The 2024 NFL Draft is now in the rearview mirror. After a flurry of selections from April 25 to April 27, 257 players were selected to join the NFL.
With that, we give you our full recap of the Philadelphia Eagles‘ draft, with analysis on every selection the team made during the weekend and an in-depth look at their top pick.
For more information on the players your favorite team drafted, it’s not too late to get the 2024 NFL Draft Guide, which includes expanded scouting reports, draft grades, offseason reports, unique advanced data, PFF grades and much more.
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2024 Draft Picks
- 1 (22): CB Quinyon Mitchell, Toledo
- 2 (40): CB Cooper DeJean, Iowa
- 3 (94): EDGE Jalyx Hunt, Houston Christian
- 4 (127): RB Will Shipley, Clemson
- 5 (152): WR Ainias Smith, Texas A&M
- 5 (155): LB Jeremiah Trotter Jr., Clemson
- 5 (172): G Trevor Keegan, Michigan
- 6 (185): WR Johnny Wilson, Florida State
- 6 (190): C Dylan McMahon, NC State
Mitchell — Philadelphia fortifies its 28th-ranked coverage unit with arguably the most talented cornerback in this class. Mitchell led all FBS cornerbacks in PFF overall grade in each of the past two seasons. His outstanding athleticism and ability to make plays in off-coverage make him a perfect fit in Vic Fangio’s defense.
DeJean — The Eagles add two top-10 players on the PFF big board in the first two rounds of this draft, both at the cornerback position. DeJean projects as a movable piece in Vic Fangio’s defense who could theoretically end up outside, in the slot or at safety. He’s been extremely productive in the Iowa secondary, allowing just a 45.0 passer rating into his coverage over the past two seasons.
Hunt — A small-school player, Hunt dominated the lower levels, racking up 78 pressures, 14 hits and 14 sacks since 2022. He has athleticism, explosiveness and power that many edge rushers in this class don’t possess. He needs development to win at the next level, but his traits give him a great chance at reaching his potential.
Shipley — Shipley is one of the better athletes among running backs in this draft class, with a 99th-percentile PFF Game Athleticism Score. He was solid with the ball in his hands, too, and he earned a PFF grade above 70.0 in each of the past three seasons.
Smith — Smith proved a dangerous receiver after the catch at Texas A&M, as he forced 20 missed tackles after the catch in 2023 (seventh among all WRs). On 102 combined targets the past two seasons, he dropped just two passes.
Trotter — Sure to be one of the big stories of the day due to him heading to the same place where his father enjoyed an outstanding career, Trotter ranked fourth among all linebackers the past two seasons with a 91.3 overall grade. He also ranked fourth nationally in that time with a 92.1 coverage grade.
Keegan — Supplementing the interior is a sound approach here for the Eagles, who needed to fill some voids. Keegan didn’t allow a sack in 2023 and earned a career-high pass-blocking grade (80.7). He played eight games without allowing a single quarterback pressure.
Wilson — The massive receiver out of Florida State finally comes off the board in the sixth round. At 6-foot-6 and 231 pounds, Wilson ran an impressive 4.52-second 40-yard dash. While not a super-developed route runner, there is certainly a role at the next level for a vertical threat who converted 21 contested catches over the past two seasons.
McMahon — A depth pick at this point in the draft, McMahon allowed just one sack and 12 total pressures from 361 pass-blocking snaps in 2023. He put up career highs in overall grade (69.7) and pass-blocking grade (71.3) last season.
DRAFT GRADE: A+
Rookie Spotlight: CB Quinyon Mitchell, Toledo
Scouting summary
No FBS cornerback forced more incompletions over the past two seasons than Mitchell. He did so while playing an off-coverage role in a Cover 3-heavy scheme. He would align himself 8-10 yards off the line of scrimmage, keep his eyes on the quarterback and wait to pounce.
His recovery speed and acceleration are both elite, even for NFL standards. He does not have much experience in press, but he has the size and movement skills to succeed there. His instincts in zone are still a work in progress.
He didn’t miss many tackles in run defense, but his technique isn't as fundamentally sound as it could be.
Wins above average
WAA represents the number of wins a player is worth over an average college football player and is a metric evaluators can utilize to assess performance.
It combines how well a player performed in each facet of play (using PFF grades) and how valuable each facet is to winning football games. The result is a first-of-its-kind metric that allows for cross-positional valuation and predicts future value at the player and team levels.
How Mitchell ranks in the stable metrics
Over the last three seasons, Mitchell has earned top-five marks in the most stable PFF metrics. He posted a 95.0 career grade at outside cornerback, allowing only 0.77 yards allowed per snap and just 76 receptions.
He played only 52 snaps in the slot throughout his time as a Rocket but put up a 75.4 coverage grade when doing so. He allowed just five touchdowns, picked off eight passes and forced 46 incompletions. You’re not going to find a much more productive cornerback.
The bottom line
Mitchell recorded some of the best advanced coverage metrics over a two-year sample size in the PFF college era. He has all the ability in the world to be a CB1 at the next level, but his lack of experience in press coverage could stop him from being a unanimous first-round pick on every team's board.
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