Giants fans can’t believe Eagles ‘Exciting White’ tops Malik Nabers on NFL Top 100 list

Ryan OLeary

Giants fans can’t believe Eagles ‘Exciting White’ tops Malik Nabers on NFL Top 100 list image

The 2024 Philadelphia Eagles were absolutely loaded, so it’s no surprise that members of last year’s championship roster continue to be named among the NFL’s annual Top 100 list.

Philly’s most recent honoree has been a trending topic this week — especially among Giants and Falcons fans.

Cornerback Cooper DeJean, a 2024 second-round draft pick, debuted at No. 60 on the NFL Top 100 of 2025, which is voted on solely by current players. DeJean was a transformative player for the Eagles’ top-ranked defense last season, but he didn’t enter the starting lineup until Week 6 and played almost exclusively against slot receivers.

DeJean making the list isn’t the headline here — Pro Football Focus graded the former Iowa Hawkeyes star No. 1 overall among cornerbacks last year. What’s a bit surprising is that he came in so high — ahead of teammate Jordan Mailata, star Giants wide receiver Malik Nabers, and dynamic Falcons running back Bijan Robinson.

Giants fans in particular can’t believe that one of Philly’s “Exciting Whites” — the viral nickname coined for DeJean and fellow Eagles defensive back Reed Blankenship — made the NFL’s list ahead of Nabers, who despite a laughable quarterback situation produced 109 receptions for 1,204 yards and eight total touchdowns in just 15 games as a rookie last year.

“Absolutely absurd,” one Giants fan wrote in response to Nabers landing at No. 67 on the NFL’s list. “Apparently a lot of people are going to be shocked when he’s the best WR in the league this year.”

There’s no denying Nabers’ talent and his standing among the NFL’s top 100 players. Again, this list is voted on by the players themselves, so the real story here is the respect DeJean was able to garner in what was essentially 12 real regular-season games. Per GQ Sports, the voting is typically done sometime between Thanksgiving and New Year’s Day, so DeJean’s signature moment in Super Bowl LIX — a pick-six of Patrick Mahomes — didn’t even factor into his landing spot.

Giants fans won’t love this, either: The Eagles could end up having nine current players on this year’s list by the time the top 10 are announced. Fellow 2024 rookie cornerback Quinyon Mitchell now feels like a lock, along with linebacker Zack Baun, defensive tackle Jalen Carter, right tackle Lane Johnson, quarterback Jalen Hurts, wide receiver A.J. Brown and running back Saquon Barkley.

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Ryan OLeary

Ryan O'Leary has spent his entire professional career in sports multimedia, working as journalist, editor, podcaster, and in live events as a content manager and show emcee. His career highlights include working as a podcast host and audio editor for USA TODAY Sports Media Group, where he led a series of NFL podcasts for the company’s top-performing NFL sites. A born and raised New Englander, Ryan’s career kicked-off in newspapers after graduating from the University of New Hampshire with a degree in journalism. He developed an affinity for small-town youth, high school and college sports, while also realizing his childhood dream of covering the Patriots in multiple AFC Championship Games. Ryan enjoys kicking it with family and friends, beating his dad and brother in chess, and arguing with anyone crazy enough to insist that Tom Brady isn’t the GOAT.