Top CB prospect declares for NFL Draft

This draft strategy obviously is not bulletproof, but teams eyeing an early-draft CB investment will have an option in Iowa’s Cooper DeJean. The junior Hawkeyes corner announced he will enter the 2024 draft. DeJean sits 14th on Mel Kiper Jr.’s ESPN.com big board, slotted as the top draft-eligible cornerback.

Teaming with 2023 Broncos third-round pick Riley Moss in 2022, DeJean intercepted five passes that season and returned three of those picks for touchdowns. This season, the 6-foot-1 cover man sustained what the team called a lower-leg injury in practice. This occurred back in mid-November, and it sidelined DeJean for the rest of his final college season. Assuming DeJean can bounce back from that during pre-draft preparation, the former four-star recruit will be a good bet to become a first-round pick.

The Iowa native has shown the ability to play outside and in the slot in college, which would certainly be of interest to a team in an era that has seen the role of the slot corner role exponentially. He spent two seasons as an Iowa starter and operated regularly on punt returns in that span as well. DeJean returned a punt for a touchdown against Michigan State this season, after averaging 16.5 yards per punt return as a sophomore (on just 10 returns).

The Hawkeyes have made a noticeable imprint on the NFL in recent years. Lukas Van Ness, Jack Campbell and Sam LaPorta went off last year’s draft board in the top 34. Van Ness and Campbell followed Tristan Wirfs and Tyler Linderbaum as Iowa alums chosen in Round 1 this decade. Putting together one of the best seasons by a rookie tight end in NFL history, LaPorta joined Linderbaum and George Kittle as ex-Hawkeyes selected for the Pro Bowl this week.