Philadelphia Eagles News

Eagles select OLB Jalyx Hunt with the 94th overall pick

Apr 27, 2024 at 12:50 AM

After twice trading back to add more draft capital for this year, the Eagles closed out their second night of the 2024 NFL Draft by selecting outside linebacker Jalyx Hunt out of Houston Christian with the 94th overall pick.

Hunt's journey to the NFL is incredible because he started his college career at Cornell as a safety and a track athlete. He played 17 games over a three-year span at Cornell, including a lost season due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

He transferred to Houston Christian in 2022 and he started all 11 games as a defensive end, leading the Huskies with 11.5 tackles for loss, seven sacks, and three forced fumbles in his first season as a pass rusher. He followed that up with 6.5 sacks and nine tackles for loss this past season, earning Southland Conference Defensive Player of the Year honors.

The DeBary, Florida native earned an invite to the Senior Bowl and the Scouting Combine, where he measured at 6'3 3/4" and 252 pounds, 50 more pounds than the start of his college career.

"He's got freaky tools in his body. He's an explosive guy. If you watch his best plays, he's doing things that are unique," Executive Vice President/General Manager Howie Roseman said. "He can bend. He can close. He can finish. He's long. He's an extremely smart kid obviously coming from Cornell.

"You know, we feel like we got a good edge rush group. He doesn't have to come in here – we're going to develop him like we talk about.

"This is a perfect developmental guy for us because of the tools in his body and his character and work ethic, and we think we can really find something with him. That's on us. That's on how he's going to work."

Career Stats (Cornell and Houston Christian)

38 games (22 starts)
162 tackles
20.5 tackles for loss
13.5 sacks
17 QB hits
1 interception (returned for a touchdown)
5 pass breakups
5 forced fumbles
4 fumble recoveries
2 blocked kicks

Accolades

2024 Senior Bowl invite
Southland Conference Defensive Player of the Year (2023)
2nd-Team All-Southland Conference (2022)
AAU National Champion at Junior Olympics in long jump, triathlon

What Director of Scouting Brandon Hunt said: "The first thing you have to understand with Jalyx is that he started at Cornell at safety. When he was a freshman in high school, he was 5'5". But he grew from there, obviously.

"When you turn the tape on now, you see immediately that this guy is different. First, you see the length, you see the athleticism, and that combination definitely shows up. Two plays that stood out to me: Obviously, we're talking about a pass rusher with speed to close and bend on the corner, but he had a pick-six that was kind of an exclamation point for me. And then, by the way, he plays on special teams and he's out there blocking field goals.

"Every step of this process, he just checked every box. He went through the season and you say, 'OK I can't wait to see him at the Senior Bowl.' He does well there and you say, 'OK, I can't wait to see him in Indianapolis at the Combine.' He does everything there, then you see him at the Pro Day and you love him there. We bring him into the building, and he just checked every box along the way. He just tied a knot on everything here on the visit. He caught all of our attention and we're so excited to have him.

"He loves football. He's a really smart kid. The sky is the limit on what this guy can do. He's only been playing linebacker for two years, so putting him in the room with all of our guys at that position, in the room with Coach (Jeremiah) Washburn and Coach (Vic) Fangio. We're so excited to see what this guy can do."

Scouting Report

Converted college safety who brings an extra level of juice and athleticism off the edge. Backed it up with an outstanding performance at the Scouting Combine.

Outstanding on stunts as a looper with excellent flexibility turning the corner.

For a pass rusher who lists under 6'4" he has outstanding length with nearly 34.5-inch arms.

Flashes fast hands as a rusher, which is impressive considering his lack of experience.

Violent tackler who delivered some huge hits on ball carriers and quarterbacks alike.

Offers flexibility as a dropper in coverage off the edge.

Has experience playing on every special teams unit and has the traits to contribute there immediately.

Key Numbers

His blend of length and explosiveness is rare. The list of edge rushers drafted on Days 1 and 2 since 2015 with at 34 1/4" arms while leaping 128" in the broad jump: Myles Garrett, Danielle Hunter, Will McDonald, Odafe Oweh, and now Jalyx Hunt.

According to PFF, Hunt posted a 25.3 percent pressure rate on third down last season, the second best of any pass rusher at the Combine this season.

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CB Quinyon Mitchell is swarmed by Eagles fans in Detroit.

AP Photo/Paul Sancya

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CB Quinyon Mitchell tries on an Eagles hat for the first time as a member of the team.

AP Photo/Jeff Roberson

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Quinyon Mitchell is the first cornerback to be selected by the Eagles in the first round since Lito Sheppard in 2002.

AP Photo/Jeff Roberson

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Quinyon Mitchell was a second-team All-American in 2023.

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Quinyon Mitchell had six interceptions during his time at Toledo.

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In 2022, Quinyon Mitchell led all FBS players with 20 PBUs.