The hype train and momentum for Cooper DeJean and where he will call home in the NFL is only getting started. The Iowa Hawkeyes‘ Swiss Army Knife is garnering a lot of very well-deserved first round buzz and appears destined to become the next Iowa first-round draft pick.
CBS Sports’ 2024 NFL mock draft saw DeJean heading out west to join the Los Angeles Rams. ESPN’s newest 2024 mock draft isn’t quite as favorable of a destination for DeJean due to the weather and volatility of the fan base.
ESPN has Cooper DeJean going in the first round to the Philadelphia Eagles with the No. 27 pick.
Philadelphia hasn’t drafted a defensive back in the first round since Lito Sheppard in 2002, but considering how poorly the secondary has played, it might be time to break the 21-year streak. From Week 13 on, the Eagles were 27th in the league in opponent yards per attempt (7.8).
Plus, starting safety Sydney Brown suffered a knee injury in Week 18, thinning the team’s depth chart. DeJean is dealing with a leg injury of his own, but he can play corner or safety — I have him as the top safety in the class — and he had seven interceptions over the past two seasons. He has great speed and plays with physicality. – Jordan Reid, ESPN
The Eagles need secondary help and they need it in a bad way. They have been getting torched down the back half of the 2023NFL season and need to replenish with youth and athleticism rapidly.
They have allowed the fifth-most passing yards this year and the second-most passing touchdowns (35) with just nine interceptions. Reinforcements are needed badly.
DeJean provides both of those things to the Eagles. He could play outside cornerback, play in the slot, or slide back to safety and get to utilize his ball-hawking ability.
Now, the plus side of this is that DeJean could go in and be a day-one starter in Philly. On the other hand, the City of Brotherly Love doesn’t have all that much love. They are quick-tempered and have a short leash on unsatisfactory outcomes, which has head coach Nick Sirianni among rumors if he doesn’t perform.
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