The Philadelphia Eagles addressed several of their needs during the 2025 NFL Draft last weekend. The Eagles took Alabama linebacker Jihad Campbell and Texas safety Andrew Mukuba in the first two rounds and used each of their first five picks on the defensive side of the ball.
While the defense got plenty of attention, the Eagles could use a few more pieces on offense. Philadelphia feels set up for 2025 with stars Jalen Hurts, A.J. Brown and Saquon Barkley leading the way, but they need to establish some depth heading into next season.
The process began shortly after the draft concluded and it led them to a Football Championship Division (FCS) standout who could be a sleeper to make an impact as the offseason program begins.
Eagles Sign Tarleton State WR Darius Cooper to UDFA Deal
According to Senior Editor and Owner of The Bluebloods Zach McKinnell, the Eagles have signed Tarleton State wide receiver Darius Cooper to a UDFA contract. The 6-foot, 190-pound receiver was one of the top pass catchers at the Football Championship, finishing second in NCAA Division I with 1,450 receiving yards. He also tied for sixth with 14 touchdowns while hauling in a single-season school record 76 receptions.
Darius Cooper (Tarleton State; WR) has signed with the Philadelphia Eagles as an UDFA pic.twitter.com/jJbVzqF4yK
— Zach McKinnell (@zachmckinnell) April 27, 2025
The standout career finished with a flurry in the FCS playoffs as he caught 11 passes for 190 yards and a touchdown in a win over Drake. He followed it up with an encore in a loss to South Dakota, catching nine passes for 161 yards and three touchdowns.
The production is there for the Eagles to take a chance on Cooper, but the opportunity could be there as well. Philadelphia is set up at receiver with Brown and DeVonta Smith as the top two targets, but the rest of the depth chart is a free-for-all with Jahan Dotson on thin ice entering his final season. The Eagles also signed Terrace Marshall to create competition in the room, but the rest of the depth chart isn’t locked in with 2024 draft picks Johnny Wilson and Ainias Smith as the current incumbents.
It gives Cooper a chance to crack the Eagles roster as a darkhorse and makes him an interesting name to follow as Philadelphia begins its title defense.