Former Iowa Hawkeyes defensive back Cooper DeJean was regarded as an athletic freak and projected to be a first-round pick throughout the NFL Draft season. Unfortunately, he was passed over through the first 32 picks. But now that he has been selected 40 overall by the Philadelphia Eagles, DeJean can get to work proving why he was valued so highly.
DeJean teams up with Vic Fangio in his zone-heavy 3-4 defense. DeJean joins a defense led by Brandon Graham and a defensive backfield featuring Darius Slay and first-round pick Quinyon Mitchell.
That's a good (De)Jean@DietzandWatson | #FlyEaglesFly pic.twitter.com/gVzMGok06l
— Philadelphia Eagles (@Eagles) April 26, 2024
Despite breaking his fibula in November, DeJean worked his way back to reclaim his first-round status but had to settle for the second round after a record-breaking run on offensive players.
DeJean wasn't quite cleared to participate at the NFL Combine but met with teams and the media and came away with positive reviews. Then at his Pro Day in mid-April, DeJean ripped off a 4.43 40-yard dash, a 38.5-inch vertical leap and a 10-foot-4 broad jump to solidify himself as one of the top defensive back prospects.
Cooper DeJean is a CB prospect in the 2024 draft class. He scored an unofficial 9.89 #RAS out of a possible 10.00. This ranked 28 out of 2469 CB from 1987 to 2024.
— Kent Lee Platte (@MathBomb) April 8, 2024
Splits Projected, results unofficial.
https://t.co/DLW4TzOmJ0 https://t.co/q1AcbRBVjU pic.twitter.com/9NeUPEnHZ6
Fans of many NFL teams clamored for DeJean and many of those teams showed tremendous interest. The Eagles liked him most and jumped at the chance to select DeJean at 40 overall.
In his final season with Iowa, DeJean was named a unanimous first-team All-American and both the Big Ten’s defensive back and return specialist of the year despite missing the Hawkeyes's final four games.
For his career with the Hawkeyes, DeJean recorded 120 tackles with five for a loss with seven interceptions, three of which were returned for touchdowns in 2023. He also returned 31 punts for 406 yards and a score.
DeJean was announced as a defensive back and the Eagles took a true corner with Mitchell in the first round. However, should DeJean primarily play at cornerback, he'll be the first white player to do so since Jason Sehorn in 2003.
Regardless, DeJean fits in well with his new squad in the City of Brotherly Love. Fans will get their first look at DeJean on an NFL field when the Eagles open the 2024 NFL season in Brazil.
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