NFL Draft 2024 Rumors: Iowa CB Cooper DeJean Seen as Safety Prospect By 'Many Teams'

Iowa cornerback Cooper DeJean has reportedly been viewed as a safety prospect by many NFL teams ahead of the draft, per ESPN's Field Yates.

"I think there's a chance that a lot of teams, as a matter of fact many teams that I have spoken with continue to view him as a safety prospect," Yates said on First Draft on Monday (7:10 mark).

DeJean spent his college career as a cornerback, but it seems NFL teams are looking to transition him into a new position at safety. He was outstanding at cornerback while playing for Iowa, notching 41 tackles, five passes defended and a pair of interceptions in 10 games his junior year. In 2022, he had 75 tackles, eight passes defender and five interceptions—three of which he returned for touchdowns.

He is considered to be the No. 31 overall prospect and the No. 4 cornerback prospect by Bleacher Report's Scouting Department. In the latest mock draft, DeJean is projected to land with the Green Bay Packers with the No. 25 pick.

At his Pro Day on Monday, DeJean showed off his athleticism with a 4.42 40-yard dash, a 1.55 in the 10-yard split and a vertical jump of 38.5.

While DeJean certainly has athleticism, NFL scouts noted some weaknesses that could hold him back as a cornerback. Scouts said he struggles to open his hips to defend against sudden acceleration and fails to turn and find the ball when defending deep routes, two skills that are critical for a professional cornerback.

Given those weaknesses, putting DeJean at safety where he can be in front of most of the offense could be a good move. It would be a somewhat tough transition, but one that could pay off in the long run.