Cooper DeJean Opens up on Viral Dunk With Saquon Barkley

Newsweek

a day ago

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Not long after the Philadelphia Eagles drafted Cooper DeJean in the second round of the 2024 NFL draft, he became a favorite among the fan base. Before he begins his second year in the pros, the young defensive back opened up on one of his viral moments from the offseason.
Aside from his talents on the football field, DeJean is an all-around gifted athlete. Like many other pros, he thrived across numerous sports. When he wasn't taking care of business on the gridiron, DeJean also turned heads with his basketball skills.
Throughout his rookie campaign, fans constantly dug up old basketball clips from when DeJean was in high school. Before mandatory minicamp got underway, he showed he's still capable of delivering eye-popping moments.
Three weeks ago, the Eagles paid a visit to the University of Pennsylvania. While there, the group found themselves on the campus' basketball court. Saquon Barkley and DeJean took this moment as an opportunity to have some fun. The star running proceeded to throw a dazzling alley-oop that DeJean dunked home with ease.
During a recent episode of his "Exciting Mics" podcast, DeJean touched on this viral moment with teammate Reed Blankenship. He was slightly upset that this was the only clip caught on camera, as he felt he had better dunks that day.
Cooper DeJean #33 of the Philadelphia Eagles reacts after a play in the fourth quarter of a game against the Carolina Panthers at Lincoln Financial Field on December 08, 2024 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Cooper DeJean #33 of the Philadelphia Eagles reacts after a play in the fourth quarter of a game against the Carolina Panthers at Lincoln Financial Field on December 08, 2024 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania."Saquon throwing me a lob, throwing it down," DeJean said. "I feel like I had a lot better dunks then this one throughout the day but they weren't on camera. Then we needed to leave."
Coop can HOOP 😂🔥 pic.twitter.com/dNVCL2LzuH — Exciting Mics (@excitingmics) June 9, 2025
DeJean's athleticism helped him provide an immediate impact for the Eagles both defensively and as a kick returner at times. He shined in his first year in the pros, finishing fourth in Defensive Rookie of the Year voting. DeJean also managed to deliver a memorable moment in the postseason, returning an interception for a touchdown in the Super Bowl.
Heading into his sophomore campaign with the Eagles, DeJean's athleticism could be further utilized in an expanded role. As minicamp continues, defensive coordinator Vic Fangio said he might use the standout defensive back at safety in some scenarios.
"We'd like to keep him at nickel, and then in our base package we'll find a spot for him, either at corner or safety," Fangio said. "A lot of it will end up depending on how the other guys develop and where we most need him."
DeJean has some experience playing safety from his time in college, which could make such a transition easy for him. Given his past experience, the Eagles might utilize his talents to fill the void left by C.J. Gardner-Johnson.