Cooper DeJean selected by Philadelphia in second round of NFL Draft
IOWA CITY, Iowa – While it took longer than many probably had expected, former Iowa defensive back Cooper DeJean has been selected in the 2024 NFL Draft.
DeJean was picked by the Philadelphia Eagles in the second round on Friday, and with the 40th pick overall. The Eagles traded up with Washington to select DeJean.
A native of Odebolt, DeJean is the 86th player from Iowa to be selected in the NFL Draft under head coach Kirk Ferentz, the 19th defensive back and the 12th player to be taken in the second round.
According to Spotrac, DeJean will receive a four-year contract from the Eagles worth approximately $9.157 million.
Projected to be a first-round pick by multiple mock drafts, DeJean’s status might have changed because of how the first round unfolded with the first 14 picks being offensive players, including six quarterbacks.
DeJean is also coming off a broken fibula that caused him to miss the final four regular season games last season, and the Citrus Bowl.
There is also speculation that he might switch to safety in the NFL after playing cornerback for Iowa.
DeJean declared for the draft as a third-year junior, and after starting for just two seasons for Iowa at cornerback.
He saw action in seven games as a freshman, mostly on special teams, and then quickly rose to stardom in 2022 as a playmaking cornerback and punt returner.
DeJean set a program record by recording three pick sixes in the 2022 season.
He was also having a standout junior season this past fall as a lock-down cornerback and punt return before fracturing his fibula in practice in mid-November. He missed the final four games of the regular season and the Citrus Bowl.
He has since made a full recovery as shown with his performance in individual workouts leading up to the draft.
DeJean held his own individual Pro Day for NFL scouts earlier this month and showcased his athleticism.
He ran a 4.42 40-yard dash as timed by an NFL scout. He also posted a 10-yard split of 1.55 seconds and a vertical jump of 38.5 inches.
Those numbers combined with his size at 6-foot-1 and 207 pounds, and with his on-field performance, had many thinking DeJean would picked in the first round.
Veteran ESPN draft analyst Mel Kiper Jr. had DeJean ranked 14th overall heading into the seven-round draft.
But instead, DeJean is the third Iowa defensive back under Kirk Ferentz to be selected in the second round of the NFL draft, along with Bob Sanders in 2004 and Josh Jackson in 2018.
“Smart, instinctive, this is a kid who I think has the ability to contribute right away,” Kiper said on ESPN. “Also has punt returner ability, which he showcased.”
Iowa defensive backs selected in the NFL draft under Kirk Ferentz
2024 – Cooper DeJean, Rd. 2, Philadelphia
2000 – Matt Bowen, Rd. 6, St. Louis
2003 – Derek Pagel, Rd. 5, New York Jets
2004 – Bob Sanders, Rd. 2, Indianapolis
2005 – Sean Considine, Rd. 4, Philadelphia
2008 – Charles Godfrey, Rd. 3, Carolina
2009 – Bradley Fletcher, Rd. 3, St. Louis
2019 – Amari Spievey, Rd. 3, Detroit
2011 – Tyler Sash, Rd. 6, New York Giants
2012 – Shaun Prater, Rd. 5, Cincinnati; Jordan Bernstine, Rd. 7, Washington
2013 – Micah Hyde, Rd. 5. Green Bay
2017 – Desmond King, Rd. 5, Los Angeles Chargers
2018 – Josh Jackson, Rd. 2, Green Bay
2019 – Amani Hooker, Rd. 4, Tennessee
2020 – Michael Ojemidia, Rd. 3, Denver; Geno Stone, Rd. 7, Baltimore
2022 – Dane Belton, Rd. 4, New York Giants
2023 – Riley Moss, Rd. 3, Denver