Eagles Slot Cornerback Named NFL Best
Eagles Slot Cornerback Named NFL Best originally appeared on Athlon Sports.
Through the first four weeks of the 2024 season, the Philadelphia Eagles fielded one of the worst pass defenses in the game.
All that changed after the bye week.
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While some analysts will point to a more buttoned-up unit under defensive coordinator Vic Fangio, one player's arrival certainly changed the foundation of Philadelphia's defense.
Cooper DeJean, the defensive back out of Iowa, missed most of training camp and the first month of the season due to a hamstring injury. The moment he arrived on the field in Philadelphia's 20-16 win over the Cleveland Browns in Week 6 (the first game after their bye week), he quickly became an integral part of Philly's defense.
A few months later, not only is DeJean a Super Bowl champion/hero, but the league has begun to recognize him as the best in the league at his position.
Bill Barnwell of ESPN wrote a piece this week detailing DeJean's prowess in the slot and how no cornerback can match the kind of impact he had on Philadelphia.
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"Yes, he's already there," Barnwell said. "DeJean spent the first month of his rookie season on the sideline, but after Philadelphia's Week 5 bye, his move into the starting lineup coincided with a massive defensive improvement.
"After ranking 26th in expected points added (EPA) per play on defense before the bye, the Eagles were comfortably the league's best defense by the same metric afterward."
Barnwell did add that DeJean will see more time this year on the outside in addition to his usual work in the slot. The departure of Darius Slay will force the Eagles to get creative in the back end of their defense.
DeJean appears more than up to the task.
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If he's anything like he was in the slot last season, Philadelphia's nickel corner may be one of the league's best and most versatile players.
Related: Eagles Legends Shine on ESPN's All-Quarter Century NFL Team
Related: Nick Sirianni's Stunning Turnaround Lands Him Among NFL's Top Coaches
This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 21, 2025, where it first appeared.
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