The Green Bay Packers are considering drafting a defensive back in the first round of the 2024 NFL Draft, and one name that could be available is Iowa Hawkeyes defensive back Cooper DeJean. He had been out of football for the past five months due to a fractured leg, but he was recently cleared to play again.
DeJean worked out on his Iowa Pro Day, which drew the attention of many individuals. He stands 6’1″ and weighs 207 pounds, and was a junior last season. Last season with the Iowa Hawkeyes, he recorded 41 total tackles, two interceptions, and five pass deflections.
He was also a punt returner for the Hawkeyes, and several NFL teams are interested in drafting him due of his special teams abilities. Cooper DeJean is expected to be drafted in the first round, although it is unclear where he will end up.
According to The Athletic’s latest NFL mock draft, the Green Bay Packers will select Cooper DeJean with the 25th overall pick in the 2024 NFL draft.
In his latest 2024 NFL Mock Draft, Nick Baumgardner of The Athletic predicts the Packers will select Iowa Hawkeyes defensive back Cooper DeJean. His explanation for Green Bay making this decision on him was as follows:
“Can DeJean play outside the corner? Perhaps, depending on the scheme and circumstances. Can he play it safe? Absolutely, yeah. DeJean is a versatile nickel with exceptional return ability, and he would fit a need in Green Bay.”
The Packers need help at both safety and cornerback. It would be beneficial to have a versatile supplementary player capable of playing both positions. However, Green Bay would need to determine if he is more suited to the cornerback or safety positions.
If the Green Bay Packers were to deploy Cooper DeJean, a combination of him and Xavier McKinney would be a fantastic fit for this defense. That means Green Bay will still need to choose another cornerback in the 2024 NFL Draft, which general manager Brian Gutekunst will have to determine.
Green Bay also lacks depth at the cornerback position. Jaire Alexander missed a number of games this season in the secondary. If other teams take Cooper DeJean before the 25th pick in the 2024 NFL take, the Packers may miss out on the opportunity to draft him.
