5 Things To Know About Cooper DeJean- Eagles Prospect Preview

The NFL Combine is behind us. We are a little under 2 months away from the draft itself. This season the Eagles hold the 22nd pick. What will they do with it? Will they finally draft a corner in the 1st round? Is Howie Roseman going to stick to his usual strategy and take an Offensive or Defensive Lineman? The Eagles should have options. One of those options is Iowa Cornerback Cooper DeJean.

DeJean played 3 years at Iowa, but he only really saw the field in two of them. That was enough time for him to wow scouts though. Both as a cornerback, but also with the impact he made as a return man. A broken leg late in the season has kept him from participating in the Combine. But he is still expected to be a first-round pick. Where in the first round remains to be seen though.

Unlike most seasons, there does not seem to be a consensus top cornerback. Not because there is no standout, but because the draft is so top-heavy at a corner. Everyone has a different one up top. Cooper DeJean is in that mix.

Would he be a good fit for the Eagles? Is he the guy who will make Howie Roseman buck the 20-year trend? Let's get to know the potential Eagles draft pick a bit better. From his start as a 4 sport athlete in high school, his versatility across the field, and to the crazy production he had at Iowa. Here is what you need to know about Cooper DeJean.

At Iowa, DeJean played 25 games. He gave up just 2 TDs and 640 yards. Thats about 25 yards allowed per game. All season long, he allowed just one catch for more than 15 yards. This while mostly trailing the other team’s best WR. In each of the past two seasons, he held QBs to a passer rating under 50. In 2023 it dipped below 40.

Doing that in the Big 10 can translate. And there are lots of parts of his game that translate as well. He is a natural athlete and probably would have wowed teams if he took part in the combine. But he also just has a natural awareness of the field which is a good sign for his chances to make it at the next level.

One thing everyone is saying about DeJean is that he can play all over the field. He makes for a great outside corner, but can also slide into the slot, or drop back as a Safety.

If you are spending a first on someone, you want them to play outside corner. It is the most premium position and the best chance for him to make the biggest impact. But having that versatility is nice. We saw multiple times this season where the Eagles were down a safety or a slot corner. Having a guy capable of sliding over for a game, or even a few snaps, would have been so helpful in those moments.

You want him to play outside corner. But being capable of moving around if needed can only be a good thing.

Football wound up being the main sport he pursued, but apparently, he had options. He also played Basketball, Baseball, and was a star in track and field. On the football field, he did it all for his team. He had a 1000-yard season as a WR, was returning punts, playing Quarterback, and was their star defender.

For a while, it seemed like Basketball would be the sport he pursued. He scored at least 535 points 3 years in a row. In his final year, his 596 points were the 3rd highest in his state. He also had 163 assists and 181 rebounds to go with 70 steals.

His athleticism on the court caught the eyes of Iowa’s Scouting Department. Iowa Recruiting Director Tyler Barnes said this to The Athletic.

He wound up playing Football. Not at QB, like he originally hoped. But at Corner. By his sophomore year, he was a star. Now he is about to be a 1st round pick. But his prowess in other sports just plays to the fact he is an athletic freak. Being able to posterize people, as a 6 ft tall dude, is special.

Cooper DeJean certainly looks like he will be a good cornerback. But would the Eagles actually take a cornerback? They have spent a first-rounder on a corner since Lito Shepard. They haven't even spent a day 2 pick on one since 2017. But if you ask the guys on the Eagles beat, this could be the year.

That is a sentiment that has been shared by every Eagles reporter we have talked to. Tim McManus, EJ Smith, Andrew Dicecco. They all said the same thing. This could be the year they buck the trend. It is a great crop of young cornerbacks. Cooper DeJean fits right in there among those top corners.

This one is hard to say. I have seen mock drafts where he lasts to pick 25. There are also ones having him go top 10. The Cornerback class is so wide open, he could go anywhere. But there are many mock drafts that have him going to the Eagles. And the fact he missed to combine, while some other guys showed up and had impressive performances, could make him fall. The Eagles scheduled a visit with him, so he is on their radar.

Also if he isn't there, that will likely mean another Corner did fall. The Eagles should be able to get one of those top guys. If not DeJean, then Kool-Aid, Terrion Arnold, or Quinyon Mitchell.