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The Philadelphia Eagles walked out of the 2024 NFL Draft with nine picks, ranging from round one to round six. They also added seven undrafted free agents. Now, they'll hope the majority of these prospects will pay off as they attempt to make their way back to the Super Bowl.
These 16 players look to make up the 90-man roster for the rest of spring and summer when the Eagles eventually head into fall camp. Then that list will shrink even shorter, going to 53 roster members when the regular season begins.
That means that every one of these rookies, including first-round, No. 22 overall pick Quinyon Mitchell, the cornerback out of Toledo, has a chance to prove themselves a valuable member of the team. But that's expected of a first-rounder, or even a second-rounder like former Iowa corner Cooper DeJean. It's those later draft picks, the so-called sleepers, that everyone wants to know if they're going to produce.
One of those sleepers for the Eagles is their fifth-round, No. 155 overall pick out of Clemson, linebacker Jeremiah Trotter Jr.
Jeremiah Trotter Jr. is the rookie sleeper pick for the Eagles in 2024
The name Jeremiah Trotter is one of familiarity in Philadelphia. Jeremiah Trotter Sr., the father of the 2024 fifth-rounder, was a former linebacker for the Eagles from 1998 until 2001 and then again in 2009, his 11th and final season. He's a former four-time Pro Bowler and part of the Eagles Hall of Fame. So, this is a legacy pick for the Eagles. But Trotter Jr. could become a major part of this year's Eagles team, making a name for himself as a rookie.
Trotter Jr. brings a lot more than just a familiar name to the Eagles. He is a tenacious player with an exceptional instinct for finding the football. Standing at 6 feet and weighing 230 pounds, he may lack the size and explosiveness of some of his peers, but he compensates with an impressive football IQ.
This ability to read plays and position himself effectively allows him to make impactful plays consistently, which is evidenced by his back-to-back seasons leading Clemson in tackles—89 in 2022 and 88 in 2023. His infectious energy on the field turned into a catalyst for inspiring his teammates and boosting the overall performance of the Tigers' defense in his three seasons.
A standout in college at Clemson, Trotter Jr. was a finalist for the Butkus Award in 2023, which is given to the best linebacker in college football for a single season. In 2022, he set an ACC Championship Game record with three sacks and tied for the team-high with nine tackles in the Tigers' 39-10 routing of North Carolina. He also recorded a career-high 13 tackles against Florida State that season, earning ACC Linebacker of the Week and Clemson Defensive Player of the Game honors.
Overall, in his three seasons at Clemson, Trotter Jr. recorded 192 tackles, with 29.5 of those for loss, and 13 sacks over 39 games (26 starts). Additionally, he posted 14 pass deflections, three forced fumbles, and four interceptions (two of which he returned for touchdowns), according to Sports-Reference.
Jeremiah Trotter Jr. has to overcome the large shadow cast by his father
For the Eagles, Trotter represents a potential hidden gem in their draft class, even though his name carries immense weight and expectation with it. His work ethic, intelligence, and knack for making key plays at the collegiate level suggest that he can make a smooth transition to the professional level. As a rookie, he has the potential to make an immediate impact and could exceed expectations, becoming a key player for Philadelphia as they strive to return to the Super Bowl.
He'll join a linebacker room in Philadelphia that includes Nakobe Dean and free agent pickups Devin White and Oren Burks. This means that he could very easily compete for playing time early and, in the process, start living up to his pedigree.
