New mock projects Colts draft 'athletic, highly instinctual' defender

"DeJean to Indianapolis is one of my favorite fits in this mock draft," Chadwick writes. "A zone-heavy scheme perfectly fits DeJean's skill set as an athletic, highly instinctual cornerback who is a terrific run defender. Not to mention, the Colts need help both at cornerback and safety, and DeJean can play both."

DeJean may be gone by the time Indianapolis makes its first selection since he ranks as the best cornerback and No. 9 overall prospect on PFF's big board. If he isn't, however, the Colts make a lot of sense.

The team re-signed former Pro Bowl CB Kenny Moore II this offseason, but he has primarily played the slot cornerback role. After Moore II, cornerbacks JuJu Brents, a second-round pick in 2023, and Jaylon Jones, a seventh-round pick a year ago, would be the next players up.

DeJean could provide further depth and higher upside to the room after posting 120 tackles, seven interceptions, 13 passes defensed and three touchdowns over the past three seasons at Iowa.

He also brings special teams experience, returning 31 punts and averaging 13.1 yards per return with one touchdown.

DeJean does come as a bit of a risk. In mid-November, he broke his leg, which forced him to miss the Hawkeyes' final four games of the season, including the Big Ten Championship Game.

However, DeJean underwent surgery and gave some promising news about how his recovery is going at the NFL Scouting Combine.

"I've been rehabbing ever since," DeJean said via ESPN's Jeff Legwold. "[I] just started running full speed last week. I plan on working out at some point before the draft. I am [medically] cleared. I'm just progressing right now."

If the Colts feel good about his medicals, he seems like he would be a perfect fit.