The Philadelphia Eagles, known for their meticulous approach to the NFL Draft, have secured more talent for the upcoming season. On the second day of the draft, they bolstered their defense with two key picks, focusing on an area many have considered a priority after last season's performance, according to 6abc.com.
In the second round, the Eagles made a strategic move, trading up to snatch cornerback Cooper DeJean, a standout player for Iowa. Despite a first-round forecast for DeJean, the Eagles grabbed him with the No. 40 overall pick, as he was still available after the first round concluded, 6abc reported. Impressively, after bouncing back from a broken fibula, DeJean assures fans and team officials that he's "ready to go" for the next game, conveying his readiness in an interview with 6abc.com.
Later in the third round, with the 94th overall pick, the Eagles selected outside linebacker Jalyx Hunt from Houston Christian. Hunt's trajectory has been nothing short of remarkable—he started as a safety at Cornell, then transferred and transitioned into a formidable pass rusher. His impressive statistics include 13.5 sacks and 20.5 tackles for loss across his tenure at both institutions. He also brought home the Southland Conference Defensive Player of the Year honors in 2023, as noted by the Eagles' official site. Howie Roseman, Executive Vice President/General Manager, mentioned Hunt's "freaky tools" and potential for development in a statement obtained by the team's official site.
The CBS News Philadelphia pointed out that the Eagles, under General Manager Howie Roseman, are notorious for making moves during the draft, often involving trades in the first round. The Eagles entered this year's draft with eight picks, with a clear strategy to address their defensive line, as well as possibly adding depth to the secondary, and the offensive line, where this year's draft class has an abundance of talent. The Eagles' front office seems to have stayed true to their previous strategies of looking for value and potential in players that can be molded into their system.
The rest of the draft schedule will see the Eagles potentially making more selections in the fourth through sixth rounds on Saturday. They currently hold additional picks at 120, 123, 132, 152, 171, 172, and 210, as documented in the articles from 6abc.com and the Eagles' website.
