Potentially fruitful Eagles careers officially hit the launchpad at OTAs

Who would have thought we'd be this excited about defensive backs out of Toledo and Iowa? Such is life for Philadelphia Eagles fans these days. They say you should always scout the player though, never the helmet. Pro football's best scouts got the memo.

During the 2024 NFL Draft, our Birds got lucky. They landed two guys from two programs we don't watch often. Both are stars in the making.

Cooper DeJean was seen by many as being one of the top two or three DBs in the selection meeting. So waa Quinyon Mitchell.  Philly wound up with both.

They acquired Mitchell with the 22nd overall selection. DeJean was added in Round 2 after the Birds traded up to 40. Both have the potential to be great Eagles, but patience will be part of their process.

Cooper DeJean puts pen to paper and officially begins what we hope is a long Eagles career.

They say nothing is official until it is. DeJean and Mitchell threw on Eagles ball caps during the most recent NFL Draft. Mitchell celebrated with the Eagles faithful in Detroit. DeJean celebrated with an intimate gathering at home. Both met with the media on the phone and in person. They attended rookie minicamp, but again, they weren't official.

Philly's brass is on the job... as we knew they would be. Coop signed his rookie deal during the first day of OTAs. He inks a four-year deal.

Mitchell's will also cover four years, but because he was a first-round selection, his deal will also come with a fifth-year option, one the Eagles can exercise if they choose.

Rookie minicamp allows the new guys to meet their position coaches and grab a playbook. It helps them feel like part of the team, but now that the ink is on the paper, Coop is now truly part of the Eagles family... officially.

He and his fellow rookie teammates have hit the launchpad. Let's hope they take flight.

Read more Eagles news