“Wherever they put me on the football field, I’ll play there,” said Eagles’ Cooper DeJean—and he’s backed that up with more than just words. In his rookie season alone, he delivered 51 tackles, three fumble recoveries, a forced fumble, and even snuck in half a sack across just 16 games. But nothing topped what he pulled off on the NFL’s biggest stage: a 38-yard pick-six against Patrick Mahomes in the Super Bowl. But just as fans got used to seeing No. 3 locking down receivers, under Vic Fangio’s direction, a lot is changing.

After just one day of camp, CBS Sports’ Jeff Kerr reported that the Eagles are lining Cooper DeJean up everywhere—slot corner, outside corner, and even safety in certain sets. It all depends on how well Mac McWilliams holds the slot. And so far? He’s doing his part. If McWilliams keeps ascending, DeJean’s role becomes even more fluid. That’s the kind of adaptability Philly wants, especially under a coordinator like Fangio, who values matchup-based rotations and smart football IQ over rigid roles.

Fangio himself confirmed the direction. “Primary motive is to be part of base package – believe he can play safety. It’s new for him. We will give him some work there,” he explained. “There will be days in base, he will play corner. It’ll be an evolution.” And that evolution? It’s not a clean break from cornerback. Fangio won’t let him cut ties with the position he’s known best. Even with safety as the focus, DeJean will still see snaps outside. His versatility is too valuable to box in—and it’s no coincidence this plan took shape just as the safety room got a little more crowded.

Because right when things were starting to settle, a name popped up: Jihaad Campbell. The rookie linebacker’s return was due in August after shoulder surgery. But he showed up early—helmet on, running drills, and doing more than anyone expected. It’s a quiet bonus for Fangio’s unit as it added some surprise depth to the defense.

That shift may be why DeJean’s workload has already started to flex. He opened camp working with the safeties, then slid into first-team reps at safety during two different practice periods. No easing into it—he’s in it. Back in the spring, Fangio hinted at this very possibility, and DeJean had already made his stance clear: “I’ll play wherever, to be honest.” If he continues to manage the physical demands, he’ll be on the right track to be Eagles defense. It’s a good thing DeJean’s picking things up fast. He’s stepping into a defense that’s already lost five key contributors this offseason. 

Eagles lose 5 defensive stars—can Cooper DeJean fill the void?

Eagles couldn’t have seen this coming. On Day 1 of free agency, two pillars of their Super Bowl-winning defense—Milton Williams and Josh Sweat—walked out of the locker room. Williams landed a $104 million deal with the Patriots, and Sweat followed with a $76.4 million payday from the Cardinals. Both were top five talents on nearly every free agent list. Philly had the talent. They just didn’t have the space to keep everyone around.

That cap crunch came with other tough calls too. The Eagles also cut Darius Slay Jr. to clear his $16 million hit. C.J. Gardner-Johnson was shipped to Houston and judging by his “test dummy” jab on Instagram, he didn’t take it lightly. Even Vic Fangio admitted the trade was “a salary cap type thing.” Meanwhile, the Eagles shelled out big for others—like Saquon Barkley and Zack Baun—which meant trimming elite talent elsewhere. 

Still, this wasn’t just roster turnover—it was the end of an era. Sweat and Williams combined for 4.5 sacks in the Super Bowl and were arguably the best defenders on the field that night. Slay, despite his age, was good at shutting down Mahomes in the first half. And now, those 4 are no longer an Eagle! Add Brandon Graham’s retirement to the mix, and it’s a lot for one offseason. But as hard as it hits, Philly isn’t crumbling—they’re reloading. With Quinyon Mitchell, Cooper DeJean, and depth across the board, they seem prepared for this moment.