Eagles rookie corners soaking in Super Bowl chance in biggest test yet: Just a blessing

NEW ORLEANS — Some have to wait and wait, and finally it arrives. Some wait and wait, and it never happens. And then there are Cooper DeJean and Quinyon Mitchell.They did not have to wait at all. “Being here at the Super Bowl, some guys go their whole career without playing in the Super Bowl, so being here and just taking it all in, you know,’’ DeJean said. There is a lot to take in. Especially for a pair of rookie cornerbacks who helped transform the Eagles secondary, with their next and last assignment of their NFL debut season a shot at Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs in Super Bowl 2025. “Just a blessing,’’ Mitchell said.

“Man, exciting, all the hard work’s paying off.Just got to finish the job.’’ Usually, the best thing about rookie corners is that they grow up into second-year corners.

Not so with this duo.The Eagles selected Mitchell out of Toledo in the first round of the 2024 NFL Draft.

Then they took DeJean out of Iowa in the second round, doubling up to fortify their defensive backfield.The strategy — back-to-back picks targeting the same position — is uncommon, and the Eagles were rewarded for their boldness. Mitchell immediately earned a starting spot as a perimeter corner opposite veteran Darius Slay.DeJean was used for only eight snaps on defense in the first four games, and it appeared as if he might need a year to acclimate to the league.The Eagles went 2-2 in those four games and then took a break for an early bye week.

When they returned to action, DeJean was the starting slot cornerback, a role he has held the rest of the way. “They’re great guys, man, Coop and Quinyon,” Slay, the 34-year old, 12-year veteran, said.“They’re detailed.

They pay attention.They listen.

They learn.It’s hard to get rookies to understand this game at a high level.

It’s amazing.It’s gonna be a special group.

I told people that this Eagles secondary is gonna have two great young corners for a long, long time.” Th...