The Eagles Rookie class is a cut above

PHOTO: Bill Streicher/Imagn Images

This 2024 The Eagles Rookie Class is coming up big.

This month, a 7-2 Washington’s football team visited the Linc on a dark November Thursday night. Their plan of attack against an Eagles team – one of the top division rivals – was to attack Philly’s young secondary. In his six years as a Washington wide receiver – Terry McLaurin had proven to be one Eagle killer – with five touchdowns for nearly 860 yards.

What would happen in this chilly NFC East game in November would be quite different from years past. The Eagles’ defense and Quinyon Mitchell were on offense. McLaurin had played the Eagles before; he just didn’t have it played against a rookie like Quinyon Mitchell.

Grading any NFL Draft Class is a wait treat. Follow your draft priorities and be patient to see how things develop. If anything has defined General Manager Howie Roseman’s career besides being a risk taker, it’s his ability to find great talent in the NFL Draft. He do 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 playing, and we haven’t even seen the best of Trevor Keegan, Ainias Smith, Will Shipley or Jeremiah Trotter, Jr. At the end of the season, we might do that.

This year’s draft has only been surpassed 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 thelanded Devonta Smith, Landon Dickerson and Kenneth Gainwell.

The The Eagles’ most recent draft success rivaled 1987 when the acquired Cris CarterJerome 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.

Like Saquon Barkley ranaway with the game in the fourth quarter and the Eagles’ defensive pressure and coverage schemes frustrated Jayden Daniels – McLaurin would finish this November night with just one catch for ten yards.

It wasn’t what Washington expected from Quinyon Mitchell.

It was much more.

PHOTO: Bill Streicher/Imagn Images