After rushing out to a 10-1 record to begin the 2023 NFL regular season, the Philadelphia Eagles suffered a dramatic implosion in December, culminating in an early postseason exit.
The 2024 NFL Draft offers the chance to reset and retool, but did they maximize their draft capital in Detroit?
The Eagles’ draft grades explain how Philadelphia’s 2024 NFL Draft unfolded.
Looking for everything you need surrounding the 2024 NFL Draft? Make sure to check out the latest draft results, overall team grades, and updated best remaining players available at every position!
Philadelphia Eagles NFL Draft Grades
Round 1, Pick 22: Quinyon Mitchell, CB, Toledo
The Eagles haven’t selected a first-round cornerback since Joe Biden was a lad, which threw some mock draft projections into a spin given the very real need to address an aging secondary in the 2024 NFL Draft.
There was still some doubt that the Eagles would pull the trigger when they came on the clock, despite the presence of the top-ranked CBs on the PFN Big Board.
Quinyon Mitchell is an ELITE athlete who has proven he can play press-man coverage at a high level. #TeamToledo | #FlyEaglesFly pic.twitter.com/DWpyaQdVeE
— Pro Football Network (@PFN365) April 26, 2024
While they didn’t snag the highest ranked of those cornerbacks, Quinyon Mitchell has been a CB1 contender through the back end of this process as the Toledo Rockets’ playmaker showcased that his Group of Five production could live up to elevated competition and scrutiny at the Senior Bowl.
His ability to click and close with elite athleticism while having the ball skills to be a top-tier disruptor at the catch point makes Mitchell an exciting pick worthy of an A grade.
Grade: A
Round 2, Pick 40: Cooper DeJean, CB, Iowa
Just give the award for the best class in the 2024 NFL Draft to the one-man wizard, Howie Roseman.
On Day 1, the Eagles snagged Toledo corner Mitchell to address their porous secondary before double-dipping into the defensive backfield with the top-ranked remaining prospect on the PFN Big Board.
MORE: 2024 NFL Draft Grades
Eagles fans would have been happy with the selection of Cooper DeJean in the first round, so to land the hyper-athletic and highly-versatile defensive back with the 40th overall pick is like getting an extra Christmas.
There has been much debate about DeJean’s optimum NFL position, but that argument is largely redundant as he can play anywhere in this Philadelphia secondary.
Grade: A
Round 3, Pick 94: Jalyx Hunt, EDGE, Houston Christian
Eagles fans might not consider a non-FBS pass rusher selected on Day 2 to be a value pick, but let me assure you that Jalyx Hunt is not your normal “small-school” pass rush prospect.
The 87th overall prospect on the PFN Big Board is a powder keg of explosion, as flexible as a gymnast, and for a 6’4”, 252-pound edge prospect, showcases impressive strength.
The Eagles added Bryce Huff this offseason to play opposite Josh Sweat, but Hunt will quickly challenge to get on the field for Philadelphia.
He’s a former safety, adding an element of coverage versatility to his scouting report.
Grade: B+
Round 4, Pick 127 (From HOU): Will Shipley, RB, Clemson
The Eagles added Saquon Barkley and Tyrion Davis-Price this offseason, showcasing their desire to upgrade the ground game. Adding a player of the magnitude of Will Shipley in the fourth round is another excellent move to fortify the rushing attack.
In addition to his ability as a pure rusher, Shipley has multi-phase utility with his receiving capability and special teams value as a returner. He’s the epitome of an all-purpose playmaker.
Grade: B+
Round 5, Pick 152: Ainias Smith, WR, Texas A&M
After moving around the board and adding future draft picks, the Eagles finally made a selection in the fifth round, and they landed an offensive playmaker.
Ainias Smith has been one of the more exciting players to watch in college football in recent years, with an explosive athletic profile allowing him to be a dangerous weapon from multiple alignments.
Philadelphia came into the draft needing to add a speedy WR3 option, and they may well have found him with the former Texas A&M standout.
Grade: B+
Round 5, Pick 155: Jeremiah Trotter Jr., LB, Clemson
On the face of the pick, the Eagles needed a linebacker coming into the 2024 NFL Draft and landed a highly productive playmaker at the position with their fifth-round pick.
But there’s much more to this pick than meets the eye, due to the family connection Jeremiah Trotter Jr. enjoys with the franchise.
What does he bring to the table as a prospect? Glad you asked. The former Clemson standout has coverage capability and can be a devastating force when coming downhill.
Grade: B+
Round 5, Pick 172: Trevor Keegan, OG, Michigan
Trevor Keegan gives the Eagles an experienced offensive lineman with a winning mentality and a national championship ring to prove it.
He’s a physical threat who can pave the way in the ground game from the guard spot. Philadelphia needed to add depth on the offensive line in this class, and they succeeded in doing that here.
However, with someone like Christian Mahogany still available, they could have swooped for a player with more of a ceiling.
Grade: C+
Round 6, Pick 185: Johnny Wilson, WR, Florida State
The Eagles added their speedy, smaller, slot receiver earlier in the draft, and in Round 6, they add someone the complete opposite in Florida State’s Johnny Wilson.
A potential tight end convert due to his size, Wilson has an impressive athletic base to develop on and has the size to be a mismatch for defensive backs at the catch point. You can never have too many weapons, and that’s almost the perfect word to describe Wilson as a prospect.
Grade: B+
Round 6, Pick 190: Dylan McMahon, C, North Carolina State
Discussed last summer as one of the best offensive linemen in the ACC, NC State’s Dylan McMahon has flown a little under the radar in the 2024 NFL Draft cycle.
I promise that isn’t a shot at his diminutive stature as an offensive line prospect — one of the key concerns for his NFL projection. What he lacks in ideal size (sub-300 pounds), McMahon makes up for with sheer aggression and athleticism at the pivot.
Grade: B-
Philadelphia Eagles 2024 NFL Draft Summary
At the risk of sounding sycophantic, the 2024 NFL Draft was another masterclass from Howie Roseman.
Looking at individual grades for each pick, the overall grade is likely closer to a B+ than the A- we’ve given it here. However, you have to take into account the sheer value of the first two picks that the Eagles made in Detroit.
Quinyon Mitchell can be a lockdown corner in the league, and the value in landing Cooper DeJean with the 40th overall pick while moving around the board like Garry Kasparov was something spectacular.
KEEP READING: Best Available Prospects Remaining
There were rookie contributors selected at multiple positions of need, and both sides of the ball got an influence of excellent talent.
If you were looking to pick fault, the offensive-line additions possibly weren’t of the caliber that fans might have hoped for as they look to a post-Jason Kelce era that could also be Lane Johnson-less in the not-too-distant future. That shouldn’t detract from the excellent work done by the franchise.
Overall Grade: A-
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