The Philadelphia Eagles’ defense is getting plenty of national attention, and the youngest stars on the roster are a big reason why.
CBS Sports’ Tyler Sullivan stacked three Eagles defenders inside his top 25 players under 25 years old, giving the nod to Cooper DeJean, Jalen Carter, and Quinyon Mitchell. The trio landed at No. 22, No. 17, and No. 15, respectively, a clear sign of how quickly Philadelphia’s young core has turned into one of the league’s most recognizable groups.
DeJean checked in first among the Eagles trio at No. 22, and Sullivan pointed to just how complete his game has become. “Cooper DeJean is one of the faces of Philadelphia's blistering secondary, which is one of the league's best units. After winning the Super Bowl as a rookie, DeJean followed it up with a first-team All-Pro campaign in 2025, blossoming into one of the NFL's best slot corners.
In the slot, DeJean did not allow a single passing touchdown last season and tallied two interceptions. He also recorded 93 total tackles (second-most on the Eagles) and four tackles for loss (most among Eagles defensive backs).”
That kind of production has made DeJean one of the most versatile young defenders in the game, and his value only figures to grow with defensive coordinator Vic Fangio expanding his role to safety in the Eagles’ base defense look.
Mitchell came in just ahead of him at No. 15, and the case for him was just as strong. Sullivan wrote, “Along with DeJean, Quinyon Mitchell is a mainstay in Philadelphia's secondary, and the two form one of the league's best young duos.
In 2025, the Eagles arguably had the NFL's best pass defense, allowing a league-low 56.8% completion rate and just 14 passing touchdowns, thanks in part to Mitchell. He was named a first-team All-Pro in 2025 after leading all defensive backs with a 39.6% completion percentage allowed.
He did not allow a single passing touchdown last season.”
Since their rookie seasons in 2024, Mitchell and DeJean have quickly established themselves as a pair that can anchor the back end of this defense. Mitchell’s first-team All-Pro season only strengthened that case, and together the two look like the kind of cornerback duo teams build around.
Carter rounded out the Eagles’ trio at No. 17, and Sullivan’s evaluation made it clear why he sits so high on the list. “When Jalen Carter has his head on straight, he's capable of being the best interior defensive lineman in the NFL. The Eagles defensive tackle has elite traits, which have flashed in the form of a second-team All-Pro selection in 2024, along with back-to-back Pro Bowl nods in 2024 and 2025.”
Carter’s 2025 season had its rough patches, including a suspension and a nagging shoulder injury, and a contract extension remains unresolved. Even so, he remains the biggest swing piece on the defense. When he’s locked in, he changes everything up front, and Philadelphia could be looking at his best season yet in 2026.
With DeJean, Mitchell, and Carter all earning national recognition, the Eagles have a young defensive core that looks built to keep climbing.
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