Anonymous scouts weigh in on the Eagles’ 2024 NFL Draft picks

Insider insight from actual NFL front office members.

One of my favorite post-NFL Draft activities involves looking at what actual scouts think of the players that the Philadelphia Eagles selected … through the lens of what was said about them before the picks were made.

This article features pre-draft quotes from real football executives by way of Bob McGinn’s annual draft series (via Tyler Dunne’s great Go Long substack), The Athletic’s Draft Confidential (via Bruce Feldman), NFL.com’s draft profiles (written by Lance Zierlein), and Tony Pauline scouting reports.

Let’s take a look at what insiders had to say about the Eagles’ selections in the 2024 NFL Draft.

QUINYON MITCHELL

Mitchell was the second cornerback in McGinn’s rankings, only behind Terrion Arnold.

QUINYON MITCHELL, Toledo (6-0, 198, 4.30, 1): Didn’t play at Toledo in 2019 because of academics before starting 40 of 46 games for the Rockets from 2020-’23. “He’s got speed,” one scout said. “Oakland Raider kind of corner. He is what he is.” On Oct, 8, 2022, he intercepted four passes at Northern Illinois, returning two for touchdowns. “It was a Deion Sanders-type performance,” a second scout said. “I didn’t want to be that high on the guy because of the people he was playing against but he might be the best. If he played at Alabama I’d probably give him a top-10 pick.” Made an impressive practice showing at the Senior Bowl. “When you go back to (2022) and watch him play against Ohio State (a 77-21 loss) he looks much more ordinary than when he was playing Senior Bowl receivers and at Toledo this past year,” said a third scout. “He wasn’t playing against NFL guys. Even at the Senior Bowl there were only a couple that were pretty good. You’re going on traits. He has outstanding movement for his size. He tested extremely well. If someone has a great nickel and is taking an outside corner, I can easily see this guy going before Arnold.” His 20 reps on the bench press led the position. “I was really impressed with him,” said a fourth scout. “Then at the combine it looked like he had never caught a ball in his life. He looked very awkward in his approach to catching the ball.” Finished with 122 tackles (6 ½ for loss), six picks and 52 passes defensed. “He’s got size, speed, quickness, strength,” said a fifth scout. “Only thing that worries you is just the level of guys he was going against consistently. Once he gets used to dealing with other (NFL) guys he’ll be able to do it … He’s willing (to tackle). I don’t know if he was saving himself in certain situations or it was that ‘I’m getting ready to go pro’ deal. Some games you could see him really selling out and other games you could kind of see him going, ‘Maybe next week.’” From Williston, Fla.

No surprise to see a focus on the level of Mitchell’s competition. I watched his targets from the referenced Ohio State game and he did get beat a few times but I thought he mostly acquitted himself well. Mitchell allowed a touchdown to Marvin Harrison Jr., who’s obviously an awesome player, where it would’ve been tough for him to defend it much better.

This isn’t the first time I’m seeing someone raise concerns about Mitchell’s hands. I heard Brian Baldinger say he needs to get on the JUGS machine to convert some more of these PBUs into interceptions.

More on Mitchell from The Athletic:

“Love that kid,” said DB Coach 1. “Like a more physically mature Sauce Gardner. He’s a touch less fluid coming out. I think they’re similar in their play style. He’s the most complete corner. But there isn’t a lot of press tape there.”

“I think Quinyon has the best traits of any corner in this class but he’s still pretty raw,” said DB Coach 2.

A Sauce comparison is pretty exciting, though he’s two inches taller than Mitchell and has significantly longer arms.

“Raw” is an interesting descriptor for a 23-year-old rookie who played 43 games in college.

Our last note comes from Pauline’s scouting report, which is mostly positive coming from his evaluation, but does contain this note:

“Has been characterized by scouts as stiff.”

If you’re wondering how Mitchell fell to No. 22, it’s clear he wasn’t viewed as a slam dunk prospect. But the upside is certainly intriguing after he checked a lot of boxes in the pre-draft process.

COOPER DEJEAN

To no surprise, McGinn noted there’s some difference of opinion on how scouts view DeJean’s role in the NFL.

You might have noticed that two players, DeJean of Iowa and Sainristil of Michigan, received votes at cornerback and safety. DeJean’s point total of 59 was almost split equally between the positions, and overall he got nine first-place votes. Sainristil picked up one vote at corner and three at safety. Of the 10 scouts queried about DeJean, six said safety would be his best position and four said cornerback. He also was viewed as a nickel and punt returner. “Everybody just says he’s automatically a safety,” an AFC executive said. “I think he’s a corner, a nickel corner and a safety. He can play anywhere you need him to play. Played a ton of sports in high school. He’s just a baller.”

Utlimately, DeJean finished two spots behind Mitchell as the fourth-ranked cornerback.

COOPER DeJEAN, Iowa (6-0 ½, 202, 4.45, 1): Third-year junior. “He can do a lot of different things,” one scout said. “I like him where he played at Iowa (cornerback). He can do that. Nickel would be a good spot for him. I think there will be teams that have him at safety. Versatility is one of his biggest assets.” His third season ended with a fractured fibula in November. He worked out and tested April 8 in Iowa City, combining the 40 with a 38 ½-inch vertical jump. “That (4.45) was good given what he was coming off of,” a second scout said. “The guy can run. He only trained for a week. He was a sprint champion in the state of Iowa in high school.” Seldom played in 2021 before starting two seasons, primarily on the left outside. “We thought he could do everything,” said a third scout. “I don’t worry about that (playing in Iowa’s zone system) at all. The athlete this guy is, you watch him play basketball …. He’s not bloodthirsty but he’s solid as a tackler in space. Plays well within his speed. He’s a really good natural athlete.” Finished with 120 tackles (five for loss), seven picks and 20 passes defensed. His hands (9 5/8) were the largest of the top 10 corners. “They have the best defensive coordinator (Phil Parker) in college football,” said a fourth scout. “All they do is play zone coverage. He is not going to play outside corner. He’s going to play safety or nickel, but you can’t put him in the safety pile (because) he’s never played safety. He may be more like Chauncey Gardner-Johnson, who played everywhere and turned into a really good safety and a really good nickel even though he can’t stay in the same building for more than one year because he absolutely won’t shut up.” A fifth scout doubted DeJean had “the hips for corner. He’ll struggle against some of the really good route runners.” Added a sixth scout: “You need guys that can play man coverage in the NFL and I’m not sure he’s that guy. The skill set is there. The things you’ve never seen worry you. I think he’ll probably be a better safety. The reason why is you don’t see the burst of a corner and they played zone all the time. He was a linebacker in high school. He’s an enigma in some ways.” From Odebolt, Iowa.

The CJGJ comparison obviously stands out here (as does the shoehorned shot at him).

It remains to be seen where the Eagles line DeJean up. He’s one of two players listed at “DB” on their official roster page, with the other being safety Tristin McCollum. The guess here is that they’ll try him at cornerback (be it on the outside or the nickel or both) since he has more experience in that capacity and it’s the more valuable position.

More on DeJean from The Athletic:

Scout 1: “Love him. He’s tough. He’s athletic. Quiet confidence and he’s smart. I don’t think it’s best to make him an outside corner if you run a lot of man. There’s a little bit of stiffness. I don’t know if the transition quickness is elite. I think it would be best if he bought into a zone nickel or safety. He’s a punt returner and great special teams guy.”

DB Coach 1: “I think he’s a safety with potential nickel flex. I don’t think he’s a corner. I think that’s what he wants to play but I don’t think anyone has him as a corner. He’s a little straight-line. I think his skill set matches up for free safety. The only thing I worry about is if you’re gonna take a safety in that slot where he’s slated to go, you want him to be a monster, a dawg. I don’t see his physicality like that. He tackles and will tackle but is he gonna make a living like that as a high-level safety that’s gonna go in the first round? That’s my concern … not to say he can’t.”

DB Coach 2: “This is the best DB in the class. He has the rare ability to be a nickel one year, a safety the next and a corner the next. He’ll be a great chess piece. He doesn’t have the linear straight line transitions of what you want in a first-round corner. But you see some Minkah Fitzpatrick and Jevon Holland in there. He can play outside, in the slot, in the deep part of the field. I think whoever gets him will be really happy with him.”

DeJean’s soft-spoken manner apparently stuck out to multiple evaluators. This comes from an AFC area scout:

“He’s quiet and humble. He was always the best at his high school and he has a baked-in confidence that you can’t coach.”

This note from Pauline to wrap us out:

“DeJean draws a wide variety of opinions in the scouting circle despite being everyone’s favorite cornerback on the outside.”

JALYX HUNT

Hunt was 11th in McGinn’s edge rusher rankings. That lines up with how he was the 10th edge rusher to be drafted.

JALYX HUNT, Houston Christian (6-3 ½, 251, 4.63, 3): A late bloomer, he spent three years in the Ivy League at Cornell playing as a backup safety. Transferred to Houston Christian (formerly Houston Baptist) in 2022 and was moved to outside linebacker. Was named defensive player of the year in the Southland Conference in ’23. “He’s third round off of athleticism alone,” one scout said. “He’s got a ton of potential. He may end up being like DeMarcus Ware. He has no f—kin’ clue but is he gifted.” Ran fast, posted a vertical jump of 37 ½ and his 10-8 broad jump tied for the best among the edge rushers. “He’s interesting,” said another scout. “He’ll be a guy somebody has to find a home for because of the multiplicity of things he can do. You’ve got to find one. If he gets typecast in the wrong thing he could struggle a little bit. He can do a lot of things but he isn’t overly instinctive or well-versed in any one thing.” Finished with 162 tackles (20 ½ for loss) and 13 ½ sacks, five forced fumbles and six passes defensed. Arms were 34 3/8, hands were 10. “I don’t know how high he’s gonna go,” a third scout said. “With those guys, people gamble on the traits all the time. He and Xavier Thomas probably have the most rare athletic traits at that position on the back end.” From DeBary, Fla.

“May end up being like DeMarcus Ware”?! It’d be an insanely good outcome to get a player as dominant as the former Denver Broncos legend. But not a very likely one.

There’s enough evidence to suggest Hunt wasn’t a massive reach where the Eagles took him. That being said, I still think it’s a much better pick in theory than in reality.

More on Hunt from The Athletic:

DL Coach 1: “He tested as super athletic at the combine, and you see that on film. But it’s hard for someone to jump too far out there and say, we’re gonna take a kid too high that only had 9 1/2 sacks and came from Cornell by way of Houston Christian. But you see some toughness on film, and man, that is s—-y quality film. It was like my mother-in-law shot it from the stands.”

WILL SHIPLEY

McGinn was RB9 in McGinn’s rankings. He was the seventh running back drafted.

WILL SHIPLEY, Clemson (5-11, 206, 4.45, 4-5): Third-year junior. “He kind of grows on you,” one scout said. “He’s going to need route-running refinement. He runs hard. He’s got a little talent. Fourth round.” Best year was 2022 when he rushed for a career-high 1,182 and caught a career-high 38. “Excellent runner, top receiver,” said a second scout. “Got hurt this year. A concussion against UNC and right knee against Kentucky. He alternated with (Phil) Mafah.” Finished with 526 carries for 2,748 (5.2) and 31 TDs plus 85 catches. “He’s OK,” a third scout said. “They run the stretch and that’s what he does best. He can follow his blocks. Got a little bit of burst. More straight line. Not really a tough guy. He ducks his head a lot on contact. Not a powerful guy. He likes the edges. If you got a crease, he’s got a little something to him. Finesse kind of runner. Hands are pretty good. He’ll go mid-rounds.” From Weddington, N.C.

The solid but unspectacular vibe matches up with my impression and the one that BGN’s Jonny Page got as well:

AINIAS SMITH

Small blurb on Smith comes from an AFC regional scout:

“I thought he started looking more like himself later in the season, so I think you see full-on (Smith) by (the 2024 season) — at least physically.”

Production-wise, there wasn’t a noticeable split from Smith later in the season compared to earlier in the season. His better punt returns actually came earlier while his receiving production was relatively consistent.

TREVOR KEEGAN

Short and sweet observation from an NFC national scout:

“He’s super smart and processes really quickly when things start moving fast in front of him.”

JEREMIAH TROTTER JR.

Trotter was LB5 in McGinn’s rankings. He was the 12th off-ball linebacker drafted. Notable disparity there.

JEREMIAH TROTTER, Clemson (6-0, 226, 4.81, 3-4): Third-year junior. “I question his speed,” one scout said. “But all he does is make plays.” He put off running the 40 at the combine and then flopped at pro day running a 4.81. “He ain’t getting drafted because he can’t run,” a second scout said sounding only halfway serious. His father, Jeremiah, was the Eagles’ third-round pick in 1998 as an imposing middle linebacker from Stephen F. Austin. He was 6-0 1/2 and 261, ran 4.67 and made four Pro Bowls. “He’s not his dad,” a third scout said. “He’s got his dad’s height and after that he didn’t get anything. Just a small, try-hard guy. The dad didn’t really have instincts. He was just a physical specimen. The son isn’t instinctive. He doesn’t have compensating athletic ability and movement, speed, burst and strength for his size. He’s going to have a hard time.” A two-year starter, he finished with 195 tackles (29 ½ for loss), 13 sacks, three forced fumbles, four picks and 16 passes defensed. “His dad was a big, strong, thumping get-your-ass ‘mike’,” a fourth scout said. “This guy’s a nice backup and maybe he starts for a team that doesn’t have a lot of depth … You look at his coverage, it’s above average. In the run game, he gets knocked around. The goal is not to get locked up with a 330-pound guard. Once this guy has to take on front-five players he gets swallowed up. He cannot get disengaged. At some point, you’ve got to get off blocks. He’ll be a backup because he’s a smart player.” From Hainesport, N.J.

Trot Jr. did indeed make plays at Clemson with 29.5 TFLs, 13 sacks, four interceptions, 10 passes defensed, and three forced fumbles. That production can’t be discounted.

That said, the “nice backup and maybe he starts for a team that doesn’t have a lot of depth” might indeed be the most fair expectation for him in Philly. If he plays better than that, great! But to merely assume it’ll happen leaves a lot of room for disappointment.

More praise for Trotter’s intelligence came up in a quote from an AFC executive:

“Really smart. Always under control. He gets guys lined up and he’s really quick to read and react. If he was a little bigger I could see him going in the first [round].”

THE REST

Couldn’t find any quotes that mentioned Johnny Wilson, Dylan McMahon, or any of the Eagles’ reported undrafted rookie free agent signings.