ARLINGTON, Texas — A longtime debate reached a strong verdict on Sunday during the Eagles’ 24-21 loss to the Dallas Cowboys at AT&T Stadium.
Through the first 11 weeks, many suggested the Eagles should move second-year star Cooper DeJean from the slot to the boundary cornerback spot opposite Quinyon Mitchell.
Already establishing himself as one of the NFL’s top nickel cornerbacks, DeJean’s coaches were hesitant to make the switch and Sunday showed why. He is dominant inside, locking down slot wide receivers and stuffing the run as a de facto linebacker. But as an outside cornerback, he is less effective.
Adoree’ Jackson left in the third quarter with concussion symptoms and never returned to the game. As a result, the Eagles moved DeJean to the outside and inserted backup cornerback Michael Carter II into the slot.
It didn’t take long for the Cowboys to target DeJean.
With 3:02 remaining in the third quarter, DeJean had tight coverage on Cowboys star CeeDee Lamb but was just a step behind and got outmuscled for a 48-yard catch to Philadelphia’s 34-yard line, helping set up Dallas’ second touchdown of the game.
Then, with 13:09 remaining in the fourth quarter, George Pickens outran DeJean to the left sideline for a 43-yard catch and held onto the ball through contact. Two plays later, the Cowboys tied the game, 21-21, with an eight-yard rushing touchdown from quarterback Dak Prescott.
“I felt like the one to CeeDee down the sideline or the one to Pickens, Coop got back in the phase pretty good, but sometimes good offense beats good defense,” Eagles coach Nick Sirianni told reporters after the game. “I thought he was in their hip (pocket) there, and they just made really good plays.”
Pickens’ 52 receiving yards against DeJean were the most DeJean has allowed to a single receiver in any game of his career, according to the NFL’s Next Gen Stats.
It’s clear that DeJean is more comfortable covering the slot and plays most naturally on the inside. The Eagles are better off playing Jackson as the CB2, even though he isn’t a great option either.
But DeJean’s performance on the outside was not all bad.
He blanketed Lamb in the back of the end zone on the next possession after the Pickens catch. That played helped the Eagles secure a goal-line stand.
If DeJean spent more time practicing and playing on the outside, he could improve in that role, but the Eagles shouldn’t overcomplicate things.
Now more than ever, the Eagles need DeJean on the inside. Both of their starting safeties — Reed Blankenship and Drew Mukuba — suffered injuries against the Cowboys, with Mukuba’s seeming the more serious of the two. Mukuba was seen leaving the stadium on crutches and wearing a walking boot. Blankenship never returned to the game after suffering a thigh injury in the third quarter.
From the slot, DeJean could mask some of the mistakes backup safety Sydney Brown will make in coverage and against the run.
DeJean might go down as one of general manager Howie Roseman’s best draft selections after being taken in the second round of the 2024 NFL Draft. He has become a cornerstone on Philadelphia’s defense and could be that for many years. The Eagles are lucky to have him, and they don’t need him to be something he’s not.
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