Groups which have taken cornerbacks early within the first spherical have benefited tremendously lately. Sauce Gardner and Patrick Surtain have develop into early All-Execs, whereas Derek Stingley has been central to the Texans’ resurgence. Devon Witherspoon has made an influence in Seattle, making the Professional Bowl in 12 months 1.
This draft technique clearly shouldn’t be bulletproof, however groups eyeing an early-draft CB funding can have an possibility in Iowa’s Cooper DeJean. The junior Hawkeyes corner announced he’ll enter the 2024 draft. DeJean sits 14th on Mel Kiper Jr.’s ESPN.com massive board, slotted as the highest draft-eligible cornerback.
Teaming with 2023 Broncos third-round decide Riley Moss in 2022, DeJean intercepted 5 passes that season and returned three of these picks for touchdowns. This season, the 6-foot-1 cowl man sustained what the group known as a lower-leg harm in observe. This occurred again in mid-November, and it sidelined DeJean for the remainder of his closing school season. Assuming DeJean can bounce again from that in pre-draft preparation, the previous four-star recruit might be a great wager to develop into a first-round decide.
The Iowa native has proven the flexibility to play outdoors and within the slot in school, which will surely be of curiosity to a group in an period that has seen the function of the slot nook function exponentially. He spent two seasons as an Iowa starter and operated commonly on punt returns in that span as nicely. DeJean returned a punt for a landing in opposition to Michigan State this season, after averaging 16.5 yards per punt return as a sophomore (on simply 10 returns).
The Hawkeyes have made a noticeable imprint on the NFL lately. Lukas Van Ness, Jack Campbell and Sam LaPorta went off final yr’s draft board within the prime 34. Van Ness and Campbell adopted Tristan Wirfs and Tyler Linderbaum as Iowa alums chosen in Spherical 1 this decade. Placing collectively among the finest seasons by a rookie tight finish in NFL historical past, LaPorta joined Linderbaum and George Kittle as ex-Hawkeyes chosen for the Professional Bowl this week.
