The Philadelphia Eagles struck gold in the 2024 NFL Draft, landing cornerback Quinyon Mitchell in the first round and Cooper DeJean in the second. Both rookies emerged as cornerstones of the Eagles’ secondary, with DeJean even etching his name in franchise history with a 38-yard pick-six in the Super Bowl. But what if the draft played out differently? Sports Illustrated writer Daniel Flick explored a chilling redraft scenario that could have reshaped the Eagles’ future—and it’s a nightmare Philly fans would rather forget.
In Flick’s redraft, the Miami Dolphins snatch Mitchell with the 21st overall pick, one slot before the Eagles’ selection at 22. This leaves Philadelphia pivoting to DeJean, a second-round steal in the real draft, as their first-round choice. While DeJean proved his worth as a rookie—starting all four postseason games and finishing fourth in Rookie of the Year voting—losing Mitchell, a lockdown coverage corner, stings. Mitchell’s absence would leave a gaping hole in the Eagles’ secondary, forcing a reshuffle that could alter their defensive identity.
Sticking to their real-life strategy of doubling down on cornerbacks, the Eagles select Detroit Lions’ Terrion Arnold in the second round of the redraft. Arnold, who started 15 games as a rookie, has the tools to be a star, but his debut season was marred by penalties and inconsistent coverage. With a 55.6% completion percentage allowed and a 93.7 passer rating against, Arnold is a downgrade from Mitchell’s elite coverage skills. Pairing him with DeJean, likely in the slot, keeps the secondary solid but lacks the dominance of the Mitchell-DeJean tandem.
The redraft delivers another gut punch in the second round when the Tampa Bay Buccaneers snag edge rusher Jalyx Hunt at pick 57, before the Eagles can grab him in the third round as they did in reality. Hunt, projected as a starter for 2025, brought dynamism to Philadelphia’s pass rush. His loss raises questions about the edge rusher room. Would Bryce Huff still be on the roster without Hunt’s emergence? Veterans like Azeez Ojulari and Josh Uche might have secured larger roles, potentially reshaping the defensive front.
Could the Eagles have still won the Super Bowl without Mitchell and Hunt? In the short term, perhaps. DeJean’s postseason heroics and Arnold’s potential suggest the team could still compete. But long-term, the losses would ripple. Mitchell’s coverage prowess and Hunt’s upside as a pass rusher are critical to Philadelphia’s future. Without them, the 2025 season and beyond could look drastically different, with a less formidable secondary and a thinner edge rotation.
For Eagles fans, this redraft scenario is a grim reminder of how fragile draft success can be. Mitchell and Hunt are linchpins of the team’s 2024 triumph and future aspirations. Thankfully, the NFL doesn’t allow do-overs, and Philadelphia can hold tight to their dynamic duo. But Flick’s exercise underscores a harsh truth: one pick can change everything.