Eagles rookie jersey numbers revealed

Some of these are going to need to change.

Earlier this week, the Philadelphia Eagles finally confirmed new jersey numbers for their veteran offseason additions. And now they’ve revealed rookie jersey numbers for their picks from the 2024 NFL Draft and their undrafted rookie free agent signings.

Here’s an overview with our signature #JerseyNumberAnalytics to follow.

EAGLES DRAFT PICKS

CB Quinyon Mitchell – 30

DB Cooper DeJean – 33

EDGE Jalyx Hunt – 58

RB Will Shipley – 39

WR Ainias Smith – 82

LB Jeremiah Trotter Jr. – 54

OG Trevor Keegan – 79

WR Johnny Wilson – 89

OL Dylan McMahon – 63

UNDRAFTED ROOKIE FREE AGENTS

OT Gottlieb Ayedze – 61

TE McCallen Castles – 43

OT Anim Dankwah – 75

DT Gabe Hall – 96

RB Kendall Milton – 36

S Andre’ Sam – 35

OT Laekin Vakalahi – 67

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ANALYSIS

As the unquestioned authority on this subject matter, here are my incredibly important takes.

• The Eagles’ own Twitter account essentially acknowledged some of these numbers are really bad and thus will change when the roster gets cut down to 53 players:

• Don’t get used to seeing Mitchell in 30. Seems like he could easily make the switch to his college number, No. 27, if/when Zech McPhearson gets cut. If not No. 27, we could certainly see No. 24 become available if/when the Eagles move on from James Bradberry. Either option is an obvious upgrade for Mitchell and necessary for him to reach his full potential.
• DeJean wore No. 3 at Iowa, so 33 makes sense. It’s passable as both a cornerback and safety number. DeJean wore No. 24 while playing basketball in high school, so maybe he’d try to make a play for that if it becomes available?
• My first thought on Hunt getting No. 58? Positive development. Trent Cole made that look good. And kinda funny because he was known for being “The Hunter.” But then I thought about how I felt like Hunt is Howie Roseman’s new Genard Avery … who also wore No. 58. So, I don’t know.
• No. 39 is really bad for Shipley. Then again, it worked for fellow white pass-catching running back Danny Woodhead? Guessing Shipley will try to change his look down the road.
• Smith wearing No. 82 could remind you of Torrey Smith. It could also remind you of L.J. Smith, though Ainias is certainly smaller than him. Don’t love it for a smaller slot guy. He should have a single digit or be in the teens. Could move to No. 13 if DeVante Parker doesn’t make the team. That’d be better.
• The Axe Man Jr. getting The Axe Man Sr.’s jersey number is obviously great. No notes.
• No. 79 is an underrated number with Brandon Brooks and Todd Herremans previously wearing that. Stock up for Keegan.
• Aesthetically, No. 89 just does not look good. Conceptually, I like the biggest possible receiver (Wilson is 99 percentile height and 97 percentile weight) wearing the highest possible jersey number at his position.
• If you’re of the belief that McMahon is going to be the Eagles’ next Jason Kelce, he’s only one number higher than Kelce’s old number.
• The last Eagles offensive tackle to wear No. 75 in a game was Troy Drake in 1997. Been a bit. Solid look for Dankwah.
• Don’t really love No. 96 as a DT number but that’s a pretty good get for Hall. Sometimes a UDFA DT has to wear something like No. 61. Ugly.
• Milton is wearing Brian Westbrook’s old number but his running style is not reminiscent of the former Eagles great.
• Laekin Vakalahi was previously unreported as an Eagles UDFA signing. All the other Eagles reported UDFA signings were accurate … except for Marshall WR Talik Keaton. It appears Vakalahi — an Australian native — might be an International Player Pathway Program guy?