Cooper DeJean [OVERHYPED]

After studying Iowa “cornerback” Cooper DeJean in 11 games spanning the course of two seasons, I am not a fan.

Add in the broken fibula that has sidelined him since mid-November (which required surgery).

And I am absolutely not a fan.

Is there a place for him in the NFL?

Sure ⎯should it be in the first round like over 80% of mainstream draft platforms are telling us?

NOT A CHANCE.

Here are a couple ‘traits’ elite cornerbacks have in common in the NFL:

• Agile hip flexibility
• Short-area burst of speed

These traits enable them to ‘make plays on the ball.’

Does DeJean have these traits?

Nah.

Not in the real world he doesn’t.

What are the concerns?

Outside of coming off a broken leg (and it’s especially important for cornerbacks to be able to use their legs to plant and turn quickly), DeJean gave up a lot of catches in this block of 2023 game film study.

I’m not making this up.

Overall, according to Pro Football Focus (the past two seasons):

• 2023: 46 targets (20 receptions)
• 2022: 72 targets (37 receptions)

That means DeJean gave up receptions about half the time the ball was thrown in his direction the past two seasons.

What’s the problem?

DeJean has some rigidity in his movements that shows up consistently on film when he changes direction. It takes him an ‘extra moment’ to gather himself and be able to match the movements of the receivers.

This allows receivers to create throwing windows to his demise ⎯throwing windows that he can’t defend in time. In other words, this guy isn’t a playmaking corner. He’s a ‘damage control’ corner. DeJean often makes tackles after the catches.

DeJean also does not show a short-area burst of speed and he demonstrates good, but not great straight-line speed. He is solid covering raw straight-line routes, but he does not have the necessary recovery speed if he falls behind.

He played a lot of “off-man” coverage (meaning he lined up a few yards off the wide receiver he was matched up against before the snap) and he got lit up like the Fourth of July. However, it didn’t seem to matter much if DeJean was in ‘off-man’ pass coverage of ‘press-man’ (meaning he lined up right up against the wide receiver he was matched up against before the snap), either way, he got beat.

They victimized DeJean even at the college level (and that was before the broken fibula).

What does he do well?

DeJean doesn’t get beat because of a lack of effort.

He was best at breaking up passes when routes would ‘flatten out,’ (the receiver would change direction on a route and travel a little further in a straight line before the ball arrived). This enabled DeJean to ‘gather himself’ and have a chance at making a ‘play on the ball.’

DeJean provides solid pass and run support and he can also return punts. He offers some versatility being featured at various defensive positions.

I just don’t see any of that as elite.

#3 Cooper DeJean 6-foot-1, 207 pounds

Daniel Kelly’s 2024 NFL Draft Grade: Fourth-Round (I wouldn’t select him)

Medical Risk: High

Projected by 83.5% of the NFL Draft Community to be a first-round pick as of March 12, 2024 (nflmockdraftdatabase.com)

Game Film Concerns Surface on Iowa’s Cooper DeJean (5 games evaluated)

2023 game film reviewed: Penn State, Wisconsin, Iowa State, Utah State, Northwestern, and Michigan State (click to view games watched to form this evaluation)

2023 stats: 41 tackles (26 solo), 15 assists, 2 interceptions, 2 passes defended

2024 NFL Draft Scouting Report

Tough and scrappy athletic defensive back with one-gear straight-line speed and below-average hip flexibility. Long arms. Looks alert. Disciplined. Smart football vibe. Technically sound. Carries himself well. Matched-up vs. outside receivers and inside slot. Didn’t like him in press man. Will jam. Initial tightness transitioning out of peddle ⎯again at distinct route breakpoints. Too much cushion provided in off-man. Ideal zone prospect. Solid supporting screens. Competitive in coverage. Unknown at safety. Didn’t line up there often. Concerns potentially include being slow and soft getting off some blocks, being occasionally too hesitant to respond, overrunning some lanes, and flat-out missing some tackles.

Final words

I’m out on this one.

Daniel Kelly is a former NFL Scout with the New York Jets. He was hired on the regime which featured Bill Parcells, Bill Belichick, Scott Pioli, Mike Tannenbaum, and Dick Haley. He is currently the Editor-in-Chief for First Round Mock, contributes at Yardbarker, and has written for Sports Illustrated Lions, Jets, and 49ers, as well as a featured guest on ESPN Radio and Fox Sports Radio. For more information about him visit his website at whateverittakesbook.com. Follow on Twitter @firstroundmock.