Eagles' Young Defensive Core Dominates The Athletic's Top 25 Under 25
Jalen Carter, Quinyon Mitchell and Cooper DeJean all cracked The Athletic's new poll of the NFL's best players 25 and under, led by Carter at No. 2.
Howie Roseman and the Eagles have built a reputation as some of the best talent evaluators in the NFL, consistently drafting and developing young players into key contributors on championship-level teams.
The Athletic recently ranked the top 25 NFL players under 25 years old, and three Eagles made the list, all from the defensive side of the ball. Unfortunately for the rest of the league, the Eagles’ elite defense isn’t going anywhere anytime soon.
No. 18: Cooper DeJean
DeJean has quickly become one of the premier slot cornerbacks. His 2025 First-Team All-Pro campaign saw him lead all slot cornerbacks in PFF coverage grade, catch rate allowed and passer rating allowed without surrendering a touchdown.
This season, DeJean faces the new challenge of playing safety, as well as nickel. The position change won’t stop the Iowa native from making big plays that cause “Coooop” chants to echo throughout the stadium, whether at home or on the road.
No. 17: Quinyon Mitchell
Mitchell last took the field delivering a dominant two-interception playoff game, despite the Eagles’ loss. On the boundary, he was truly lockdown, finishing first among NFL cornerbacks in catch rate allowed (42.4%) without allowing a touchdown. Named an All-Pro, Mitchell earned a 74.4 grade from Pro Football Focus last season, 16th among NFL cornerbacks.
Through the early stage of training camp, Mitchell’s hands have reportedly improved, turning strong coverage into takeaways. If Mitchell consistently turns deflections into interceptions, he will solidify his claim as the best cornerback in the NFL.
No. 2: Jalen Carter
The Eagles and Carter agreed to a four-year, $152 million contract extension in July, making him the highest-paid defensive tackle in the NFL. He has been a game wrecker in his first three seasons.
“Carter is one of the most physically gifted players in the league,” The Athletic’s Mike Jones wrote.
In just 11 games last season, Carter led the Eagles in pressures generated with 41, even with him getting double-teamed on 41.7% of his pass rushes. Despite lingering shoulder injuries, Carter was selected to his second Pro Bowl in a row. Healthy after a full offseason of recovery, Carter is in line for another dominant season.