Although Pro Day and Combine numbers are put in perspective, the Iowa cornerback had above-average testing to solidify himself in round one of the upcoming draft. His numbers were solid for a cornerback, but for safety, they were top five in most categories athletically. Cooper DeJean didn’t participate in the Scouting Combine due to his recovery from a broken fibula this past season.
Either way, a team is getting a versatile defensive back and special teams return man early in the draft.
Cooper DeJean Iowa Pro Day Numbers
Iowa CB Cooper Dejean Pro-Day
HT: 6005
WT: 202
HAND: 9 3/4
ARM: 31 1/8
WING: 78
40-YD: 4.45/4.42 (NFL scout ??)
10-YD: 1.52/1.55
VJ: 38.5
BJ: 10'4"
no shuttles— Jim Nagy (@JimNagy_SB) April 8, 2024
Senior Bowl director Jim Nagy said Cooper DeJean ran around 4.42-4.45 in the 40-yard-dash. This would’ve been ranked around the top ten for the 40-yard dash at the combine.
At safety, it would’ve been in the top five at the position for the drills events he participated in. DeJean didn’t do agility drills at his pro day but had 16 reps on the bench press.
The 6’0″ and 202-pound cornerback had two interceptions and five pass deflections before his season-ending injury. His 2022 season was his breakout as a sophomore, with five interceptions and eight pass deflections.
DeJean returned a punt for a touchdown this past season and offers plenty of experience as a return man. The Iowa ball hawk can be a defensive weapon for teams, depending on what they need in the secondary.
Where DeJean Stacks Up with Top CBs
Cooper DeJean is usually among the three or five top corners that get talked about for round one. Kool-Aid McKinstry, who sat out at the combine due to a Jones fracture, ran a 4.47 at the Alabama pro day.
Terrion Arnold, the other Alabama corner projected to go in the top 20, had a decent Combine outing with his athletic testing. Nate Wiggins ran the fastest 40-yard dash at 4.28 but got hurt in the process, and his weight could be a concern at the next level. The Clemson corner is still a first-rounder, but his stock could be more unpredictable than the others due to some risks.
Quinyon Mitchell seems to be the complete package as a potential top-corner prospect. With a 4.33 40-yard dash and showing out in the drills, along with the Senior Bowl, the Toledo corner had a great combine and draft process out of the top defensive backs in this class.
Team Fits and Draft Range
His draft range starts at around 15th overall with the Indianapolis Colts, but Iowa’s DeJean will likely be a first-rounder. The Seattle Seahawks at pick 16 and Jacksonville Jaguars at pick 17 need a cover three style cornerback or potential safety.
Teams like the Los Angeles Rams commonly mock the former Hawkeye defensive back at 19th overall and the Philadelphia Eagles at 22nd overall. The Pittsburgh Steelers at pick 20 and Green Bay Packers at pick 25 also make sense to take the versatile to play as the nickel corner or on the perimeter.
I don’t see how DeJean gets close to falling past the Baltimore Ravens, as that might be his floor. Teams picking before 30th overall, like the Detroit Lions at 29th overall or Tampa Bay Buccaneers at 26th overall, also need corners. If the Arizona Cardinals don’t trade down, they could also use DeJean’s services if they stay at pick 27.
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