The Eagles collapsed after starting the 2023 season 10-1, losing six of their final seven games, including the 32-9 beatdown from the Buccaneers in the NFC wild-card matchup.
That loss set the course for both coordinators’ departures, along with the news that Fletcher Cox and Jason Kelce would be retiring from the NFL.
After adding critical pieces in free agency, Philadelphia improved the most in last April’s NFL draft, adding two elite cornerbacks, two athletic linebackers, and an underrated running back. PFF recently looked at which teams improved the most or the least during the draft, and the Eagles led the list of the most improved teams.
It seems to be an annual tradition that the Eagles end up with the league’s best draft class. If they aren’t the best this year, they are at least in the argument again. At the forefront are two potentially elite talents who will hope to improve a cornerback room that ranked 31st in coverage grade in 2023.
Mitchell’s ball production vaulted him into elite status among FBS cornerbacks. Perhaps more frightening for opposing offenses is that he actually dropped eight interceptions over the past two seasons, twice as many as any other cornerback in the nation. Mitchell has all of the ability to be one of the best cornerbacks in the NFL.
Of course, Philadelphia wasn’t done there with their secondary. Iowa’s Cooper DeJean, the eighth-ranked player on PFF’s big board, fell to the second round and the Eagles traded up to snatch an incredible value.
The addition of edge defender Jalyx Hunt, a converted safety, posted a 90.2 pass-rush grade for FCS-level Houston Christian last season.
He’ll be in the mix for a situational pass-rush role.
Jeremiah Trotter Jr. was listed as a steal in the fifth round while running back Will Shipley and wide receivers Ainias Smith and Johnny Wilson add elite athleticism and versatility.