Cooper DeJean CB Iowa | NFL Draft Profile & Scouting Report
Cooper DeJean CB Iowa
NFL Draft Profile & Scouting Report
| ROLE: Outside Zone CB | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Last Updated: 04/21/2024 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Draft Year: 2024 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 40 time: 4.50 seconds (48%*) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Age: 21.10 DOB: 02/09/2003 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| ROLE: Outside Zone CB | |
| Last Updated: 04/21/2024 | |
| Draft Year: 2024 | |
| 40 time: 4.50 seconds (48%*) | |
| Age: 21.10 DOB: 02/09/2003 | |
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| Overall Rating: | 88.3 / 100 | |
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| Average rating of opposition Offense player has faced | ||
| Offense Rating: |
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80% |
| Click the links below to view how player ranks vs other prospects. | ||
| QB Rating When targeted: | 45.2 | |
| Tackling: |
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87% |
| Run Defense: |
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88% |
| Coverage: |
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85% |
| Zone: |
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81% |
| Man/Press: |
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82% |
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DRAFT PROJECTION:
1st - Mid
Overall Rank:
#21
Position rank:
#3
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| College Games: 24 College Snaps: 1457 | ||
ESPN RATING: 75/100
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247 RATING: 90/100
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RIVALS RATING: 5.7 (93%)
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| Player Comparison* (Similarity level) | ||
|---|---|---|
| Christian Gonzalez - Oregon |
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82% |
| Devon Witherspoon - Illinois |
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79% |
| Trent McDuffie - Washington |
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74% |
Drafted: ROUND: 2 - Pick Number: 40 (PHI)
Draft Profile: Bio
A dynamic presence in Iowa's secondary, Cooper DeJean emerged from Battle Creek-Ida Grove High School as a highly-touted recruit, earning a 3-star rating from ESPN and a 4-star grade from 247 Sports. After joining Iowa, his trajectory has been impressive.In his freshman year (2021), DeJean saw limited action but still managed 2 tackles over 11 snaps. His sophomore year marked a significant leap, playing in 12 games with 57 tackles, 11 assists, 22 stops, 5 pass breakups, and 4 interceptions, alongside a QB rating when targeted of 55.6.
His junior year further solidified his prowess, with 30 tackles, 7 assists, 10 stops, 3 pass breakups, 2 interceptions, and an outstanding QB rating when targeted of 40.6 over 10 games. His accolades include being a finalist for the Bronko Nagurski Trophy and Jim Thorpe Award, and achieving Consensus All-American status in 2023.
Scouting Report: Strengths
- Elite athletic skills -- Made Bruce Feldman's 'Freaks List' at number 14. He wrote: "The former high school quarterback (who also lettered three times in basketball, track and baseball each) won the Iowa state long jump title (23-7 1/2 inches) and 100 meters (11.16) and has continued to get more explosive since he’s been in college"
- Possesses rare mass and frame density for a CB and has good length along with it.
- Showcases great initial burst when triggering on plays and veering to match WRs.
- Fleet-footed mover with exceptional corrective twitch and recovery athleticism.
- Boasts impressive long-track recovery and gap-closing speed, hawking in front of balls.
- Can snap into phase and realign himself to trail WRs on fades and seam routes.
- Has the short-area freedom to adjust his tempo while staying in phase and tracking.
- Extremely natural zone defender with a smooth backpedal and fluid corrective feel.
- With disciplined technique, size, and short-area mobility, he can play the slot or boundary.
Scouting Report: Weaknesses
- Sometimes loses his balance when sinking to match whip and out routes.
- Muscle-bound frame prevents him from fully sinking and redirecting on occasion.
- Doesn’t quite have elite fluidity and hip freedom, experiencing 180-degree delays.
- At times, he can better channel recovery speed out of transitions to close gaps.
- Occasional wasted motion in press-man can tug him too far off the line and open space.
- While his position versatility may be viewed as an asset, it may lead him to be viewed more as a safety rather than a pure corner
- DeJean fractured the fibula in his left leg while practicing in November and while he's been fully cleared three months after surgery, he won't run at the combine, or at Iowa's pro day.
Scouting Report: Summary
Cooper DeJean is a potential first-round pick for the 2024 NFL Draft. His ability in zone defense and effectiveness in space suggest he'll make an immediate impact in the NFL. At 6’1”, 209 pounds, he's ideal for zone and off-man schemes, boasting strong space management and quick reactions.Though not the most fluid due to his size, DeJean's athletic and disciplined play in press-man scenarios stands out. His ability to adapt to various defensive roles, including special teams, positions him as a multifaceted asset for any NFL team. DeJean's combination of physicality, instinctual play, and ball skills make him a nice addition to any secondary in today's NFL.
May ultimately wind up being viewed as a safety rather than a corner and fall in the draft as a result.
Cooper DeJean percentiles vs other Cornerbacks (NFL Combine historically - higher value represents better perfomance)
Cooper DeJean Video Review
How other scouting services rate Cooper DeJean (Overall Rank)
All Scouts AverageOverall Rank
22.2
All Scouts AveragePosition Rank
2.0
*Percentile Ranking in Player's Position Group (NFL Combine Historical Data): This percentile reflects how a player's specific statistics rank
in comparison to historical performances at the NFL Combine, specifically within their position group. A higher percentile indicates a better performance.
For instance, being in the 90th percentile for a particular stat means the player outperformed 90% of their peers in that category.
*Similarity Percentage: This percentage is calculated based on a comprehensive analysis of various factors, including height, weight, 40-yard dash times, on-field performance statistics, and overall player rating. The analysis is conducted against our database of draft prospects from 2021 to 2023. This similarity score helps in evaluating how closely a current prospect aligns with past prospects. It is important to note, however, that this score reflects similarities based on college production and attributes, and does not account for eventual success or performance in the NFL.
*Similarity Percentage: This percentage is calculated based on a comprehensive analysis of various factors, including height, weight, 40-yard dash times, on-field performance statistics, and overall player rating. The analysis is conducted against our database of draft prospects from 2021 to 2023. This similarity score helps in evaluating how closely a current prospect aligns with past prospects. It is important to note, however, that this score reflects similarities based on college production and attributes, and does not account for eventual success or performance in the NFL.