Could there be a better transition from the rabid fan base of the Iowa Hawkeyes to that of the Buffalo Bills?
It has been done before and Iowa’s fan favorite, Cooper DeJean, could be the next to follow that path. DeJean has been nothing short of a supernova for Iowa this season and continues climbing 2024 NFL draft boards.
In CBS Sports’ most recent NFL mock draft, it has the defensive back headed to the Buffalo Bills.
In coverage this year, (Cooper DeJean) has forced 17 incompletions on 32 attempts for 110 yards, according to TruMedia. He’s playing well for a team that doesn’t exactly have an explosive offensive counterpart. Just a really solid football player that can do a lot of things. – Josh Edwards, CBS Sports.
Through seven games this year, DeJean has 36 tackles, five pass breakups, and two interceptions. That comes on the heels of a 2022 season that put him on the NFL’s radar with 75 tackles, 13 pass breakups and five interceptions, including three returned for touchdowns.
Nobody blocked Cooper DeJean.
The @HawkeyeFootball star stuffs Wisconsin on 4th-and-1. 🚫
📺: FOX/@CFBONFOX pic.twitter.com/0cg3kWGxmy
— Big Ten Football (@B1Gfootball) October 14, 2023
Add the NFL’s smaller roster sizes and you see why DeJean’s versatility is so attractive to teams. DeJean has 27 career punt returns for 386 yards and one touchdown. Averaging 14.3 yards per punt return is massive and only exacerbated in the NFL.
COOPER DEJEAN JUST DID THAT😳
— PFF College (@PFF_College) October 1, 2023
Should this mock draft come to fruition, DeJean would be a natural fit of Hawkeyes joining the Bills. Safety Micah Hyde and defensive end A.J. Epenesa are members of the Buffalo defense that would gladly welcome in DeJean’s talents.
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