The Eagles Rookie Class Is a Cut Above
This 2024 Eagles Rookie Class Is Coming Up Big.
This month, a 7–2 Washington football team visited the Linc on a dark November Thursday night. Their plan of attack against an Eagles team- one of the best division rivals— was to attack Philly’s young secondary. In his six years as a Washington wide receiver — Terry McLaurin had proved himself to be an Eagle killer — hauling in five touchdowns for nearly 860 yards.
What would happen in this chilly November NFC East matchup would be quite different than in years past. The Eagles’ defense and Quinyon Mitchell were on the offensive. McLaurin had played the Eagles before; he just hadn’t played against a rookie quite like Quinyon Mitchell.
PHOTO: Bill Streicher/Imagn Images
Grading any NFL Draft Class is a wait-and-see process. Follow your draft priorities and be patient to see how things turn out. If anything has defined General Manager Howie Roseman’s career besides being a risk-taker, it is his ability to find great talent in the NFL Draft. He does it year after year.
Quinyon Mitchell has been a lockdown corner all season. Last week was Johnny Wilson’s first touchdown catch against Dallas. Cooper DeJean is not only finding his place not only on defense but also on special teams. If edge rusher Jalyx Hunt is truly a project, he’s on the field and playing, and we haven’t even seen the best of Trevor Keegan, Ainias Smith, Will Shipley, or Jeremiah Trotter, Jr. By season’s end, perhaps we will.
This year’s draft has only been upstaged by many How Roseman gems. In 2023 — where the Eagles grabbed Nolan Smith, Jalen Carter, Sydney Brown, and Tanner McKee. Or 2022, when they landed Jordan Davis, Cam Jurgens, and Nakobe Dean. Or 2021, when they landed Devonta Smith, Landon Dickerson, and Kenneth Gainwell.
The Eagles’ recent draft success rivaled that of 1987 when they acquired Cris Carter, Jerome Brown, Byron Evans, and David Alexander.
In 2012, in Andy Reid’s Final Draft, the Birds secured Fletcher Cox, Vinny Curry, Nick Foles, and Brandon Boykin.
The Commanders got what they expected from the Eagles’ defense. There was single coverage on Terry McLaurin with a rookie corner from Toledo out on an island.
As Saquon Barkley ran away with the game in the fourth quarter and the Eagles’ defensive pressure and coverage schemes frustrated Jayden Daniels — McLaurin would end this November night with only one catch for ten yards.
It was not what Washington expected from Quinyon Mitchell.
It was a whole lot more.
PHOTO: Bill Streicher/Imagn Images
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