Gilberto Manzano Says Eagles Have the NFL’s Best Cornerback Duo. He Might Be Right.

Forget the pass rush for a second. The Philadelphia Eagles’ secondary has quietly become the scariest part of their defense, and now a national voice is putting the stamp on it. Sports Illustrated’s Gilberto Manzano ranked Quinyon Mitchell and Cooper DeJean as the best cornerback tandem in the league heading into 2026. That’s not just hype. That’s backed by two years of tape.

Mitchell, the Eagles’ 2024 first-round pick out of Toledo, has turned into a legit shutdown corner. The guy doesn’t have a regular-season interception yet — and yeah, that stat gets brought up a lot — but here’s the thing: quarterbacks barely look his way. He’s racked up 29 pass breakups over two seasons and routinely takes the other team’s No. 1 receiver and makes him a non-factor. In man coverage, in zone coverage, it doesn’t matter. He’s a problem for the other side.

And then there’s DeJean. The Iowa product is basically a defensive chess piece for coordinator Vic Fangio. He can line up in the slot, roam at safety, or bump outside if needed. Against the run, he’s physical. In coverage, he’s sticky. The term “Swiss Army knife” gets thrown around a lot, but it fits here. He does whatever the scheme asks.

One big change for 2026: the Eagles went out and signed Tariq Woolen in free agency, poaching him from Seattle. Woolen’s had his ups and downs — he’s not a finished product — but compared to the revolving door Philly had at the other outside spot in 2025, he’s a clear upgrade over Adoree’ Jackson and whoever else was cycling through. That means DeJean can slide back to the nickel, where he’s at his best. Less time on an island outside, more time making plays in the middle of the field.

This is a secondary built to handle the modern NFL. You need multiple guys who can cover, you need versatility, and you need at least one guy who can erase a superstar. The Eagles have that in Mitchell. They have the Swiss Army knife in DeJean. They have a long, toolsy outside corner in Woolen who can be coached up. And Fangio’s track record with defensive backs is well known.

The NFC is loaded with good quarterbacks and explosive offenses. But if you’re staring at a schedule that includes Mitchell on one side and DeJean underneath, you’re not exactly excited about your game plan.