A weekly scouting habit

Every college season, PhillyVoice picks five players a week worth watching because they make sense for the Eagles in the following spring's draft. This is the September 12 list.

Koi Perich, safety, Oregon

Perich lit up as a true freshman at Minnesota in 2024: 46 tackles, 5 interceptions, a forced fumble, plus kick and punt returns. He transferred to Oregon for 2026.

The sophomore dip

His 2025 follow-up at Minnesota was flat, and the staff even tried him at wide receiver. At Oregon he steps in for first-round pick Dillon Thienemann.

Track star athleticism

Perich ran 10.89 in the 100 meters in high school and won a state long jump title. He was a star basketball player too.

The Cooper DeJean comp

Kempski sees DeJean in him: same versatility, same appeal to Philly's front office. Perich hits harder, but DeJean was the better college player overall.

“Perich is a more physical hitter, but DeJean was better overall college player, in my opinion.”

Pair him with Mukuba

If Perich declares after this season, the Eagles get a shot at a long-term starter next to Andrew Mukuba on the back end.

John Henry Daley rushes the passer

The 6'5, 252-pound Michigan edge finished seventh nationally with 11.5 sacks last year at Utah. Relentless motor, real move set, including a nasty inside spin.

“He has a motor that doesn't stop, and a nice repertoire of pass rush moves.”

The edge money problem

Jonathan Greenard is signed through 2029 and Nolan Smith's fifth-year option covers 2027. Jalyx Hunt's rookie deal ends in 2027, and Philly wants to extend him.

Why a Day 2 edge fits

Paying Hunt, Quinyon Mitchell and DeJean may squeeze Nolan Smith out. If he's gone by 2028, a Day 2 rusher works as EDGE4 now and EDGE3 later.

Zabien Brown is a Fangio corner

The Alabama corner plays clean man technique and reads zone unusually well. Kempski's read: you can see the coaching in every rep.

“He plays with good technique in man coverage, and outstanding awareness in zone.”

A ballhawk who tackles

Three picks as a true freshman in 2024, two pick-sixes in 2025, and he shows up in run support. Another year like that makes him a 2027 first-rounder.

Can Philly spend there?

Riq Woolen is probably gone in 2027 either way. But with huge extensions coming for Mitchell and DeJean, a first-round corner on top of that is a stretch.

Jeremiah Smith is the one

Ohio State's receiver has 76-1,315-15, then 87-1,243-12, and 8 catches for 151 and 2 scores in his 2026 opener. Top five pick, Julio Jones and A.J. Green comps.

Root against the NFC East

The Eagles would need a disaster season to reach him, so the real hope is that the Commanders and Giants win enough games to pick after him.

“It's worth rooting for those teams to win some games this season just so that this guy lands somewhere other than the NFC East.”

Jelani McDonald, Texas thumper

Mukuba's former teammate is a bigger downhill safety who can still cover tight ends and contest deep balls. Instinctive, tough, likely an early Day 2 pick.