Insiders and fans alike walked away from the weekend overwhelmingly positive about the Eagles’ selections. Quinyon Mitchell was the number one corner in the draft according to many experts. There were rumors that the Eagles were going to trade up for him on draft night. However, getting him at pick 22 was surely their dream scenario. Instead, they used that capital to trade up in the second round and select another talented prospect in Cooper Dejean. The team needed some young, talented blood in the secondary and they achieved that twofold. However, the influx of talented secondary players through the draft and free agency has led to questions on what to expect from the Eagles’ secondary in 2024. The Eagles last year kept 11 players in the secondary and it will likely be another crowded room this year.
What to Expect from 2024 Eagles Secondary
Expected Eagles Secondary Starters
The initial starting players in the Eagles secondary last year were headlined by Darius Slay and James Bradberry at cornerback. Bradberry had a rough year in 2023, and rookie Quinyon Mitchell will likely be his replacement. Expect Reed Blankenship to be one of the starting safeties again in 2024 as well. However, the most intriguing question about the Eagles’ secondary will be the other starting safety spot and the nickel cornerback role. The other starting safety spot was occupied by Sidney Brown at the end of last season before he got hurt. He likely won’t be able to be healthy for the first part of the season, leaving that spot open. The slot corner role has been Avonte Maddox’s role for the last few years, but his injury history may mean the Eagles won’t rely on him as much going further.
These spots are going to be interesting to see with Cooper Dejean and Chauncey Garder Johnson coming into the team. Dejean’s talent has never been in question, but his best position was debated throughout the draft. He likely won’t be an outside cornerback in the NFL, but his fit at safety and nickel cornerback would be electric for the Eagles. He has the athleticism, the instincts, and the physicality to thrive in a role similar to Chauncey Garder Johnson’s a couple of years back. The Eagles’ ability to have two of those players, Dejean and Garder-Johnson, on the field at the same time will have Vic Fangio salivating. Both should be starters going into 2024, one at the safety spot and one in the nickel, but as interchangeable positions.
The Influence of Vic Fangio’s Scheme
Fangio’s scheme is based on two deep safety looks with a healthy dose of zone coverages. However, the roles of Dejean, Garder-Johnson, and Reed Blankenship will be crucial to the defense. Safeties and nickel corners have large responsibilities of being athletic and able to be all over the field. Both Dejean and Gardner-Johnson’s skillsets allow for them to be used to fill running lanes, come down and tackle shorter throws as well as be a ball hawk in the deeper third of the field. Their versatility lends Fangio to creating more unique disguises with coverages and keeping offenses on their toes. The Eagles’ simplicity was a big problem last year and one they’ve addressed fully this offseason.
Early Predictions for the New Eagles Secondary
The addition of Vic Fangio alone will set any defense on the right track to become great. Yet, Dejean and Mitchell will bring even more expectations for this unit. Mitchell’s talent is real and more than meets the hype he’s received. He’s a player who can dominate in any scheme or coverage and can easily become the Eagles’ best cornerback. While Slay and Bradberry are getting older, the depth of Kelee Ringo and Eli Ricks is valuable. While both are young and inexperienced, their flaws as players are mitigated in Fangio’s heavy zone scheme. Overall, expect massive improvement right away for the Eagles’ secondary and a chance they finish toward the top of the league in 2024.
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