The 2024 Philadelphia Eagles draft class has high expectations. Over the last few years, the Philadelphia Eagles have been one of the best franchises in the NFC. Ever since Jalen Hurts took over full-time, the Eagles have been right in the thick of Super Bowl contention. After making and very nearly winning Super Bowl 57, the Eagles failed to win the NFC East in 2023 and lost in the Wild Card round.
Perhaps the biggest reason for the drop-off was the defense. The Eagles went from the eighth-best scoring and second-best total defense to the 30th and 26th, respectively. Philadelphia is still expected to contend in 2024 and have they have a solid roster, but reloading with the 2024 NFL Draft will be key.
Prior to the draft, NFL.com’s Chad Reuter believed the Eagles’ biggest needs were cornerback, interior offensive line, offensive tackle, wide receiver, and safety. With their nine picks, they certainly addressed most of those concerns.
Grading the Philadelphia Eagles 2024 NFL Draft Class
Round 1, Pick 22: Quinyon Mitchell, CB, Toledo
The Eagles needed a CB1 and they’ve got it.
Despite playing at a “small” school, Quinyon Mitchell‘s game was massive. He was a finalist for the Bednarik Award last year and has become the first Toledo Rocket to be taken in the first round since Dan Williams in 1993.
Mitchell broke out in a massive way in 2022 when he became the first player since the turn of the millennium to record four interceptions in a single game…and he returned two for touchdowns! He has great ball skills and is a sure tackler. Over his last two years, Mitchell logged 82 tackles, 5.5 tackles for loss, six interceptions, and 37 pass breakups. He owns the Toledo career record for pass breakups.
The biggest question was whether or not he could handle NFL talent. At the Senior Bowl, he showed that he could. He was routinely winning one-on-ones and wowed at every juncture.
This was a home-run, slam-dunk, whatever-cliche-to-show-greatness-you-want. The Philly faithful will love this pick. He kicks off the Eagles draft class with a BANG.
Grade: A+
Full Quinyon Mitchell Scouting Report
Round 2, Pick 40: Cooper DeJean, CB, Iowa
Well, this secondary just got a whole lot better. Heading in, the Eagles needed an overhaul of defensive backs. With their first two picks, they’d done it. Philly has paired up what will likely be the best rookie duo in the league with Mitchell and Cooper DeJean.
At Iowa, DeJean was a superstar in one of the top defenses in the nation over the last few years. Over his career, DeJean appeared in 30 games and totaled 120 tackles, five tackles for loss, seven interceptions, and 13 pass breakups. Five of those seven interceptions were in 2022 and he returned three for touchdowns. He earned unanimous All-American honors in 2023.
Even though there is a feeling that DeJean is actually a safety, he is an elite athlete at corner. There is no area of the field DeJean cannot cover. He has great instincts and is more than willing to come up and defend the run.
He is going to be picked on in the NFL with the whole white cornerback stigma. Regardless, he will step up and the Eagles got fantastic value for this pick. DeJean was widely considered as a first-round talent. To get him at 40 is just stealing.
Grade: A
Full Cooper DeJean Scouting Report
Round 3, Pick 94: Jalyx Hunt, EDGE, Houston Christian
A big fish in a tiny pond is about as apt as it gets when you get to Jalyx Hunt. Defense. Defense. Defense. Philly came into this draft with one thing in mind and to this point, they’re getting the job done.
Hunt started off his journey in 2019 when he attended Cornell…as a safety. He accounted for 29 tackles, a pass breakup, recovered a fumble, and even blocked a kick. He, like so many others, decided to test out the transfer portal and landed at Houston Christian where he made a name for himself as an edge rusher.
In two years with the Huskies, Hunt broke out to the tune of 133 tackles, 20.5 tackles for loss, 13.5 sacks, an interception, five pass breakups, five forced fumbles, four recovered fumbles, and another blocked kick. He earned Southland Conference Defensive Player of the Year honors and was a finalist for the Buck Buchanan Award, the FCS’s defensive Heisman, in essence.
Hunt is an athletic freak and projects to have a high, high ceiling. He will have an acclimation period due to the massive jump in competition. However, he has all the tools to make an impact sooner rather than later.
Grade: A
Full Jalyx Hunt Scouting Report
Round 4, Pick 127: Will Shipley, RB, Clemson
Was running back truly a need? Probably not with Saquon Barkley coming to town. However, the Eagles added more than just a running back in Clemson’s star playmaker, Will Shipley.
If there’s one thing to note about Shipley, it’s his productivity. In just three years, Shipley ran the ball 526 times for 2,746 yards and 31 touchdowns. He broke out incredibly early and was the go-to back for the Tigers the second he stepped on campus.
He can also catch the ball out of the backfield. In that time, he hauled in 85 passes for 602 yards and two touchdowns. Both of those scores came last year. Additionally, he contributed on special teams, returning 34 kicks for 904 yards (26.6 yards per return).
Overall, Shipley is a plus athlete with do-it-all potential for the Eagles. He is flexible enough to make an impact right away but he’s not going to challenge Barkley for touches.
Grade: B-
Full Will Shipley Scouting Report
Round 5, Pick 152: Ainias Smith, WR, Texas A&M
Over the last week, the Eagles shelled out millions to A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith. They also brought in Parris Campbell and Devante Parker but they saw an opportunity to improve the depth with Ainias Smith.
Over the course of five seasons, Smith appeared in 50 games and has played at both receiver and running back. He’s a versatile offensive piece who managed over 800 scrimmage yards twice. In terms of receiving, he went over 500 yards three times and is coming off of his career-best season with 795 yards and two touchdowns.
This pick, on the surface, may have been a bit of a headscratcher with the two extensions and two free agent additions. However, can you name another receiver on this roster? Britain Covey is on the team as a special teams weapon…that’s it.
It’s not a world-shattering pick but it helps the depth.
Grade: C+
Round 5, Pick 155: Jeremiah Trotter, Jr., LB, Clemson
There are probably some Trotter 54 jerseys about to get more run. For eight years — 1998-2001, 2004-2006, 2008 —Jeremiah Trotter, Sr. manned the linebacker corps for the Eagles and now, his son gets to do the same. And, as it turns out, his number is free!
Quite possibly the biggest steal of this class, the Eagles got what our Rashad Tatum tabbed as the top pure linebacker in the class. He was a regular contributor over the last two seasons, amassing 177 tackles, 28.5 tackles for loss, 12 sacks, four interceptions (two pick-sixes), 10 pass breakups, and three forced fumbles.
Trotter was a Second-Team All-American in 2022 (but only an Honorable Mention All-ACC), and a First-Team All-ACC selection in 2023.
He’s a tad undersized but makes up for it with his athleticism and instinctual feel for the game. Even if he won’t be immediately asked to make an impact, he could if needed. Trotter is the type of linebacker you’d want to put on the tape to explain what a linebacker is supposed to be.
Grade: A
Full Jeremian Trotter, Jr. Scouting Report
Round 5, Pick 172: Trevor Keegan, G, Michigan
It took until the fifth round for the Eagles to address the offensive line in the 2024 NFL Draft but they did so with a proven commodity. Trevor Keegan was an anchor on one of the top offensive lines in the nation over the last few years and will be able to step in if necessary.
At Michigan, Keegan started 37 games at left guard over the last three years. He was an integral part of the Wolverines winning the Joe Moore Award in both 2021 and 2022 and being in the running yet again in 2023.
He’s a rugged lineman who is always looking for work. His drive and desire to win were actually the reason why he returned to Michigan last year and was voted as a team captain.
Grade: B
Round 6, Pick 185: Johnny Wilson, WR, Florida State
Improving wide receiver depth was obviously the goal heading into the 2024 NFL Draft for the Eagles and they added a very intriguing weapon for Jalen Hurts. That player is Johnny Wilson and he may be good enough to challenge for playing time as a rookie.
Philadelphia just added some serious size to the wide receiver room. Wilson measures out at six-foot-six and 237 pounds and uses every bit of his impressive frame. After spending two years with Arizona State, Wilson transferred to Florida State and became a star. In his two years as a Seminole, Wilson accounted for 1,514 yards and seven touchdowns off of 84 receptions; that’s 18.0 yards per catch.
He moves incredibly well for his size and has an even more impressive catch radius.
The consensus (via NFLMockDraftDatabase) on Wilson was that he was arguably a top-100 prospect. The fact that the Eagles got him at 185 is incredible value. Wilson is about as physically gifted as you’ll find and could be a solid understudy to Brown and could carve out a niche in the red zone.
Grade: A
Full Johnny Wilson Scouting Report
Round 6, Pick 190: Dylan McMahon, IOL, NC State
After setting the record for most draft-day trades, the Eagles finished their 2024 NFL Draft haul with Dylan McMahon, further fortifying the offensive line. Getting an interior offensive lineman late is just for depth but McMahon looks like a guy who will push Cam Jurgens.
Versatility is the name of the game and McMahon, in his four years as a starter, has experience at all three interior offensive line positions. Most recently, he started 11 games for the Wolfpack at center.
Overall, he has solid athleticism and will earn his place on the roster with his ability to play up and down the line.
Grade: B-
Main Image: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
