Cooper DeJean’s rough start to the 2026 season has turned a future payday into a question mark.
After six games, the Eagles cornerback is not playing like a player on the verge of a massive extension. That was on display in Philadelphia’s 25-14 Week 6 loss to the Carolina Panthers, where DeJean finished with six tackles, one pass deflection and one tackle for loss, but also left too many plays on the field.
The missed tackles have become the glaring issue. Panthers running back Chuba Hubbard had one play where he ran through DeJean and still turned it into a first down, and the coverage problems were even harder to ignore. On Carolina’s final touchdown, tight end Tommy Tremble slipped right past DeJean for an easy 19-yard score, a bust that stood out badly on tape.
That kind of outing is a long way from the level DeJean showed in 2025, when he was an All-Pro and Pro Bowler. Instead of building toward top-dollar status, he is taking a step backward in nearly every area that mattered to his value.
Through five games this season, DeJean has 39 tackles, five pass deflections, four stuffs, one quarterback hit and one interception. He has also allowed a 97.8 passer rating in 2026, which is not the kind of number that helps a corner’s case.
The advanced metrics tell the same story. Pro Football Focus has DeJean at an overall grade of 56.7, which ranks 58th out of 90 eligible cornerbacks. His coverage grade is 57.6, good for 48th, and his run-defense grade is 57.2, which ranks 71st.
The biggest red flag might be the tackling breakdown. PFF says DeJean has missed 13 tackles this season, a stunning number for a player whose tackling was supposed to be one of his strengths.
This isn’t the version of DeJean the Eagles were expecting to lean on for a record-setting contract. He was set up to cash in after the last two years, but 2026 has been a major regression.
There is at least one possible explanation. DeJean was injured in the Eagles’ Week 1 win over the Washington Commanders and played through calf and abdominal injuries.
Even so, the pressure is now on him to clean it up fast. He has only the 2027 season left on his contract before becoming a free agent, and if his play does not pick up, the Eagles may not be eager to talk extension.
He still has 11 games left to change the conversation. If he wants the big bucks, the turnaround has to start soon.
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Jalen Hurts has been part of the issue, too, with the numbers showing far less success when he is asked to operate from under center instead of in shotgun. Tanner McKee has had similar trouble in those situations, which leaves the Eagles with an uncomfortable question about how much of the offense can still live in that space. For a team trying to stay balanced and keep defenses honest, the under-center package is starting to look like a problem that cannot just be brushed aside. [Read more 🡒]