5 Eagles overreactions: Does this DB deserve All Pro nickname? Has Tyler Steen won job?

Yahoo

2 days ago

PHILADELPHIA − The Eagles are through the so-called ramp-up portion of training camp, and we have already discovered a new nickname for second-year defensive back Cooper DeJean: "APC."
Eagles wide receiver A.J. Brown said he gave DeJean that nickname during the spring. It stands for "All Pro Coop."
"It's gonna be a year for him," Brown said. "I'm not trying to put pressure on him. But I tell him all the time, I'll make you All-Pro, and that starts in camp, every day. It's part of my responsibility, part of our responsibility as wide receivers, to get those guys ready and vice versa."
Brown was also referring to Quinyon Mitchell in that All-Pro comment, but without the nickname. Mitchell was a starter Week 1 as a rookie in 2024, and DeJean became the nickel during Week 6.
So calling DeJean an All-Pro as he enters his second season is not overreaction from what we've seen so far. The question is, at what position will DeJean be named an All-Pro?
There's nickel, where DeJean is expected to play the majority of the snaps this season. There's outside cornerback, where he could play when the Eagles are in base defense. Or there's safety, again in base defense.
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So far, DeJean has handled all three spots with aplomb. He admitted he started learning all three positions last season as a rookie even though he was used exclusively at nickel. As for the differences, DeJean said safety requires him to be more vocal.
"I thought he was crazy," DeJean said with a laugh when asked about Brown's nickname for him. "But when he explained it to me, he's trying to speak it into existence for me. And that gives me something to work towards and try to prove every single day out here."
So DeJean and/or Mitchell as an All-Pro this season doesn't qualify as an overreaction. But here are four other overreactions that do.
Tyler Steen already has right guard job won
It's not entirely true that you could put just about anyone at right guard in between right tackle Lane Johnson and center Cam Jurgens.
This year, Tyler Steen is the frontrunner.
So far, it's not much of a contest as Steen has taken all of the first-team reps during the spring practices and the first two days of training camp.
Kenyon Green, the former first-round pick of the Texans, has missed the first two days with a knee injury. He is considered day-to-day, but really, as the popular saying goes, "You can't make the club from the tub."
So Green would need to return soon.
And while both left tackle Jordan Mailata and Johnson have raved about Steen's strength and growth this offseason, he still has to prove it on the field. If Green doesn't provide competition, then veteran Matt Pryor or rookie Drew Kendall might.
But this battle is not close to being over just yet.
Are Kelee Ringo, Sydney Brown locks for starting jobs?
Through two days of practice, we have seen Kelee Ringo with the first unit opposite Mitchell one day and veteran Adoree Jackson the next. It's the same thing at safety. Sydney Brown was next to Reed Blankenship on Day 1 while rookie Drew Mukuba was there on Day 2.
It's expected that Tristin McCollum, and possibly even Andre Sam, will get some looks next to Blankenship.
There's nothing to read into that other than the Eagles will spend most, if not all, of training camp mixing and matching players. As defensive coordinator Vic Fangio said during the spring, these competitions might not be determined until after the preseason games.
Terrace Marshall will become the 3rd WR
Marshall has looked good both in spring and through the early part of training camp, and seems to be making a strong push for a roster spot. Then again, Marshall was the Panthers' second-round pick in 2021, so he's supposed to be good.
The same is true of Dotson, of course, after he was the Commanders' first-round pick in 2022. But Dotson had just 19 catches for 216 yards last season. So that spot could be up for grabs. Johnny Wilson and Ainias Smith, both 2024 draftees, haven't shown enough consistency yet to be considered for that role.
It should be noted that there aren't many targets available in an offense that features RB Saquon Barkley, wide receivers A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith and tight end Dallas Goedert.
But Marshall has certainly gotten off to a strong start, as has Dotson. Marshall could end up pushing Dotson for that WR3 spot.
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Jordan Davis will have a monster year
This might not be an overreaction either for Davis at defensive tackle. Davis admitted he lost 26 pounds during the offseason, and he looks svelte and agile for someone who's 6-foot-6, 330 pounds. The Eagles are counting on Davis to play a major role next to Jalen Carter.
Davis showed his improved conditioning in the second half of last season and into the playoffs. That's in large part why the Eagles decided to pick up the fifth-year option on Davis' rookie contract, guaranteeing him about $13 million in 2026.
After that, Davis can become a free agent. And his next contract could be in the range of former Eagles' DT Milton Williams' four-year deal worth as much as $104 million with the Patriots.
"It's a continuation from the spring, a continuation from the wintertime, and understanding that role is bigger, and what's expected of me is greater and so on," Davis said. "Obviously, you have to change and adapt. I'm just glad I'm at this place now and I can hit the ground running."
Contact Martin Frank at [e-mail]. Follow on X @Mfranknfl. Read his coverage of the Eagles' championship season in 'Flying High,' a new hardcover coffee-table book from Delaware Online/The News Journal. Details at Fly.ChampsBook.com
This article originally appeared on Delaware News Journal: Eagles training camp overreactions: Why Cooper DeJean isn't one of them