The Philadelphia Eagles are no longer tied with the Houston Texans for the NFL team with the most players from Alabama high schools and colleges on its roster.
In a trade with the Las Vegas Raiders, the Eagles added a 14th player with Alabama football roots as they acquired cornerback Jakorian Bennett in exchange for defensive tackle Thomas Booker IV, the Philadelphia Inquirer, NFL Network and ESPN reported on Monday night.
An alumnus of McGill-Toolen Catholic High School in Mobile, Bennett is entering his third NFL season after joining the Raiders as a fourth-round selection from Maryland in the 2023 NFL Draft.
Las Vegas picked Bennett after he ran a 4.30-second 40-yard dash at the NFL Scouting Combine, the second-fastest time at the 2023 event.
Philadelphia parted ways with six-time Pro Bowl cornerback Darius Slay this offseason, leaving a vacancy opposite Quinyon Mitchell at outside corner as the rookie star prepares for his second NFL season. Kelee Ringo and Adoree Jackson had been the leading contenders to fill that spot.
Bennett played in 14 games, with four starts, and had 360 defensive snaps in his rookie season. In 2024, Bennett played in 10 games, with seven starts, and had 461 defensive snaps before a shoulder injury that required surgery ended his season prematurely.
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Quarterbacks throwing to receivers covered by Bennett in 2023 had a 102.5 passing-efficiency rating as they completed 26-of-38 passes for 316 yards with one touchdown and no interceptions. Last year, the passing-efficiency rating when targeting Bennett dropped to 67.7 as quarterbacks were 23-of-44 for 233 yards with no touchdowns and no interceptions.
Bennett is 5-foot-10 inches tall. The three top contenders remaining for the starting outside cornerback spots with the Raiders – Darien Porter, Eric Stokes and Decamerion Richardson – are at least 6-foot-1.
Booker played in 17 regular-season games, with one start, and four playoff contests as the Eagles won the NFL championship in the 2024 season. The trade comes after the Raiders released defensive tackle Christian Wilkins on July 26 in an unexpected transaction.
A track star at McGill-Toolen, Bennett didn’t become a substantial contributor for the Yellow Jackets football team until his senior season. McGill-Toolen posted a 13-1 record in 2017, with the only loss a 48-20 setback against Hoover in the AHSAA Class 7A championship game.
Between McGill-Toolen and Maryland, Bennett played two seasons at Hutchinson Community College.
Philadelphia’s other players with Alabama football roots are:
- Reed Blankenship, safety, West Limestone
- Jihaad Campbell, linebacker, Alabama
- Landon Dickerson, guard, Alabama
- Jalen Hurts, quarterback, Alabama
- Cameron Latu, tight end, Alabama
- BJ Mayes, cornerback, UAB
- Mac McWilliams, cornerback, UAB
- ShunDerrick Powell, running back, North Alabama
- Eli Ricks, cornerback, Alabama
- Keilan Robinson, running back, Alabama
- DeVonta Smith, wide receiver, Alabama
- Tyler Steen, offensive lineman, Alabama
- Byron Young, defensive tackle, Alabama
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Mark Inabinett is a sports reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on X at @AMarkG1.
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