Cooper DeJean could be the most interesting player entering the 2024 NFL Draft. His versatility, both on defense and on special teams, is of great interest to NFL teams. That's what made him successful with the Iowa Hawkeyes, and what the team hopes will take it to the next level.
As the draft approaches, the buzz surrounding DeJean seems to only grow with each mock draft. More and more media outlets are pegging him as a first-round pick, and several teams continue to emerge as trending landing spots.
Field Yates, one of ESPN's leading draft analysts, was the most recent to get first-round approval for Cooper DeJean. His first mock draft had the Green Bay Packers selecting him 25th overall, highlighting DeJean as one of the best first-round picks.
There are many reasons to like this selection in Green Bay. Dejan has great attributes, is adept in man-to-man coverage, and has proven to be very versatile. What makes that last part so important here is that Green Bay's safety room has multiple key free agents this offseason (including Darnell Savage), and DeJean has the ability to play there if needed. Because I have the ability to do it. Depth at cornerback is also needed by the Packers, who will return to Iowa's defense in the first round for the second year in a row (Lucas Van Ness). The Packers have seven interceptions (31st) in 2023, and DeJean himself has that many interceptions over the past two seasons. – Yates, ESPN
Yates has hinted at the idea of Dejan sliding back to play safety, a testament to his soccer IQ and versatility. DeJean is comfortable doing this because he has a basic defense like Phil Parker at the University of Iowa.
If the Packers' pick ends up being DeJean, he'll join a defense that could use playmakers on the back end to their detriment, along with an instant starter on special teams as a punt gunner and possibly a punt returner.
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The story originally appeared on Hawkeye's Wire
