A.J. Brown draws elite cornerback praise from former teammate Cooper DeJean

A.J. Brown drew high praise from a former teammate this weekend when Philadelphia Eagles cornerback Cooper DeJean singled him out as the matchup he’d most like to face in real games.

DeJean spoke at the Exciting Mics forum during Fanatics Fan Fest on 18 July 2026 and named Brown as the receiver he’d relish locking horns with. The two spent 2024-26 together in Philadelphia, winning Super Bowl LIX before Brown’s trade to New England in June 2026.

What did Cooper DeJean say about A.J. Brown?

DeJean called Brown “a fun battle” and admitted he’d love to go head-to-head in a game. The rookie corner pointed to their shared history and Brown’s elite status as reasons for the matchup’s appeal.

“I’ve only gone against him a handful of times in practice. I would love to go against him. I know he’d love to go against us, too, so it’d be a fun battle,” DeJean said on the panel.

How did A.J. Brown and Cooper DeJean team up?

Brown and DeJean were teammates from April 2024 until June 2026, when Brown was dealt to the Patriots. Brown gave DeJean the nickname “All-Pro Coop” in the summer of 2024 and mentored the rookie in practice.

Together, they helped the Eagles win Super Bowl LIX. DeJean logged eight combined tackles, half a sack, and three fumble recoveries across 16 games that season, while Brown played 13 games despite missing four to injury. Brown still racked up 67 catches for 1,079 yards and seven touchdowns, averaging 16.1 yards per catch.

What’s next for both players?

DeJean continued to shine in 2025, earning NFC Defensive Player of the Week for his Week 16 outing against the Washington Commanders. He piled up 66 tackles, two interceptions, and a forced fumble in 16 games.

Brown, now with the Patriots, aims to keep producing at a high level. The two could meet only once in the 2026 preseason, but a future regular-season or even Super Bowl clash would be must-watch football.

Who knows: if both stay healthy and their teams stay elite, the NFL might give fans the Brown-DeJean showdown they’ve been waiting for.