The Eagles made a splash on Day 2 of the NFL draft, trading up to select Iowa’s versatile defensive back, Cooper DeJean. Many predicted him to go in the first round, so it was a shock he was still on the board. But the Eagles weren’t taking any chances to miss him. They gave up two second-round picks and a fifth-rounder to the Commanders to move up and grab him at pick 40.

This wasn’t just like any other smart moves in the draft. The team has now landed one of the best tacklers in the draft with their savvy trade. At Iowa, DeJean played all over the secondary, showing he could handle safety as well as cornerback positions. That versatility makes him the ultimate “Swiss army knife” player, and even Nick Saban, the legendary coach, gives him the thumbs up.

The Eagles picked the most versatile DB Cooper DeJean

The Philadelphia Eagles may have just found the most adaptable defensive back in the entire draft — Cooper DeJean. As Tyler Barnes, Iowa’s Director of Recruiting, recently shared on X: “Nick Saban just said it best, like we have all been shouting from the rooftop… ‘Cooper DeJean is the only DB in this draft who can play all 5 positions in the back end.'” 

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Earlier, the Eagles drafted the coveted cornerback, Quinyon Mitchell, with their no.22 pick. But going with another cornerback at 40 wasn’t a waste move from the team. Cooper DeJean can add even more flexibility to their defense because he can play both cornerback and safety. Even legendary coach Nick Saban agrees that DeJean’s versatility is special as he recently spoke on players’ ability to play different defensive positions.

Nick Saban’s seal of approval for DeJean

Legendary coach Nick Saban recently joined ESPN’s College GameDay to talk about the NFL draft. He noted how this year’s draft was full of offensive stars, but lacked strong safeties to add depth in the defense. That’s why he stressed the importance of versatile cornerbacks who can also step in as safeties. Saban praised his former Alabama cornerbacks, Terrion Arnold and Kool-Aid McKinstry, then added Cooper DeJean to the list: “[These are players] who can play corner but may end up playing inside for somebody.” Now getting praised by Nick Saban is as big a deal for Cooper DeJean as getting drafted by the Eagles.

The Eagles’ pass defense struggled last season, so landing a dual-threat player like DeJean is a major boost for them. Plus, DeJean’s got incredible ball-catching skills thus some believe he could even help out on offense. It’s no wonder Eagles fans are thrilled to have their own “Swiss Army Knife” on the roster. What do you think of this game-changer for the Eagles? Share your thoughts in the comments below.