Cooper DeJean really can do it all. He did so for the Iowa Hawkeyes during his time in the black and gold. From man coverage to zone coverage, to tackling, to punt returning, to downing punts, DeJean did whatever was asked.
That type of versatility bodes well for his transition to the NFL. With smaller rosters, players who can wear multiple hats become much more valuable. DeJean also has the instincts, knowledge and athleticism to move around the field for an NFL team.
Those are reasons ESPN’s Jordan Reid has DeJean firmly inside his top 50 prospects for the 2024 NFL draft and has DeJean atop a position different from many others.
Reid ranks DeJean as the No. 27 player in the draft. Where he differs is Reid ranks him as both a corner and a safety. While he doesn’t rank DeJean among the cornerbacks, he has him as the No. 1 safety in the 2024 NFL draft.
27. Cooper DeJean, CB/S, Iowa
Height: 6-1 | Weight: 207
DeJean is an all-around defensive back who can wear multiple hats in the secondary, though he primarily played corner at Iowa. An electrifying playmaker who can generate turnovers, he had three career pick-sixes. I like his projection better at safety because of all he can do in a defensive backfield, and with his physicality, fluidity and versatility, DeJean could quickly turn into a key contributor as a rookie after healing up from a lower-leg injury suffered in November.
DeJean has innate ball skills that are incredibly valuable to NFL teams when evaluating safeties. His speed and ability to cover ground fast could turn him into a turnover machine for a secondary.
DeJean projects as the top NFL safety in these rankings among a strong group that includes Miami’s Kamren Kinchens, Minnesota’s Tyler Nubin, Georgia’s Javon Bullard and USC’s Calen Bullock.
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