Eagles’ Young Secondary Ready to Shine on Football’s Biggest Stage
Philadelphia Eagles rookies Quinyon Mitchell and Cooper DeJean have transformed Philadelphia’s defense. It’s likely not a coincidence that the defensive spike occurred after rookie cornerback Cooper DeJean entered the starting lineup as the team’s slot cornerback. DeJean played just eight defensive snaps prior to the bye week, then played at least two-thirds of the team’s snaps in every game the rest of the season. He finished the year allowing only 329 receiving yards and zero touchdowns out of the slot, according to Pro Football Focus, checking in ninth among the 42 corners who played at least 100 slot snaps in yards allowed per coverage snap.
Mitchell finished the season allowing a target only once every 8.3 coverage snaps, per PFF, which ranked 16th out of 127 qualifying corners, as did his 14.3 snaps per reception allowed. His nine pass breakups ranked 11th among that same group of players.
It’s no surprise that DeJean and Mitchell are each finalists for the league’s Defensive Rookie of the Year award.
“They’re great guys, man, Coop and Quinyon,” Slay said of the rookies. “They’re detailed. They pay attention. They listen. They learn. It’s hard to get rookies to understand this game at a high level. It’s amazing. I’m not surprised that they’re both up for Defensive Rookie of the Year. It’s gonna be a special group. I told people that this Eagles secondary is gonna have two great young corners for a long, long time”.
The rookies themselves appreciate having been able to learn from Slay throughout their first season in the NFL. “It’s been amazing. I’ve been enjoying every second of it. Getting to learn how to be an NFL player and learn everything else he knows,” DeJean said. “He taught me quite a bit. Early in the season, different techniques, covering guys in the slot”.
Slay allowed only a 78.3 passer rating on throws in his direction, per PFF, which ranked 21st out of those aforementioned 127 qualifiers. “As Slay gets older, he just gets better,” Mitchell said. “He’s having a great year, and I appreciate him”. As the Eagles head into Super Bowl Sunday, the Eagles secondary is keeping the fun aspect in football this season.
