Rookie Write-Ups: Cooper DeJean

To kick off my series of articles about NFL rookies going into the season, it only felt fitting to start with an Iowa player, as I am an Iowa fan. Throughout the entire pre-draft process, I had been hyping up Cooper DeJean, as he was our best player throughout the year and seemed to shine on the biggest stages for the team in a highly competitive conference. Although he may not be a proper outside corner, Cooper DeJean is my favorite defensive back in the draft, and the Eagles got a steal in him. 

DeJean is a freakishly good athlete, making him extremely dangerous on defense and special teams at his size. The 2023 All-American won the Iowa state long jump and 100-meter dash in high school and lettered in four different sports. He showed incredible athleticism at the combine, performing well in the 40-yard dash and vertical jump. He possesses great size and quickness with solid recovery speeds, making him an excellent ball hawk threat. Because of his physical capability, DeJean can plug into many different roles on defense, making him a versatile option as an outside corner, slot corner, or safety. 

DeJean’s greatest strengths are his zone awareness and ball skills, which likely make many teams to view him as a safety, resulting in his sliding to the second round. DeJean’s on-field instincts are the highlight of his game, knowing when to jump on routes and when to back off and play conservatively. He reads QBs well through their progressions and recognizes when and where to be. He has a great sense of everything else that’s happening on the field and knows when he needs to step up. He effectively combines his mental skills with his physical ability, making him a valuable and versatile asset on any team. 

DeJean’s versatility and uncertainty about which position he would actually play ultimately led him to slide out of the first round. DeJean was an outside corner during his time on his team at Iowa, but his strengths seemed to project him more as a safety at the next level. DeJean also suffered a season-ending leg injury, making it a smaller sample size to analyze and more challenging to project where his skills would best be utilized. Regarding on-field weaknesses, DeJean’s “ball-hawk” tendencies sometimes open up large areas of space on the field and little room for error, resulting in big plays. He also lacks great fluidity and direction change, which could be a little concerning as an outside corner. 

Due to his versatility, DeJean’s fit in Vic Fangio’s system is still unknown, but he brings a fresh perspective and sense of energy to a rather old Eagles secondary. The Eagles’ two outside starting corners have hit their 30s, and due to their experience of a physical decline, the Eagles drafted two talented defensive backs with different playstyles. DeJean had plugged in all the other positions during OTA’s before getting a hamstring injury, sidelining him for another couple of weeks. For DeJean’s development as a player, it would be better for him to stay in and learn a singular role, although I see him being used in a “Swiss-Army Knife”/ “Do-it-All” role this season. In a stacked DB room, Cooper DeJean will carve himself a role in a dynamic Eagles defense and will prove to be a valuable asset in whatever role Vic Fangio throws him in.