Expect this versatile DB to shoot up NFL Draft boards after latest news
Cooper DeJean is back.
He was always going to take part in the 2024 NFL Draft, and he's mostly been expected to be a first-rounder. The Iowa defensive back made his presence as a top prospect official, though, as ESPN's Adam Schefter recently reported that the intriguing prospect has told teams that he's cleared for all football activities.
This is just five months after a broken fibula.
The fact that DeJean was considered by many to be a mid-first-round pick before he was officially cleared to get back on the gridiron points to just how special many NFL teams feel he can be. Now that he's cleared, though?
Expect DeJean's name to start skyrocketing up your favorite guru's mock draft. He's also going to undoubtedly get consideration from teams high up in the first round because even coming off a pretty major injury — DeJean profiles as a game-changer. This is a player who can play safety or cornerback at the NFL level, meaning he has plenty of versatility and can be used by the right defensive coordinator to be a havoc creator. More than that, DeJean is also an incredible special teams player. He returned 21 punts for 241 yards for Iowa in 2023, averaging 11.5 yards per return. He took one to the house and had a long return of 70 yards.
When he gets the ball with some blockers in front of him, it looks a lot like this:
Despite missing games for Iowa at the end of the year with the broken fibula, DeJean finished with 41 tackles, two interceptions and five pass breakups for the Hawkeyes.
If DeJean's individual workout at Iowa is anything close to explosive — the draft hype for him will be the real deal.
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