Cris Collinsworth has high praise for Eagles star cornerback Cooper DeJean.
Selected with the 40th pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, DeJean made an unforgettable impact on Sunday’s Super Bowl.
On his 22nd birthday, the rookie intercepted a pass from Patrick Mahomes, returning it 38 yards for a touchdown, and helped secure a Super Bowl victory over the Kansas City Chiefs.
In many ways, DeJean’s pick-six was the biggest play of the entire game.
The Eagles have revamped their secondary this season, also adding first-round cornerback Quinyon Mitchell.
Speaking to Kay Adams on her Up & Adams show, Collinsworth highlighted how DeJean’s selection in the second round might prove to be one of the best picks in NFL history.
“This Quinyon Mitchell has just been a special player on the back end. Cooper DeJean may be the biggest steal we’ve ever seen in the second-round of a draft,” Collinsworth said.
While Collinsworth’s statement is certainly bold – especially when considering the success of other second-round picks like Drew Brees, Michael Strahan, and Rob Gronkowski – DeJean’s talent is undeniable.
Notably, Los Angeles Rams defensive lineman Braden Fiske, selected right before DeJean, finished a spot higher in the Defensive Rookie of the Year voting.
Still, DeJean’s impact on the Eagles defense cannot be overlooked. Pro Football Focus rated him as the highest-graded cornerback in all of football.
During the regular season, DeJean excelled in the slot, allowing only 50 receptions for 365 yards with zero touchdowns. He also recorded 51 tackles and recovered three fumbles.
He also delivered one of the best pure tackles we’ve ever seen.
In the postseason, DeJean continued to make his mark.
He recovered a fumble in the Eagles’ second-round win over the Rams and broke up two passes in the NFC Championship Game.
But it was his spectacular pick-six in the Super Bowl that truly cemented his place as a rising star and quite frankly an Eagles legend.
With Philadelphia already leading 10-0, DeJean intercepted Mahomes in the second quarter and took it to the house for a 17-0 advantage – one the Chiefs could never overcome.
The interception made DeJean the first rookie to score a pick-six in Super Bowl history.
“It fell right into my lap,” DeJean said of the pick. “I never thought that would happen. And it did happen. It’s pretty cool. I’m just happy we won the game and for all these guys who have been here, bringing us rookies in.”
Though quarterback Jalen Hurts was named Super Bowl MVP, DeJean’s performance didn’t go unnoticed.
In fact, he won the NFL.com fan vote for the MVP, a testament to his standout moment and the growing excitement around the Eagles’ new star cornerback.
Anyone who watched DeJean play at Iowa already knew full-well just how special of a player he was. In many ways, it’s shocking that he fell so far in the draft.
What are your thoughts on Collinsworth saying that DeJean could go down as the greatest second-round pick in NFL history???
(BTW: Yes, I know that’s not DeJean in the featured image, but come on, that’s too good to pass up, don’t you think?)
