texans had second-round picks.

But then the Eagles, as Roseman described it, “made a concerted effort” to get DeJean. They gave up the No. 50, 53 and 161 picks to a division foe for the DeJean pick and the No. 78 and 152 picks.

“Probably didn’t win on any of those charts that are going on in the internet for sure,” Roseman told reporters in Philadelphia.

The Jimmy Johnson trade value chart — one of the charts that is readily accessible online — values the picks the Eagles received at a score of 731, versus 797 for the picks given to the Washington Commanders.

But DeJean’s value to the Eagles exceeded what a standard chart or formula may show.

“I know just from talking to a bunch of my friends in the league after we made the trade, I think most of the league thought this guy would go yesterday,” Roseman said after Friday’s second and third rounds.

DeJean, while acknowledging a “little frustration” on Thursday night as teams passed on him, told reporters on Friday night that all he wanted was “an opportunity to play.”

Now, that opportunity is in Philadelphia — “a place I wanted to be,” he said.

“I had a great visit there during the draft process,” DeJean said. “Great coaches there. Great team. Great organization. This is something you dream of as a little kid, so I’m excited to bring my talents there.”

The question looms whether Philadelphia will use him as an outside corner, slot corner or safety. The Eagles “talked to me about all three positions” during his pre-draft visit, DeJean said.

“I don’t have a preference,” DeJean said. “I’m a football player. … Whether it’s inside, outside, at safety, wherever it is — this is a game I love to play. As long as I’m on the field out there, I’ll be happy and I’m going to give it my all every time I step on the field.”

The Eagles did not give any indications on Friday night about where they envision DeJean playing.

“We’ll see how the pieces fit when Coach and his staff get their hands on these guys,” Roseman said.

DeJean, the 2023 Big Ten Return Specialist of the Year, could also be a key factor on the Eagles’ special teams units.

“Obviously Cooper is very versatile in not only the things that he can do on defense, but also on special teams,” Eagles head coach Nick Sirianni said. “We’ve all seen all those plays that he’s made as a returner.”

As NFL teams devise new strategies for the NFL’s revamped kickoff rules, Sirianni said DeJean will “factor into it” for the Eagles.

Wherever DeJean does play, he told Philadelphia reporters he is physically “good” five-plus months after suffering a broken fibula while practicing on offense.

“If there was a game played today, I’d be ready to go,” DeJean said.

Go might be an understatement considering the football-minded DeJean has gone more than 160 days since his last football game.

“I’m excited to get started there, get out there and get rolling, get back to playing football,” DeJean said. “I was getting tired of this pre-draft process, so I’m excited to just get back to playing football.”

Comments: john.steppe@thegazette.com

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